Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03GUATEMALA2387
2003-09-16 16:55:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:  

GT NAVY BRINGS IN 102 STRANDED ILLEGAL ALIENS

Tags:  PREL MOPS GT 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 002387 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MOPS GT
SUBJECT: GT NAVY BRINGS IN 102 STRANDED ILLEGAL ALIENS

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 002387

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MOPS GT
SUBJECT: GT NAVY BRINGS IN 102 STRANDED ILLEGAL ALIENS


1. The Guatemalan Navy launched patrol boats in response to
information from the Embassy's Tactical Analysis Team
indicating an Ecuadorian vessel, possibly transporting
narcotics, was stalled 40 nautical miles southwest of
Guatemala's Puerto Quetzal. The vessel "Matheus Tollet" was
intercepted at 0330 local time on September 11, and was found
to be carrying 102 illegal aliens but no narcotics. The
vessel, which has accomodations for a crew of 12, departed
Ecuardor 13 days earlier and had run out of food and water by
the time it was intercepted. The Navy towed the disabled
vessel to Puerto Quetzal where it was met by Immigration
Officials, a prosecutor, and Embassy DHS personnel. The
illegal aliens are being held at a hotel/shelter in the
capital for interviews and processing before being
repatriated. Some of the aliens may be expelled via the U.S.
as alien smugglers or material witnesses. A similar incident
last year resulted in convictions in Washington, DC against
four crewmembers.


2. Comment: This is an encouraging demonstration of
political will on the part of the Government of Guatemala to
combat smuggling at sea. As the implementation of our new
Maritime counternarcotics agreement gets underway, more such
incidents are likely and the GOG's handling of this one,
which required no high-level communications to secure GOG
cooperation, sets a positive precedent.
HAMILTON