BAHAMAS: BUDGET CUTS HINDER OPBAT OPERATIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NASSAU 000937

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR INL/LP KBROWN
STATE FOR WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR BF OPBAT
SUBJECT: BAHAMAS: BUDGET CUTS HINDER OPBAT OPERATIONS


Summary
--------------


1. The withdrawal of air assets currently committed to
Operations Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) has already had
a measurable impact on drug interdiction in The Bahamas.
Over the longer term, failure to restore assets committed to
OPBAT to the status quo ante could adversely impact bilateral
relations with The Bahamas, reduce the safety margin of
helicopter crews, reduce Search and Rescue (SAR) capability,
and ultimately increase the flow of drugs through the region
into the United States as traffickers take advantage of
OPBAT's reduced capabilities. Post urges the Department to
work with other Washington agencies to examine options to
restore full operational capability as soon as practicable.
End of Summary.

Deterring Migrants also Deterred Traffickers
--------------


2. Last month, at the onset of the Haitian crisis, the U.S.
Coast Guard re-directed many of its resources to respond to a
potential illegal migrant flood. At its height, twenty
cutters were positioned in Caribbean waters, ready to respond
to the unstable political situation that culminated in the
resignation of ex-President Jean Bertrand Aristide. The USG
presence off the coast of Haiti and in the Windward Pass had
a noticeable impact on drug trafficking in the region.
During this period of increased USG presence in the region,
OPBAT missions observed a decline in both the amount and
frequency of narcotics shipments through the area.

Doing More with Less
--------------


3. As part of this re-alignment of assets to address
instability in Haiti, OPBAT lost one of its assets as a
helicopter and its crew were re-assigned from Andros Island
to intercept illegal migrants in the Mona Passage off the
western coast of Puerto Rico. Earlier, in March 2003,
another helicopter and crew were reassigned from OPBAT duty.
This helicopter has yet to be returned to OPBAT duty. The
result of these decisions is that in the past eighteen
months, OPBAT's effective asset strength provided by the USCG
has declined from four helicopters and four crew to two
helicopters and two crew- an effective reduction in assets of
50 percent.


4. OPBAT remaining helicopter assets are assigned as follows:
-- The Coast Guard maintains two HH-60 Jayhawk helicopters in
The Bahamas, one at the OPBAT base in Matthewtown, Great
Inagua; and one at the OPBAT base on Andros Island, AUTEC
facility.
-- The U.S. Army also maintains three UH-60 Blackhawk
helicopters in Georgetown, on the island of Great Exuma.


5. In addition, OPBAT has access to three fast response boats
pursuit boats that were donated by NAS and deployed across
the archipelago to provide much needed "end game" to
anti-drug helicopter missions.


6. The loss of these valuable assets has made drug
interdiction missions over Bahamian waters even more
difficult. The reduction in the number of helicopters, and
crews available has hampered OPBAT ability to conduct routine
patrol and surveillance missions. Limited to 12-hour shifts,
instead of past 24/7 coverage, OPBAT controllers have much
reduced scheduling flexibility and conduct only hard
intelligence driven and no anti drug patrolling or
intelligence gathering missions.

Loss Opportunities
--------------


7. The reduction is starting to have an impact on OPBAT 's
ability to react to information on the movement of
contraband. During March 2004, OPBAT documented at least
four occasions in which it was not able to react to
intelligence regarding possible trans-shipments of narcotics
for lack of an available helicopter.
Conclusion
--------------

8. Any permanent, unilateral withdrawal of OPBAT's assets
would send the wrong message to drug traffickers who
regularly monitor our operations as well as the GCOB. OPBAT
is a multi-national, multi-agency, multi-functional model
that requires long term, consistent commitment of assets by
all parties if it is to continue its track records of
success. All elements of OPBAT face the same resource
constraints and temptation to pull out assets on the
assumption that the other players will pick up the deficit.
Post believes that the USG must set the example of resisting
this temptation. Second, the message to drug traffickers in
the region of a permanent force reduction in OPBAT's air
assets would be equally devastating - the once off-limits
Bahamian waters are again open for business. Intelligence
gathered by OPBAT reveals that narcotics traffickers monitor
the flights of helicopters when they are trying to move
contraband through Bahamian waters. It is only a matter of
time before traffickers realize the decreased presence of
helicopters in the area.


9. Members of Congress who have visited Post and have been
briefed on the situation have expressed concern at the
reduction in the Mission's drug and alien interdiction
capabilities, as well as its SAR response capability implied
by a permanent reduction in OPBAT air assets. Post urges
Department to work with other Washington agencies to examine
options to restore OPBAT full operational capability as soon
as practicable.
WITAJEWSKI