Other Presidential Documents its own to meet the goa]s of the 1988 UN Drug Convention. U.S. vita] na- tional interests, however, require that Nigeria be certified so that the assist- ance that would otherwise be withheld remains available to support the continuing transition to democratic civilian rule and the increased efforts to improve cooperation on drug and other crime issues evident under the democratic government. Nigeria remains the hub of African drug trafficking. Nigerian poly-crime organizations operate extensive global trafficking networks, dominate the Sub-Saharan drug markets, and account for a large part of the heroin im- ported into the United States. They also transport South American cocaine to Europe, Asia and elsewhere in Africa, especially South Africa, and ex- port marijuana to Europe and West Africa. The counter-drug efforts of the Government of Nigeria (GON) remain unfocused and lacking in material support. The new democratic govern- ment of President Obasanjo's strong public denunciation of drug trafficking and financial crimes is a welcome change from the high-level indifference that characterized most of Nigerian military rule. However, there have been no new actions or policies to bring about change. The year 1999 saw the continuation of efforts limited largely to interdic- tion of low-level couriers and destruction of cannabis crops. Although the new government signaled its willingness to work with the USG on extra- dition issues, Nigeria did not extradite anyone in response to outstanding U.S. extradition requests. Well-drafted counter-drug legislation is already on the books, but remains largely un-enforced. Nigerian law enforcement agencies did not significantly improve their counter-drug performance in 1999. There were no major trafficker prosecu- tions or arrests by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in 1999. Total heroin seizures increased, due primarily to a large seizure at Kano Airport. The NDLEA has signaled a willingness to increase its profes- sional expertise, but institutional limitations make it difficult for Nigerian law enforcement officials to make progress against increasingly sophisti- cated criminals. Asset seizures did not become a useful counter-drug tool. Awareness of the local drug abuse problem is growing, but demand reduc- tion efforts have been limited in scope and success. Nigerian money launderers operate sophisticated global networks to re- patriate illicit proceeds from drug trafficking, financial fraud, and other crimes. In 1995, the GON enacted a decree to combat illicit drug-derived money laundering, but enforcement has been uneven, yielding few seizures and no convictions. Nigeria is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention. Newly-elected President Obasanjo retired 143 military officers tainted by positions they held during the military government. Anti-corruption legis- lation has been proposed, but is stalled in the senate. Sporadic progress against corruption within the NDLEA contributed to its reputation as Nige- ria's most professional law enforcement body. The NDLEA made regular ar- rests of individual drug couriers in 1999, but did not arrest or prosecute any major traffickers. Assets have been seized, but no forfeitures, which re- quire convictions, have been made. The NDLEA chairman was briefly held in contempt for refusing to release several hundred thousand dollars worth of vehicles while their owner's case proceeds slowly through the legal sys- tem. The DEA received good cooperation from the NDLEA, but rampant corruption prevents sharing of sensitive information. NDLEA actions at air- 375
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