Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05GUATEMALA2641
2005-11-21 14:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:
EMBASSY GUATEMALA HOSTS MINI-DUBLIN MEETING
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 002641
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP, AIMEE MARTIN
DEPARTMENT FOR INL/PC, LAURA MCKECHNIE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR KCRM GT
SUBJECT: EMBASSY GUATEMALA HOSTS MINI-DUBLIN MEETING
REF: A) STATE 200169 B) MCKECHNIE EMAIL 10/13/05
Pursuant to instructions reftel, post convened a mini-
Dublin group meeting on November 8. Following is post?s
report in the format forwarded in the referenced McKechnie
email:
Status: Guatemala remains a major drug transit country for
South American cocaine and heroin en route to the United
States and Europe. Large shipments regularly move through
Guatemala by air, road and sea, with recent trends showing
maritime routes becoming relatively more active. In 2004,
Guatemalan law enforcement agencies seized 4.5 metric toms
of cocaine; they have seized 4.1 metric tons through
October 31 of 2005. Guatemalan police have good
cooperation with international partners, but effective
police work continues to be impeded by inadequate
resources, corruption and lack of an effective middle
management cadre. Gang crime is also a growing social
problem, with organized street gangs controlling the street
level distribution of cocaine and crack in Guatemala?s
urban areas. Guatemala grows marijuana for local
consumption and the cultivation of opium poppy is growing,
particularly in the western highlands bordering Mexico.
There are also indications that trafficking in precursor
chemicals is a problem.
In November 2003 the GOG approved an updated counterdrug
master-plan for the period 2003-8, replacing the previous
five-year plan. This strategy includes two important
principles: community participation and the
decentralization of counterdrug actions. It describes
specific objectives for both demand and supply reduction
and their corresponding criteria for measuring
effectiveness. In addition, the government has created a
multi-agency working group to focus their counterdrug
efforts, coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The United States supports Guatemalan programs to combat
narcotrafficking and organized crime, including street
gangs. The European Commission, France, Italy and Spain
have no specific counterdrug programs, but do have programs
that support the police and judicial sectors. The French
government sponsored regional training in Martinique for
local police officers, and Canada has provided crime scene
investigation assistance, with satisfactory results. Great
Britain has no bilateral funds designated for counterdrug
purposes, but does have a regional program which is
administered from their mission in Panama. While most
mini-Dublin Group members do not have sizable assistance
programs in Guatemala, they are open to using available
resources in complementary ways.
Recommendations: Participants agreed that Guatemala lacks
modern tools to fight organized crime and agreed to follow
the progress of GOG-sponsored crime control legislation,
noting that the politics and parliamentary procedures of
Guatemala?s congress could hinder or delay the passage of
such legislation. All agreed that Guatemala?s police,
prosecutors and courts need substantial improvement so that
cases can be successfully investigated and prosecuted. The
group noted that the problems of corruption and
intimidation make it difficult for witnesses to come
forward or for honest public officials to do their jobs
with any sort of efficiency or initiative. The group also
noted with concern the resumption of opium poppy
cultivation in the western highlands and agreed to follow
this issue. This is especially important given that in
some parts of the country, notably sections of the Peten,
the western highlands and the Pacific coast, traffickers
and their associates have become the de-facto local
authorities.
The group recommended continued engagement with the
Guatemalan government on the importance of strong
leadership and increased resource allocation in the police
and Ministry of Government. The group will continue to
encourage the GOG to increase wages paid to Guatemalan
police, so that a better quality applicant can be attracted
who will be less vulnerable to corruption. The group also
agreed to encourage members of Guatemala?s congress to
review its quorum rules, so that worthwhile legislation is
not held hostage to the failure of congressional deputies
to attend sessions.
DERHAM
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP, AIMEE MARTIN
DEPARTMENT FOR INL/PC, LAURA MCKECHNIE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR KCRM GT
SUBJECT: EMBASSY GUATEMALA HOSTS MINI-DUBLIN MEETING
REF: A) STATE 200169 B) MCKECHNIE EMAIL 10/13/05
Pursuant to instructions reftel, post convened a mini-
Dublin group meeting on November 8. Following is post?s
report in the format forwarded in the referenced McKechnie
email:
Status: Guatemala remains a major drug transit country for
South American cocaine and heroin en route to the United
States and Europe. Large shipments regularly move through
Guatemala by air, road and sea, with recent trends showing
maritime routes becoming relatively more active. In 2004,
Guatemalan law enforcement agencies seized 4.5 metric toms
of cocaine; they have seized 4.1 metric tons through
October 31 of 2005. Guatemalan police have good
cooperation with international partners, but effective
police work continues to be impeded by inadequate
resources, corruption and lack of an effective middle
management cadre. Gang crime is also a growing social
problem, with organized street gangs controlling the street
level distribution of cocaine and crack in Guatemala?s
urban areas. Guatemala grows marijuana for local
consumption and the cultivation of opium poppy is growing,
particularly in the western highlands bordering Mexico.
There are also indications that trafficking in precursor
chemicals is a problem.
In November 2003 the GOG approved an updated counterdrug
master-plan for the period 2003-8, replacing the previous
five-year plan. This strategy includes two important
principles: community participation and the
decentralization of counterdrug actions. It describes
specific objectives for both demand and supply reduction
and their corresponding criteria for measuring
effectiveness. In addition, the government has created a
multi-agency working group to focus their counterdrug
efforts, coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The United States supports Guatemalan programs to combat
narcotrafficking and organized crime, including street
gangs. The European Commission, France, Italy and Spain
have no specific counterdrug programs, but do have programs
that support the police and judicial sectors. The French
government sponsored regional training in Martinique for
local police officers, and Canada has provided crime scene
investigation assistance, with satisfactory results. Great
Britain has no bilateral funds designated for counterdrug
purposes, but does have a regional program which is
administered from their mission in Panama. While most
mini-Dublin Group members do not have sizable assistance
programs in Guatemala, they are open to using available
resources in complementary ways.
Recommendations: Participants agreed that Guatemala lacks
modern tools to fight organized crime and agreed to follow
the progress of GOG-sponsored crime control legislation,
noting that the politics and parliamentary procedures of
Guatemala?s congress could hinder or delay the passage of
such legislation. All agreed that Guatemala?s police,
prosecutors and courts need substantial improvement so that
cases can be successfully investigated and prosecuted. The
group noted that the problems of corruption and
intimidation make it difficult for witnesses to come
forward or for honest public officials to do their jobs
with any sort of efficiency or initiative. The group also
noted with concern the resumption of opium poppy
cultivation in the western highlands and agreed to follow
this issue. This is especially important given that in
some parts of the country, notably sections of the Peten,
the western highlands and the Pacific coast, traffickers
and their associates have become the de-facto local
authorities.
The group recommended continued engagement with the
Guatemalan government on the importance of strong
leadership and increased resource allocation in the police
and Ministry of Government. The group will continue to
encourage the GOG to increase wages paid to Guatemalan
police, so that a better quality applicant can be attracted
who will be less vulnerable to corruption. The group also
agreed to encourage members of Guatemala?s congress to
review its quorum rules, so that worthwhile legislation is
not held hostage to the failure of congressional deputies
to attend sessions.
DERHAM