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### Viewing cable 08CONAKRY184, SEIZED DRUGS FINALLY INCINERATED...OR WERE THEY?

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08CONAKRY184 | 2008-03-06 14:02 | 2010-12-25 21:09 | SECRET | Embassy Conakry

`

    VZCZCXYZ0000
    RR RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHRY #0184/01 1331241
    ZNY SSSSS ZZH
    R 121241Z MAY 08
    FM AMEMBASSY CONAKRY
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2509
    INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 0069
    RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0535

` `

    S E C R E T CONAKRY 000184

    SIPDIS

    DEA / PARIS FOR R. HOUSTON / B. HALEY / T. HEDRICK
    DEA / LAGOS FOR S. GAYE

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2018
    TAGS: ASEC GV PGOV DEA PREL SNAR
    SUBJECT: SEIZED DRUGS FINALLY INCINERATED...OR WERE THEY?

    REF: A. CONAKRY 00148
    ¶B. CONAKRY 00155
    ¶C. PARIS 00838
    ¶D. CONAKRY 00166

    Classified By: ARSO Elizabeth Esparza for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

    ¶1. (S) SUMMARY:  On April 11, 2008, Guinean police seized a
    shipment of cocaine, exact quantity unknown, and detained six
    suspects believed to be of Latin American origin (Reftel A,
    B).  All USG requests for additional information regarding
    the details of the seizure or the suspects have gone
    unanswered (Reftel C).  The mission focused its efforts to
    ensure the destruction of the drugs and the result of these
    efforts proves that corrupt elements of the government are in
    full control.  Exactly one month after the seizure,
    Ambassador and ARSO attended the alleged incineration of 390
    kilos of cocaine.  The incineration was a farce that fooled
    no one and highlighted the possible complicity of the Guinean
    Minister of Interior and Security and high-level police
    officials.  END SUMMARY.

    ------------------------
    A LONG-ANTICIPATED EVENT
    ------------------------

    ¶2.  (S) Over a ten-day period, the Mission in collaboration
    with the British Ambassador made several unsuccessful
    attempts to discuss the transparent destruction of the drugs.
    Finally, on May 2, 2008, the US and UK Ambassadors met with
    the Minister of Interior and Security and were given
    well-rehearsed assurances of the GOG,s commitment to
    combating drug trafficking and an invitation to view the
    drugs, destruction (Reftel D).  The incineration initially
    planned for May 7 and rescheduled for May 9, finally took
    place on May 10, 2008.

    ¶3. (U) GOG officials in attendance included Director of OCAD
    Thermite Mara, Deputy Director of OCAD Zakaria Cisse, Police
    Director General Sekou Bangoura, Police Controller General
    Madifing Diane, President of the National Committee Against
    Drug Trafficking (CNLD) Gare, Deputy General Secretary of
    CNLD Aguibou Tall, and approximately three dozen OCAD agents.
    The Minister of Justice and the Minister of Interior and
    Security were also present.

    -------------------------
    EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES
    -------------------------

    ¶4. (S) After consultations with DEA Paris, Ambassador
    requested permission to take a random sample of the cocaine
    for testing purposes.  Controller General Diane automatically
    agreed, causing an immediate backlash from Director General
    Bangoura and OCAD Director Mara.  Director General Bangoura
    found several excuses, to include concern over Ambassador and
    ARSO,s health and safety.  He also explained that the
    cocaine had been treated with chemicals, rendering it
    useless.  Director General Bangoura, in his usual arrogant
    and condescending fashion, refused to address the Ambassador,
    claiming that this was not a matter of diplomacy, but police
    business.  OCAD Director Mara,s enraged response included
    direct accusations of infringement upon Guinean sovereignty.
    This heated exchange took place in a very public setting and
    was documented by the private press.

    ¶5. (S) Controller General Diane reports directly to Minister
    of Interior and Security Keita.  OCAD Director Mara reports
    to Director General Bangoura, who reports to Controller
    General Diane.  The interaction between these officials
    demostrates an obvious disregard for rank and seniority,
    which is especially concerning given that respect for
    hierarchy is usually the norm in Guinean culture.  This begs
    the questions, "who's in charge?".

    ---------------------
    THEATRICAL PRODUCTION
    ---------------------

    ¶6. (U) Upon the arrival of Minister of Interior and Security
    Keita and Minister of Justice Paulette Kourouma, the
    Ambassador,s request for a random sample of the cocaine was
    quickly denied.  The pile was immediately doused with
    gasoline and ceremoniously lit on fire by the Minister of
    Justice.  The President of the National Committee Against
    Drug Trafficking was very dramatic in announcing the
    destruction of 160 kilos of marijuana, 390 kilos of cocaine
    and 43 boxes of pharmaceutical products (later explained to
    be expired ibuprofen).  The destroyed narcotics were
    reportedly valued at 6.5 million dollars.

    ¶7.  (S) After the incineration, ARSO was permitted to take a
    sample from a pre-designated package of cocaine.  The OCAD
    Deputy Director, the only individual that was allowed to get
    near the pile of narcotics, handpicked the package.  On May
    6, 2008, RSO FSN Investigator received a call from XXXXXXXXXXXX
    XXXXXXXXXXXX, who in the past weeks has provided RSO
    with sensitive information on the drug seizure (Reftel B).
    XXXXXXXXXXXX stated that the GoG planned to burn packages of
    flour.  ARSO is unable to prove that the cocaine was in fact
    substituted with flour; however, the GoG,s lack of
    cooperation and vehement rejection to a request for random
    sampling raises troubling questions about the GoG's interest
    in transparency.  And as the Ambassador,s driver very keenly
    observed, "I know the smell of burning marijuana, and I
    didn,t smell anything."  The entire event was a theatrical
    production.

    -------
    COMMENT
    -------

    ¶8. (S) The event was a real eye-opener and a facade.  The
    incineration was a ridiculous attempt by the GoG to prove
    that a law enforcement campaign against narcotics exists.  If
    anything was proven, it was that the traffickers' influence
    has reached the highest levels of the government.  There is
    an obvious fracture within the security forces, and only a
    handful of officials appear to be fighting to carry out
    legitimate duties.  The clear reluctance and open animosity
    displayed by all the senior Ministry of Interior and Security
    (MIS) officials and the diffident response of the Ministers
    to the Ambassador's request suggest complicity at the highest
    levels of the Ministry.  The silver-lining of the event is
    that the heated debate and ridiculous protestation by MIS to
    the Ambassador's request for a random sampling were witnessed
    and recorded by elements of the Guinean media (state-owned
    and independent).

    CARTER

`