FARC MAY BE BUYING STOLEN MEDICINE IN BRAZIL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRASILIA 001148

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KCRM PTER BR
SUBJECT: FARC MAY BE BUYING STOLEN MEDICINE IN BRAZIL

REF: A. BRASILIA 785

B. RECIFE 39


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. Since November 2004, Federal Police in the
Brazilian state of Amazonas have been investigating the
disappearance of 8,000 bottles of Glucantine, a drug used to
treat a parasitic disease common in the Amazon. Last
October, locals in Amazonas state found an abandoned boat
that contained Glucantine, money, and ammunition rounds on a
remote river near the Brazil/Colombia border that may have
been en route to the FARC. Since Glucantine is sold and
distributed exclusively by the Brazilian Ministry of Health,
the Federal Police are also investigating a possible
connection between the FARC and local government officials
during the sale of the drug. In a related development, the
Joint Congressional Committee for Intelligence Affairs has
developed a plan to combat guerrilla groups operating in
Brazil. End Summary.

Missing Medicine Linked to FARC
--------------

2. (SBU) Recent press reports are indicating that, since
November 2004, Federal Police in the Brazilian state of
Amazonas have been investigating the disappearance of 8,000
bottles of Glucantine, a drug used to treat a parasitic
disease common in the Amazon. According to a statement by
Federal Police Superintendent Graca Malheiros, locals in the
Sao Gabriel municipality in western Amazonas state found an
abandoned boat in October 2004 on a river near the border
between Brazil, Columbia, and Peru. Locals living near the
river told the Federal Police that they found the drifting
boat after a thunderstorm last October. According to the
locals, three men had been aboard the boat during the storm
and one died. The nationality or whereabouts of the men are
unknown. Local river dwellers found approximately 2,700
Glucantine bottles, an unpublished sum of money, and over
15,000 rounds of ammunition onboard. Malheiros believes that
the Glucantine was destined for Colombia based on the boat's
location and the other items found on board.


3. (SBU) Since Glucantine is sold and distributed exclusively
by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, Federal Police in
Amazonas are investigating state Health Secretariat
employees who were involved in the original sale of 8,000
Glucantine bottles. (Note: The 2,700 bottles found onboard
the abandoned boat last October were included in this sale.
End Note.) In January 2005, Federal Police discovered that
5,300 bottles of Glucantine were sold and then rerouted to an
unknown location by four employees at the state Health
Secretariat. Since the number of bottles missing is larger

SIPDIS
than what was found on the boat, Federal Police are
investigating the disappearance of the missing bottles. The
Federal Police believe that two state Secretariat of Health
employees and two contractors probably diverted the missing
medicine to the FARC. One
employee has been fired; the others are still under
investigation.

Joint Intelligence Affairs Committee
--------------

4. (SBU) Recent press reports allege that the FARC might be
moving ammunition, drugs, and other supplies along the
Brazilian border between Columbia and Peru. In response to
these allegations, the Joint Congressional Committee for
Intelligence Affairs announced that it has created an action
plan to combat guerrilla groups like the FARC that are linked
to the international trafficking of drugs and other
contraband. The committee sent a classified report to
legislators two weeks ago outlining the plan. The report
will remain classified until the Committee Chairman, Senator
Cristovam Buarque (PT-Brasilia),approves the report.
Buarque said the committee will vote on the proposed action
plan after Congress concludes its investigation into
allegations that the FARC channeled US $5 million to
President Lula's presidential campaign in 2002 (ref A).

COMMENT
--------------

5. (SBU) In reftels, we noted that the press is making more
of alleged FARC connections to Brazil's PT party and the
Landless Movement (MST) than seems warranted by the facts.
Yet there may be truth to the reports that FARC is purchasing
stolen medicine in Amazonas state. Federal police reports,
the circumstances surrounding the abandoned boat, and the
medicine's disappearance are further evidence of how the FARC
uses Brazil's vast Amazonian region in support of its
terrorist activities. It is also noteworthy that, despite
press reports, senior GOB leaders seem to be ignoring this
event.

DANILOVICH