NAS MONTHLY REPORT FEBRUARY 2005

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BOGOTA 002505

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED

DEPT FOR INL/RM, INL/LP

DEPT FOR WHA/AND

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR EFIN KCRM PTER CO
SUBJECT: NAS MONTHLY REPORT FEBRUARY 2005



1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The spray program eradicated 18,086
hectares of coca in February. Colombian Army (COLAR) and
Colombian National Police Antinarcotics Directorate (DIRAN)
units conducted joint interdiction operations (septel).
Colombian Army Plan Colombia helicopters provided 1,993
hours of support to the COLAR Counternarcotics (CD) Brigade
and DIRAN in support of eradication operations. Three HCL
labs were destroyed and 250 kilos of cocaine were
intercepted on Colombian roads. Mobile Rural Police
(Caribinero) squadrons captured 35 narco-traffickers and 135
guerrillas. CNP/ARAVI aircraft completed 1,148 flying hours
of support to NAS's various programs. Eradication aircraft
conducted medical evacuations of Colombian soldiers. End
Summary.

Eradication and Interdiction
--------------


2. (U) During the month of February, OV-10s operating from
San Jose sprayed approximately 3,634 hectares of coca, while
AT-802s operating from Tumaco sprayed approximately 14,223
hectares of coca. The T-65 aircraft sprayed approximately
229 hectares of coca during this period while operating
first from Armenia, then from Pasto/Chachagui. In the area
of Pasto/Chachagui, the T-65s were also able to begin the
first poppy campaign of the year, resulting in 407 hectares
of poppy sprayed.


3. (U) On February 19, Eradication Search and Rescue (SAR)
personnel in San Jose took part in a simulated "down pilot"
exercise at the Colombian military base at El Barrancon.
While returning from the exercise the team was alerted to a
requirement to fly a medical evacuation mission for an
injured soldier. The SAR helicopter, accompanied by escort
helicopters, conducted the mission that resulted in the
evacuation of two soldiers.


4. (SBU) Eradication and COLAR aircraft were involved in
six incidents involving hostile fire during February,
resulting in a total of eight hostile fire impacts for the
month. Eradication AT-802s received four impacts, T-65s
received one impact, and UH-1Ns escort helicopters received
one impact. A Plan Colombia UH-60 aircraft received one
impact during the month. In addition, a Plan Colombia UH-1N
received one impact while escorting an eradication spray
package.


5. (SBU) COLAR Plan Colombia helicopters continued to
support CD Brigade troops and eradication operations in
Larandia, Tumaco, and Chachagui. Plan Colombia helicopters
flew over 1,993 hours and transported 2,278 passengers and
232,160 pounds of cargo. Fifty-three flight hours were
dedicated to medical evacuation missions to transport 49
patients.


6. (U) The CNP, led by DIRAN, continues to build on their
record-setting interdiction performance of CY2004. In
February the CNP destroyed 17 cocaine HCL labs and 83
cocaine base labs; over 4.5 metric tons of cocaine HCl and
coca base were seized, along with 41 kilos of heroin.


7. (U) The DIRAN Road Interdiction group based in
Villavicencio, Meta Department, seized 250 kilos of cocaine
at a road interdiction control point in Granada, Meta
Department. The cocaine was being transported in the roof
of a 4-wheel drive vehicle. Road interdiction operations in
Putumayo seized 12 kilos of coca base concealed in soft
drink cans.

Interservice Cooperation
--------------


8. (SBU) For the first time, COLAR helicopters flew DIRAN
troops on cocaine HCl lab interdiction missions. Over an
eight-day period, COLAR provided three UH-60 Blackhawk and
four Huey-II helicopters to conduct joint interdiction
operations in Narino Department. The DIRAN C-26
intelligence/command and control aircraft and one DIRAN UH-
60 Blackhawk also supported the missions that destroyed
three cocaine HCl laboratories.

In-Country Training Courses
--------------


9. (U) The US Army 7th Special Forces Group began the six
week Small Unit Tactics course in Espinal, Tolima
Department, training 55 Jungla Commandos in Close Quarters
Combat Training. The Jungla Commando four-month basic
course began on February 22 in Espinal with 98 trainees. The
five-week Sapper Course (demolitions) began on February 16
for 45 members of DIRAN. DIRAN base security personnel,
accompanied by NAS, conducted base defense training in the
DIRAN Northern Zone. In February, 62 CNP members departed
for training courses in the United States.

International Police Intelligence Conference
--------------


10. (U) Representatives from 28 countries and two
international organizations met at the CNP Intelligence
Directorate (DIPOL) February 17-18 to discuss the challenges
of transnational crime and terrorism. Keynote speakers
included the former GOC Inspector General and Constitutional
Court Justice who discussed Colombia's transition to an
accusatory system. The Acting Director of the European Union
Police agency (EUROPOL) briefed on advances by that
organization to centralize information on terrorism and
transnational crime. Europol offered to help form a similar
organization for Latin America.

Firewall Exercise Planning Conference
--------------


11. (U) Representatives from the Colombian Navy, DIRAN, Air
Force, UK Embassy, DEA, MILGP and NAS began planning the
second Firewall Field Training Exercise that will be held
April 4-14, near Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast.
Exercise will test reactions of Firewall units against three
separate scenarios, each simulating launching of narco go-
fasts. The newly installed Firewall communications network
will also be tested during the exercise.

Law Enforcement/Public Security
--------------


12. (U) One new Mobile Carabineros Squadron (EMCAR) and 200
replacement policemen for the existing squadrons completed
their training on February 25. To date, a total of 41
Carabineros Squadrons have been trained. The Combat Medics
Course began in January with 49 students, 30 EMCAR, 15
DIRAN, 1 GREAS (Colombian Coast Guard),1 GRATE (CNP Anti-
Terrorist Reaction Group),and 2 others.

Security and Democracy Foundation Event
--------------


13. (U) On February 23, the "Fundacion Seguridad and
Democracia" (Security and Democracy Foundation, established
with seed money from NAS),held a major conference to
examine the sustainability of Colombia's Defense and
Security Policy, established by President Uribe's
administration (also with USG assistance through a NAS
project). Three panels composed of government, academic and
outside experts concluded that Colombia was able to sustain
its national security strategy. Former President Pastrana,
who launched Plan Colombia and the build up of the military
and police forces, closed the conference.

Air Bridge Denial
--------------


14. (U) There was one Phase III event that resulted in the
destruction of a drug carrying aircraft and impoundment of
475 kilos of Cocaine. During this month there were over
5200 tracks over Colombia, of which 16 were declared
Unknown, Assumed Suspect.

Manual Poppy Eradication (DIRAN)
--------------

15. (SBU) NAS continues to press the GOC's Plan Colombia
Mobile Eradication Unit planners not to compromise security
in identifying manual eradication sites. On February 16, a
Mobile Eradication Unit walked into a minefield and took
sniper fire in Sardinata, Norte de Santander. Though the
group suffered no casualties, one third of the campesinos at
that site abandoned the program.


16. (U) In Pauna, Boyaca Department, an eight-member local
police force eradicated 108 hectares of coca.

CNP Aviation (ARAVI)
--------------


17. (U) The three largest components of ARAVI's fleet
clocked 1,148 mission hours in February: the UH-1H II
helicopters flew 790 mission hours with an operational
readiness rate of 49 percent, the Bell 212 helicopters flew
199 mission hours with an operational readiness rate of 66
percent, and the UH-60L helicopters flew 159 mission hours
with an operational readiness rate of 70 percent. NAS
approved ARAVI support for the "relevo" program of rotating
Carabineros in and out of rural police stations. ARAVI also
successfully managed the newly established flying hour
program (the first in ARAVI's history) for February, with 11
of the 12 aircraft models having a positive balance of
hours. Construction of the new hangar complex at ARAVI's
Guaymaral base remains on schedule. In-country rescue hoist
training for the major airframes was conducted and over-
water survival training began. NAS, Lockheed and Lockheed's
subcontractor held a program management review (PMR)
February 23-24 and agreed to include more specific
performance measurements for Lockheed contract in the Task
Execution Plan (TEP). The PMR also identified 25 additional
action items for completion over the next three months.

Port Security
--------------


18. (U) NAS, DIRAN airport units, and the Airport Police
deployed NAS purchased ION Scanners on a trial basis at
Bogota's El Dorado International Airport. A trainer from the
manufacturer trained Airport Police, DIRAN airport police,
and DIRAN Road Interdiction personnel in the operation of
these narcotics/explosives detection devices.


19. (U) NAS and US Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE)
began cooperation with the recently vetted Bogot Airport
Police by donating radios, flashlights, and hand tools to
assist them in internal communication and cargo and luggage
inspections.


20. (U) NAS and DIRAN seaport unit commanders participated
in a Spanish government-sponsored conference on Narcotics
interdiction in seaports at Cartagena.

Environment
--------------


21. (U) NAS concluded its annual environmental verification
throughout Colombia. Analysis of soil samples is in
progress.

WOOD