COUNTER DRUG BRIGADE SUCCESSES IN NARINO

UNCLAS BOGOTA 003691

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR INL AND WHA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PTER MOPS CO
SUBJECT: COUNTER DRUG BRIGADE SUCCESSES IN NARINO


1. (U) Summary: Counter Drug (CD) Brigade operations in
Narino Department from January to March destroyed 13 HCL
labs, captured over 1500 kgs of cocaine HCL and over 5000
kgs of explosives. The 1st and 2nd battalions of the Plan
Colombia-supported CD Brigade have been conducting ongoing
operations to secure areas in southern Narino to enable
spray aircraft to conduct aerial eradication. Thus far in
2005 the aerial eradication program has sprayed over 45,000
hectares of coca in Narino Department alone. End Summary.


2. (U) During the first quarter of 2005, elements of the CD
Brigade conducted a series of successful operations in the
general vicinity of the Mira, Guisa, Nulpe, and Mataje
rivers (major drug transit routes):

- In a January operation the CD Brigade destroyed two
cocaine HCL processing labs, over one million coca plant
seedlings (enough to plant over 80 hectares of coca),more
than 40 tons of liquid precursors and 10 tons of solid
precursors, and three narcoterrorist camps.

- During a February 17-27 operation the CD Brigade destroyed
one cocaine HCL lab and a narcoterrorist camp belonging to
the Armed Revolutionary Front of Colombia (FARC).

- During a March 7-29 operation in southern Narino
Department the CD Brigade captured more than 1500 kgs of
cocaine HCL and nearly 500 kgs of cocaine base. The unit
destroyed eight cocaine hcl labs belonging to the `Daniel
Aldana' Mobile Column of the FARC and to elements of the
`Cabrera Ruales' Company of the National Liberation Army
(ELN) narco-terrorist groups. The CD Brigade destroyed over
40,000 gallons of liquid precursor chemicals and over 67
tons of solid precursors. The unit also destroyed nearly
three tons of explosives of the type used to construct car
and house bombs; five tons of food stuffs; seed beds with
over 700,000 coca plants; and nine narco-terrorist camps.


3. (SBU) Comment: CD Brigade operations and tactics in
support of spray operations have evolved under the new
commander, Brigadier General Luis Felipe Paredes Cadena.
Night and daytime assaults are conducted against specific
targets in the spray areas. The objective is to stay on the
ground only the time necessary to engage the enemy, destroy
camps and drug processing labs, and neutralize identified
threats to spray aircraft. These operations are typically 3-
5 days in duration, compared to the 2-3 week sweeps
previously employed. The extended deployments often
resulted in higher casualties from enemy hit and run attacks
and anti-personnel mines laid in advance of CD Brigade troop
movements. During the Narino campaign there have been fewer
casualties, fewer impacts against spray aircraft, and a
higher success rate in operations against narco-terrorist
groups. End Comment.

Wood