Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 5423 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Yemen Jordan

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 86 88 89 90 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1986/05
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/07 2001/10
2002/02 2002/03 2002/11
2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Amsterdam American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamburg
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan
Embassy New Delhi Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Consulate Vladivostok
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AF AE AJ ASEC AMGT AR AU AG AS AM AORC AFIN APER ABUD ATRN AL AEMR ACOA AO AX AMED ADCO AODE AFFAIRS AC ASIG ABLD AA AFU ASUP AROC ATFN AVERY APCS AER ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AEC APECO AGMT
BR BA BE BL BEXP BTIO BM BK BRUSSELS BX BU BO BH BIDEN BY BG BF BB BC BBSR BMGT BTIU BILAT
CH CASC CA CD CV CVIS CMGT CO CI CU CBW CLINTON CE CJAN CIA CG CF CN CS CAN COUNTER CDG CIS CM CONDOLEEZZA COE CR CY CTM COUNTRY CLEARANCE CPAS CWC CT CKGR CB CACS COM CJUS CARSON CL COUNTERTERRORISM CACM CDB
DR DA DHS DOE DEA DK DJ DISENGAGEMENT DS DTRA DOD DEAX
EPET EINV ECON ENRG EAID ETRD EG ETTC EFIN EU EAGR ELAB EIND EUN EAIR ER ECIN ECPS EFIS EI EINT EZ EMIN ET EC ECONEFIN ENVR ES ECA ELN EN EFTA EWWT ELTN EXTERNAL EINVETC ENIV EINN ENGR EUR ESA ENERG EK ENGY ETRO ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ETRDEINVTINTCS ESENV ENVI ELECTIONS ECUN EINVEFIN ECIP EINDETRD EUC EREL
FR FINR FAO FTAA FREEDOM FI FARC FBI FJ FMLN
GH GA GG GM GV GE GT GR GTIP GOI GCC GAZA GZ GANGS GTMO
HU HR HILLARY HA HUMAN HO HYMPSK HURI HK HSTC
IR IZ IS IT INTERPOL IPR IN INRB IAEA IRAJ INRA INRO IO IC ID IIP ITPHUM IV IWC IQ ICTY ISRAELI IRAQI ICRC ICAO IMO IF ILC IEFIN INTELSAT IL IA IBRD IMF INR IRC ITALY ITALIAN
JO JA JOSEPH JP JOHNNIE JUS JAMES
KCOR KZ KDEM KN KNNP KPAL KU KWBG KCRM KE KISL KAWK KSCA KS KSPR KJUS KFRD KTIP KPAO KTFN KIPR KPKO KNUC KMDR KGHG KPLS KOLY KUNR KDRG KIRF KIRC KBIO KHLS KG KACT KGIC KRAD KCOM KMCA KV KHDP KVPR KDEV KWMN KMPI KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KOMC KTLA KCFC KTIA KHIV KPRP KAWC KCIP KCFE KOCI KTDB KMRS KLIG KBCT KICC KGIT KSTC KPAK KNEI KSEP KPOA KFLU KNUP KNNPMNUC KO KTER KSUM KHUM KRFD KBTR KDDG KWWMN KFLO KSAF KBTS KPRV KNPP KNAR KWMM KERG KFIN KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KTBT KCRS KRVC KSTH KREL KNSD KTEX KPAI KHSA KR KPWR KWAC KMIG KSEC KIFR KDEMAF KGCC KPIN
LE LH LY LU LG LI LO LOG LT
MOPS MARR MASS MTCRE MX MCAP MO MNUC ML MR MZ MPOS MOPPS MTCR MAPP MU MY MA MG MASC MCC MEPP MK MTRE MP MIL MDC MAR MEPI MRCRE MI MT MQADHAFI MD MAPS MUCN MASSMNUC MERCOSUR MC
NI NATO NPT NG NL NU NIPP NO NE NS NAR NZ NPG NK NSG NA NT NASA NGO NP NSF NATIONAL
ODIP OIIP OREP OVIP OEXC OPRC OFDP OPDC OTRA OSCE OAS OPIC OECD OPCW OSCI OIE OIC OTR OVP OFFICIALS OSAC
PGOV PINR PREL PTER PK PHUM PE PARM PBIO PINS PREF PSOE PBTS PL PHSA PKFK PO PGOF PROP PA PARMS PORG PM PMIL PTERE POL PF PALESTINIAN PY PGGV PNR POV PAK PAO PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PRGOV PNAT PROV PEL PINF PGOVE POLINT PRL PRAM PMAR PGOVLO PHUMBA PHUS PHUMPREL PG POLITICS PEPR PSI PINT PU POLITICAL PARTIES PECON POGOV PINL
QA
RS RU RW RP RO RIGHTS RICE ROBERT RF RFE REGION
SCUL SA SY SP SNAR SENV SU SW SOCI SL SG SMIG SO SF SR SN SHUM SZ SYR ST SANC SC SAN SIPRS SK SH SI SNARCS STEINBERG
TX TW TU TSPA TH TIP TI TS TBIO TRGY TC TR TT TERRORISM TO TFIN TD TSPL TZ TPHY TK TNGD TINT TRSY TP
UK UG UP UV US UN UNSC UNGA USEU USUN UY UZ UNO UNMIK UNESCO UE UAE UNEP USTR UNHCR UNDP UNHRC USAID UNCHS UNAUS UNCHC
VT VE VZ VM VTPREL VN
WTRO WA WI WZ WMO WTRQ WHO WWARD WB WBG WEU WHA WTO
XA XF XT XM XY XG XC XH XL XZ XW XR XD XE XK XS
YM YI YE
ZB ZI ZP ZK ZF ZANU ZOELLICK ZR ZU ZA ZO ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 08NAIROBI2671, DRUG TRAFFICKING ON THE RISE IN KENYA

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08NAIROBI2671.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08NAIROBI2671 | 2008-11-26 12:12 | 2011-03-02 22:10 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Nairobi

`

    VZCZCXRO1065
    PP RUEHROV
    DE RUEHNR #2671/01 3311216
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH(CCY ADX001FB89 MSI3082)
    P 261216Z NOV 08 ZDS
    FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7731
    INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0316
    RUEHRY/AMEMBASSY CONAKRY PRIORITY 0001
    RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM PRIORITY 6183
    RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI PRIORITY 5457
    RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA PRIORITY 3044
    RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM PRIORITY 2221
    RUEHKI/AMEMBASSY KINSHASA PRIORITY 1958
    RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 2977
    RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 2870
    RUEAWJA/DOJ WASHDC PRIORITY
    RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
    RUEHNA/DEA HQS WASHDC PRIORITY
    RHMFISS/CJTF HOA  PRIORITY
    RHMFISS/CDR USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY
    RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE PRIORITY

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 NAIROBI 002671

    C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y (TEXT PARA 10)

    SIPDIS

    AF/E FOR SUSAN DRIANO, INL FOR JAVIER CORDOVA AND ANDY
    BURNETT

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/25/2018
    TAGS: PREL PGOV KCRM KCOR KJUS SNAR UK UG KE
    SUBJECT: DRUG TRAFFICKING ON THE RISE IN KENYA

    REF: NAIROBI 2035

    NAIROBI 00002671  001.4 OF 004

    Classified By: Ambassador Michael E. Ranneberger, reasons 1.4 (b,d).

    ¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: On November 21, the British High
    Commission convened a mini-Dublin Group meeting in Nairobi to
    discuss the state of the drug problem in Kenya.  The meeting
    was attended by representatives of one of Kenya's three
    police services, the director of the Kenyan government's
    anti-drug program, and a number of interested diplomatic
    missions.  Trafficking of narcotics through Kenya continues
    to grow, as does the number of local addicts.  Police often
    lack the capacity and training to interdict illegal drugs.
    Those officers who do make drug-related arrests are often
    thwarted by corrupt members of their own departments.  The
    government appears to lack political will to address the
    subject, especially on the supply side. End summary.

    ¶2. (C) At the mini-Dublin Group meeting convened at the
    British High Commission on November 21, government of Kenya
    (GOK) officials made presentations about the state of the
    drug problem.  Unfortunately, representatives from the Kenya
    Police Service (KPS), which has the primary responsibility
    for counter-narcotics efforts, did not attend the meeting.
    Once the Kenyan representatives departed, the international
    missions had a candid discussion about what assistance could
    usefully be absorbed, the potential drawbacks and benefits in
    providing such assistance, and the extent to which official
    corruption contributes to drug trafficking in Kenya.

    --------------------------------------
    TRAFFICKING AND DRUG ABUSE ON THE RISE
    --------------------------------------

    ¶3. (SBU) Staff Officer XXXXXXXXXXXX, presenting for the
    Kenya Administration Police (AP), attributed the rise in drug
    use by Kenyans in part to the economy, saying that users turn
    to drugs as an escape from increasingly desperate personal
    situations.  (Note: Following the post-election violence and
    resulting economic downturn, an estimated 55 percent of
    Kenyans live on less than a dollar a day; the official
    unemployment rate is 50 percent and is markedly higher among
    youth. End note.)  XXXXXXXXXXXX noted a marked increase in drug
    trafficking by sea to a number of remote islands in the Lamu
    archipelago off Kenya's north coast (including Faza and Pate
    islands), as well as in smaller coastal towns like Shimoni
    and Vanga on the south coast.  He also cited the Kenya-Uganda
    border as another significant entry point, especially for
    locally-grown marijuana.  XXXXXXXXXXXX expressed concern that, when
    police made drug arrests, judges were often imposing only
    fines (which traffickers can easily pay) or very minimal
    sentences.  He noted the need for all law enforcement
    officers nationwide to be trained in identification of
    illicit drugs, as well as the need for additional detection
    equipment.  At present, XXXXXXXXXXXX added, only the 100-person KPS
    Anti-Narcotics Unit (which has to cover the entire country)
    is regularly trained in drug identification.

    ¶4. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX of the GOK's National
    Campaign Against Drug Abuse Authority (NACADAA), then made a
    presentation focusing on the GOK's demand reduction and
    treatment efforts.  XXXXXXXXXXXX 's staff is currently working with
    other government ministries and departments to develop
    anti-drug units to conduct awareness programs in the
    workplace, as well as specialized programs in the Ministries
    of Education, Defense, Health, and Youth Affairs.  To date,
    they have trained officials in Western, Nairobi, and Central
    provinces to run awareness programs; additional training is
    scheduled in December in North Eastern and Coast provinces.
    XXXXXXXXXXXX stressed the urgent need to involve policy makers and
    politicians in national anti-drug efforts.  XXXXXXXXXXXX described a
    notable lack of political will and public silence from
    leaders on the issue, which she attributed in part to

    NAIROBI 00002671  002.3 OF 004

    official complicity in and profit from drug trafficking.

    ¶5. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX confirmed the assessment of AP colleagues
    that the extent of drug abuse among Kenyans is growing
    quickly.  Narcotics in Kenya are highly pure (usually above
    80 percent), readily available, and relatively inexpensive.
    A quarter gram of heroin costs between 100 and 200 Ksh
    ($1.25-$2.50).  Even at these low prices, however, most
    addicts quickly have to turn to crime to support their
    habits. XXXXXXXXXXXX cited the example of tiny Faza island, where
    in recent months about 10 people per week have either died of
    heroin overdoses or been killed because they were stealing to
    get money for drugs.  Since 2005, NACADAA has been monitoring
    approximately 25,000 intravenous drug users (IVDUs) in Kenya.
     In a recent survey, ten percent of them admitted to
    injecting drugs in the last six months.  XXXXXXXXXXXX said that the
    GOK's political leaders had "completely refused to deal with
    the drug issue."  NACADAA was established in 2001; its
    highest budget before this fiscal year (in which it received
    210 million Ksh or $1.5 million) was 60 million Ksh
    ($760,000).

    ----------------------------
    MIRAA: KENYA'S GATEWAY DRUG?
    ----------------------------

    ¶5. (SBU) The GOK representatives agreed that Kenyans involved
    in the domestic miraa or khat industry do not generally trade
    in illegal drugs.  (Khat, or miraa as it is called in
    Kiswahili, is legal in Kenya.)  Most miraa grown in Kenya is
    exported to Somalia or Djibouti, but some is consumed
    domestically, including by long-distance truckers, bus
    drivers, and members of the security forces.  In the Mount
    Kenya miraa growing region, the trade is accompanied by heavy
    alcohol use (including the illegal brewing of changa or
    homemade beer) and an associated increase in domestic
    violence and family instability.  XXXXXXXXXXXX and XXXXXXXXXXXX agreed
    that miraa users sometimes progress to other drug use.

    --------------------------------------------
    POLICE UNDERSTAFFED, UNDERTRAINED, UNDERPAID
    --------------------------------------------

    ¶6. (SBU) The KPS, which has primary jurisdiction over
    counter-narcotics efforts, has only 100 officers in its
    national Anti-Narcotics Unit.  The AP does not have an
    official mandate for counter-narcotics, but often is the
    first police agency to uncover problems due to its extensive
    deployment at the local level as well as its coverage of
    Kenya's borders, airports, and ports.  The GOK has recently
    doubled the intake of new trainees into the police services
    (the KPS, AP, and Kenya Wildlife Service) to try and close
    the gap between the current and desired police to citizen
    ratio, but much work remains to ensure these new recruits
    (and current officers) have adequate training and equipment
    to intercept illegal drugs.

    ----------------------------
    INCREASED SEIZURES IN EUROPE
    ----------------------------

    ¶7. (C) The UK representative reported interdiction of
    significant amounts of heroin and cocaine in Europe via
    Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).  The
    purity of the heroin and cocaine trafficked through Kenya
    typically exceeds 80 percent.  At a local wholesale price of
    just $12,000-16,000 per kilo versus $50,000 in the UK (before
    the drugs are cut with fillers for retail sale), trafficking
    in Kenya's low risk, high profit environment is an attractive
    proposition for drug smugglers.  In 2006 and 2007, law
    enforcement authorities in a number of European countries,
    Canada, the United States and Australia seized 250 kilos of
    heroin and cocaine imported by drug couriers.  To date in

    NAIROBI 00002671  003.3 OF 004

    2008, European authorities have intercepted 12 mules (two of
    whom were Americans) who traveled via JKIA.  The mules were
    carrying an average of three to ten kilos of narcotics
    (mostly cocaine) per person.  Drug traffickers in Kenya are
    mainly recruiting white expatriate residents of Kenya and
    Uganda as mules because they are believed to attract less
    attention from western law enforcement authorities.  (Note:
    However, traffickers have also recruited non-white Kenyans
    who possess valid U.S. visas.  For example, in April a
    middle-aged Kenyan employee of the Peace Corps, was arrested
    at John F. Kennedy International Airport carrying 2 kilograms
    of heroin and convicted of trafficking.  End Note.)  The
    mules generally travel business class and take indirect
    routes to their destinations (i.e.
    Nairobi-Zurich-Berlin-London instead of Nairobi-London).
    They are paid about $6,000 per trip.  Most couriers who have
    been intercepted have admitted to making five or more trips
    in the last year.

    ----------------------------------------
    COCAINE, METHAMPHETAMINE ON THE INCREASE
    ----------------------------------------

    ¶8. (C) Although Kenya has traditionally been a transit
    country for heroin, cocaine seizures have increased steadily
    since 2004. Cocaine arrives in west Africa via sea and air,
    and is then distributed onwards to Kenya and elsewhere with
    easier access to the west. According to the UK, Guinea in
    particular is becoming an "international narcostate" with an
    economy increasingly based on drug smuggling.  The UNODC
    estimates that 300 tons of cocaine a year enter sub-Saharan
    Africa, and an additional 70 tons were seized by European law
    enforcement agencies in international waters in 2007.
    Smuggling of pseudoephedrine (a precursor drug for the
    manufacture of methamphetamine) from India and China is also
    on the rise, as is the proliferation of local labs producing
    methamphetamine for export in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and
    the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In 2007, officials
    seized 40 tons of pseudoephedrine from a lab in DRC.

    ----------
    CORRUPTION
    ----------

    ¶8. (C) Western law enforcement officials believe that
    corruption is definitely a factor in drug trafficking in
    Kenya.  One mule was interdictd in the UK with nothing in
    his carry-on bag except 9 kilos of cocaine.  He had either
    bribed airport officials at JKIA to bypass security checks,
    or had passed through two security checks without attracting
    attention.  Representatives of the UN Office on Drugs and
    Crime (UNODC) noted that most traffickers pay local officials
    for protection.  Officers in places like Lamu who arrest
    traffickers may be threatened or killed.  Traffickers can
    easily afford to bribe law enforcement officials, and the
    highly lucrative legal miraa trade benefits local politicians
    financially, removing any incentive to combat the problem.

    ----------
    NEXT STEPS
    ----------

    ¶9. (C) When asked about the most critical next steps in
    tackling drugs in Kenya, XXXXXXXXXXXX and XXXXXXXXXXXX agreed that, in
    order of importance, the GOK needs to: (1) demonstrate
    high-level political commitment to dealing with the
    seriousness of the problem and its negative impact on Kenyan
    society; (2) focus on supply issues by strengthening the
    criminal justice system and toughening legislation; and,
    (3)provide more resources for treatment and rehabilitation
    for addicts.

    -------

    NAIROBI 00002671  004.3 OF 004

    COMMENT
    -------

    ¶10. (C) While Kenyan law enforcement bodies clearly need to
    build capacity, there is a very real concern that the extent
    of corruption is so pervasive that increased law enforcement
    training may have the perverse effect of assisting traffickers
    to refine their methods to better avoid detection and
    prosecution.  The dismal human rights records of both the AP
    and KPS during the post-election violence and in other
    operations against local militias in the Nairobi, Mount Elgon
    and Mandera regions also raise questions about the international
    community's ability to support Kenyan law enforcement
    organizations. The Ambassador and Mission team will continue
    to raise the issue of drug trafficking at the highest levels of
    the GOK (including urging high-level participation at the next
    International Day against Drug Abuse. In addition to INL's
    forthcoming training for drug treatment counselors in Kenya,
    we continue to support coastal and port security initiatives
    and training for police and prosecutors. We also continue to
    lobby for the passage of the anti-money laundering bill
    currently under consideration in Parliament.
    End comment.

    RANNEBERGER

`