PARAGUAY'S 2005 THIRD QUARTER INL REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASUNCION 001281 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR INL ABBY SMITH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR KCRM PA SUBJECT: PARAGUAY'S 2005 THIRD QUARTER INL REPORT ¶1. (U) Summary: - QUARTERLY ACTIVITIES - PROGRAM DISCUSSION - QUARTRLY SENAD STATISTIC QUARTERLY ACTIVITIES - COUNTERNARCOTICS ¶2. (U) On August 13, it was reported that retired police officer Zunilda Roig, her brother Jaime Ruben Roig Baez and 12 other individuals were imprisoned after being arrested on August 9, when SENAD seized 336 Kilograms (KG) of Marijuana during raids on properties in Lambar, Villa Elisa, San Lorenzo and Capiata. All 14 are suspected of being part of an international drug-trafficking organization. ¶3. (U) On August 26, the Canine Unit detected and sized 7.3 Kilograms (KG) of cocaine and detained Pedro Adrian Venero Murillo, a Mexican national, the cocaine with an estimated value of USD 51,018, was woven into the clothing and found in three (3) suitcases. SENAD believes the drugs were bound for the United States via Mexico. According to a news report on August 28, Colombian National, Julio Cesar Ramirez Gutierrez, was also detained in connection with Venero Murillio. ¶4. (U) On September 27, during a routine inspection of TAM airlines at Asuncion International Airport, the National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) With the assistance and detection by a Canine Unit, arrested Cristian J. Galeano Oviedo for cocaine trafficking. Oveiedo was captured with 2 kilos of cocaine that were hidden in the compartments of Oviedo,s luggage. According to SENAD agents the cocaine destination was Valencia, Spain. The prosecutor in charge of this case is Gilda Villalba of the district of Luque. ¶5. (U) On August 11, SENAD and Chilean law enforcement with the assistant of Bolivian authorities, conducted the first joint operations to capture members of an international drug ring as part of a controled delivery. Law enforcement officials in Santiago, Chile apprehended 13 suspects and seized two (2) tons of marijuana. SENAD arrested 11 in Asuncion and Colonel Oviedo, seizing 371 Kilograms (KG) of Marijuana in Coronel Oviedo and 337 in Asuncion. Additionally, SENAD seized four (4) vehicles and currency. This operation began in Santiago in June, when authorities learned of the truck hauling the drugs. The operation demonstrated excellent cooperation and strengthened intelligence sharing among Paraguay, Bolivia and Chile. ¶6. (U) On July 12, During a raid one block away from the DCM's residence, SENAD captured Brazilian national, Luis Alberto Da Cunha, alias Barba, who was on on Brazil's Ten Most Wanted List. In cooperation with Brazilian National Police, SENAD seized weapons, cars, cellular telephones and false documents. Da Cunha was one of the largest drug traffickers in the country and is connected to Ivan Mesquita. Brazil is seeking extradition of Da Cunha. Trafficking in Persons (TIP) ¶7. (U) On July 11, Paraguayan Ambassador to Argentina, Orlando Fiorotto, announced that two minors exploited in the sex trade would be returning to Paraguay soon. These young girls were among 33 women and children rescued in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. Two others were repatriated a week before, one of whom was pregnant. According to Eugenio Ambrosi from the International Organization of Migration (IOM),trafficking of children and women has increased by 27 percent in the last five years in Paraguay. Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) ¶8. (U) The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MIC) announced that the INL-Funded IPR Enforcement Unit (UTE) had seized pirated CDs, DVDs, PlayStation 2 games as well as cases and labels with an estimated valued of $2 million USD. UTE coordinated the operation with prosecutors, Finance Ministry Officials and the National Police. Seven people were detained and arrest warrants were issued for two others. MIC Minister Raul Vera highlighted the operation as an evidence of government,s continued resolve to fight IPR violations. ¶9. (SBU) On September 15, During a U.S. Treasury Department training Course, Col. Felix Cruz, the director of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce,s (MIC) INL-Funded Specialized Technical Unit (UTE) coordinated with prosecutors to arrest Customs official Luis Alberto Panza Benitez, a member of the Customs Verification and Technical Unit (UTAVE),on bribery charges. Panza is reportedly well connected to former Senator and Ambassador to Spain, Nelson Argana. A private sector dispatch agent who is a Colorado and ran for a governorship in the last election was also arrested as an accomplice to bribery. This success demonstrated that US-trained investigators and vetted units could make a dramatic difference. ¶10. (U) Program Discussion: a. Demand Reduction The Prevention Program continues to reach hundreds of schools each month. The program is coordinated and directed by Esmelda Acosta Ortega and eight program assistants. It includes formal training, informal sessions, public seminars, teacher-instructor sessions and the dissemination of informative drug awareness materials. The drug awareness and prevention talks are given to children from fourth to eleventh grade. The last report records from September 2004 to September 2005 show that in the central district alone the drug awareness program has reached a total of 44,710 students and formal training was provided to 1,068 schoolteachers. A total of 219 public educational institutions have been reached. b. Narcotics Detection Canine Program The canine program continues to enhance the overall efforts of SENAD,s drug interdiction program. The program consists of a Coordinator, 12 guides and 12 canines, thanks to new a canine that was added to the program in late August. This should allow for enhanced efforts for specific operations. The canines continue to be used in the international Airport in Asuncion as well as checkpoints throughout the country, including Ciudad del Este on the Paraguayan-Brazilian Border, Mariscal Estigarribia and Pedro Juan Caballero Paraguayan-Brazilian Border. ¶C. Law Enforcement 1.Counter Narcotics The Government of Paraguay, through SENAD, has continued to make advancements in its drug enforcement activities, including the seizure of cocaine and marijuana and the destruction of marijuana crops. ¶11. (U) Training From September 12 to October 07, the U.S. Treasury Department,s Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) provided Basic Economic Crime Investigation training. This training aims to teach investigative techniques that apply to complex economic crime investigations in a variety of areas such as trademark, copyright, piracy, tax evasion, corruption and money laundering to select members of SENAD, SEPRELAD, the Finance Ministry, the Revenue Department and Customs. INL provided logistical and financial support. ¶12. (U) Miscellaneous Issues Quarterly SENAD statistics 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Cocaine 105.9 Kg 12.39 Kg 5.64 Kg 0 Seized (kg) Marijuana Seized (kg) 25.601Kg 26,737 Kg 9,000Kg 0 Marijuana Crops 761 Ha 219 Ha 3000 Ha 0 Destroyed Arrests (total) 317 45 97 0 - Cocaine 10 11 25 0 - Marijuana (cultivation) 0 1 1 0 - Marijuana 6 32 58 0 - Counterfeit 0 0 0 0 Currency - Int'l Trafficking 1 0 0 0 Firearms - Trafficking 0 1 2 0 Narcotics - Illegal Entry 0 0 2 0 - Money Laundering 0 0 9 0 - Result of Investigation KEANE