INL MONTHLY REPORT - NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KINGSTON 000363 SIPDIS DEPT FOR INL/LP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR KCRM JM SUBJECT: INL MONTHLY REPORT - NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2004 November Activities and Achievements ¶1. The following is a combined report for the period November and December 2004. It reflects activities in all INL supported programs and an assessment of progress in achieving mutual goals established in the current Letters of Agreement (LOA). ¶2. Drug Eradication and Interdiction Program - The Jamaica Defense Force and the Jamaica Constabulary Force Narcotics Division continue to aggressively combine their strengths to fight the illicit drug trade. Intelligence provided by the JDF Headquarters Intelligence unit resulted in the seizure of 1,714.65 kilograms of compressed marijuana in the parish of Clarendon, Westmoreland and St Elizabeth as well as the destruction of 10.53 hectares, 100,000 seedlings, and 12 nurseries in the Parish of St Ann. The marijuana fields were planted in rugged terrain and sheltered by thick vegetation. Further aerial reconnaissance was done in five locations in the parishes of Manchester, Clarendon and St. Ann and approximately 1.8 hectares of marijuana was identified. This small area has been earmarked for eradication. ¶3. Statistics to date show a percentage increase in most of the activities except a -4.85% change in the number of hectares destroyed and -100% in the discovery of clandestine laboratories. There has been a significant increase of 43.06% and 57.14% in the number of seedlings and nurseries destroyed. The security forces destroyed 4,045.97 Kilograms of cured marijuana, 239.35 kilograms of seeds year to date. There is no data for 2003 with which to in compare these activities. . Statistics Seizures and Eradication for the month of November 2004 Marijuana HC 10.53 Seedlings Units 100,000 Cured Marijuana Kg 1,714.65 Nurseries Each 12 Cocaine Kg .23 Seizures and Eradication Year-To-Date November 2004 2004 2003 %Change Marijuana HC 404.96 425.6 -4.85 Seedlings Units 4,909,930 3,431,975 43.06 Cured Marijuana Kg 4,045.97 no data Nurseries Ea 396 252 57.14 Seeds Kg 239.35 no data Cocaine Kg .23 no data Clandestine Lab Unit nil 1 -100 ¶4. The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) "new" initiative "Operation Kingfish" is a collaborative effort of local police, military with American, Canadian and British counterparts was launched in the presence of the US Ambassador and United Kingdom High Commissioner to Jamaica who spoke and endorsed the operation. This operation, in addition to seizing several go-fast boats suspected of being used for illicit traffic, has targeted a number of persons resulting in arrests in the United Kingdom. One well-known trafficker Norman Ramcharam and Everton Dennis were arrested on money laundering charges in the UK. They were both convicted and sentenced to seven and thirteen years respectively. ¶5. Through a USD 50,000 blanket Purchase Agreement approved by the Narcotics Affairs Section the Jamaica Defense Force Coast Guard (JDFCG) was able to repair 2 Sea Arks, One point Class, and 2 go fast vessels. During the month of November the JDF CG conducted 140 routine and operational patrols along the North and South Coast of Jamaica amounting to 442 hours underway and utilizing 4440 and 8775 liters of petrol and diesel respectively. The Coast Guard seized a sailboat with 1 pound of compressed marijuana but the courts later released the occupants and the vessel. Ten routine dives for contraband was conducted on the bauxite carriers in Clarendon and St. Ann with negative results. ¶6. The Contraband Enforcement Team (CET) processed 151 passengers during November. A male passenger who arrived at the Sangster's International Airport in Montego Bay from Curacao had ingested 33 pellets of cocaine. He was subsequently arrested. Marijuana weighing 2.84 kilograms was concealed in a coffee maker and another quantity was found in eight fuel injectors. The shipments were destined for the United States and London respectively. The number of containers examined in November increased except for the number of export containers, which had a significant reduction of -69%. The number of break bulk containers was 168 in comparison to 118 for the same period in 2003, an increase of 42%. The number of transshipment containers examined was 54 in comparison to 15 in November 2003. One .45 caliber para ordnance firearm was found in the office of a Customs Officer at Berth #7 at Kingston Wharves. The matter is being investigated by the JCF Organized Crime Bureau. ¶7. The United States Marshall Services Jamaica Field Office works in collaboration with the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB),international law enforcement agencies from the UK and other US agencies. On November 25,the Jamaica Constabulary Force Fugitive Team (JFAT) arrested Karl Powell in the Parish of Manchester. Powell was wanted in South Carolina for narcotics charges. Dean Hanniford a 17-year-old Jamaican wanted for murder in Jamaica is presently being held in the West Palm Beach County jail on misdemeanor and immigration charges. Hanniford faces deportation to Jamaica upon resolution of his local charges. ¶8. The National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) has a new Deputy Director. Although he comes with an intelligence background and the necessary skills to fulfill the mandate of the unit, there are no guarantees that he will be given the authority and latitude required to move this agency forward. One of his first challenges is to put the officers through a vetting process, including polygraph testing. The NIB Advisor had favorable discussion with the Commissioner of Police concerning increased support from the JCF for the NIB but little action to date. December Achievements and Activities ¶9. The Narcotics Eradication Teams focused their energies in the parishes of St Elizabeth and Westmoreland. The Jamaica Constabulary Force had the benefit of air and land transportation while the second battalion the Jamaica Regiment depended on transportation by road. A team consisting of fourteen soldiers and three policemen camped out for two days in the hilly and thickly vegetated terrain in the districts of Arlington and New Forest in the Parish of St. Elizabeth where they destroyed marijuana and seedlings. They observed the growing of domestic crops among the marijuana cultivation. The table below shows the statistics of the joint eradication operation for the month of December 2004. STATISTICS Seizures and Eradication for the month of December 2004 Cocaine kg not available Marijuana HC 21.12 Cured Marijuana Kg 224 Seeds Kg 0.6 Seedlings Units 261,500 Nurseries Ea 43 Seizures and Eradication Year-To-Date December 2004 2004 2003 %Change Cocaine/kgs 1735.51 1619.21 6.70 Marijuana/HC 426.07 444.64 -4.18 Cured Marijuana/Kg 2,648.59 no data Seeds/Kg 2,246.87 no data Seedlings/Units 5,201,430 3,711,975 40.13 Nurseries/Ea 444 279 59.14 Mash 105.85 no data The year to date statistics for grown marijuana plants shows a decrease of 4.18%. With the donation of the two new trucks to the JCF it is anticipated that there will be a significant increase in the eradication statistics for 2005. The destruction of seedlings and seeds continue to show a significant increase. ¶10. Military and Narcotics police intelligence under "Operation Kingfish" resulted in the seizure of approximately 217.92 kilograms of cured marijuana in the Parish of Westmoreland. The JDF AW spent approximately 2.6 hours of airtime, with members of the Headquarters Defense Force Intelligence Unit and the JCF Narcotics team searching for a vessel suspected of transporting narcotics. The vessel was later intercepted by the Marine Police in the mangrove North of the Great Goat Island, south of Jamaica however, no contraband was found. In addition, the JDF Engineering unit blasted the 600-meter Greenwood airstrip located in St. James. Evidence shows that this is a drop off and pick up point for illicit drugs. The GOJ plans to destroy other unmonitored airstrips as well during 2005. ¶11. JDF/CG conducted 165 patrols in the north and south coast and 9 routine dives at Port Rhoades St Ann, Rocky Point Clarendon and Port security patrols Montego Bay, Discovery Bay, Ocho Rios Port Antonio and Kingston. Three abandoned go-fast boats were confiscated in Kingston Harbor. No contraband was found on the vessels and the owners have not yet been identified. The vessels were examined for traces of narcotics. The month's JDFCG activities utilized approximately 23263.7 liters of petrol and 11486 liters of diesel. ¶12. In anticipation of an increase in import and export of cargo over the Christmas period the Contraband Enforcement Team temporarily increased their manpower with the help of soldiers from the Jamaica Defense Force. They were able to perform a 100 percent check on all imports. CET focused on container examination and maintained an increase in four out of five categories of container examination. For example, the examination of break bulk containers increased from 396 in December 2003 to 8528 in December 2004, an increase of 2054%. Break bulk containers examined at the airport increased slightly, from 141 to 162. There was also a 277 percent increase, from 13 to 49, in the number of transshipment containers examined. One hundred and forty (140) passengers were processed in comparison to four hundred and sixty four, (464) in the previous year, a reduction of 70%. Statistics Comparison of Contraband Enforcement Team (CET) Activities for December 2003 and 2004 Dec -04 Dec 03 % Change Cocaine seizure 3 no data Marijuana seizure 2 2 none Passenger Processed 140 464 -70 Import Containers Examined 7 3 133 Export Containers Examined 9 25 -64 Transshipment Containers 49 13 277 Examined Break Bulk Containers 162 141 15 Examined Airport Break Bulk Containers 8528 396 2054 Examined seaport The year to date statistics shows a similar trend with the monthly activities. There was a percentage increase in the container activities and a negative percentage change of 67% with the processing of passengers. This may be attributed to the lack of use of the Ion Scan machines and other domestic factors. The ION scanners are being serviced and should be returned to the Kinston airport by mid-March. Contraband Enforcement Team Year To Date Activities for Jan-December 2004 Jan-Dec -04 Jan-Dec -03 % change Pass.Processed 633 1940 -67 Import Containers 148 113 31 Examined Export Containers 357 321 11 Examined Transshipment Containers 265 115 130 Examined Break Bulk Containers 890 551 62 Examined airport Break Bulk Containers 9277 811 1044 Examined seaport ¶13. The National Intelligence Bureau's (NIB) new deputy director is well respected in the intelligence community and it is hoped that he have a positive impact in managing personnel and dealing with internal issues within that division. His first task is to implement the vetting process, including polygraph and drug testing approved by the Commissioner, to all the officers. ¶14. Comment: Jamaican law enforcement activities tapered off during the holiday season but should pick up with renewed energy shortly. Initiatives on the part of NAS, such as setting up Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPA),have given the JDF/CG in particular, autonomy never before experienced. As a result, more JDFCG vessels are operational and more missions are being executed. Because of the size of the vessels in question, Jamaican waters are less likely to be violated as traffickers are using routes farther from shore. Incorporating the JDF Air Wing more into the offshore interdiction efforts should reap further dividends in the form of increased seizures of drugs and property. End Comment. TIGHE