PERU: NARCOTICS AFFAIRS SECTION, OCTOBER 2005

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 LIMA 004897 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR INL/LP STATE FOR WHA/PPC ONDCP FOR D. GEDDINGS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR KCRM ASEC PREL PE SUBJECT: PERU: NARCOTICS AFFAIRS SECTION, OCTOBER 2005 REF: A. LIMA 4501 ¶B. LIMA 4639 ¶C. LIMA 4512 ¶D. LIMA 4514 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The eradication/interdiction juggernaut moved to San Gaban on October 4 and we are well on our way to surpassing our 8,000 hectare goal for this year. Opposition continues to be light thanks to a large contingent of PNP drug police (DIRANDRO) and a proactive community outreach program by the GOP Ministry of Interior's eradication agency (CORAH). In support of the eradication effort in San Gaban, DIRANDRO troops destroyed 21 cocaine-base labs. To date, interdiction operations from the Palma Pampa base have destroyed 734 cocaine-base labs in the Apurimac/Ene River Valley (VRAE). The addition of the B-1900D aircraft and the two Peruvian Air Force C-26 aircraft have afforded additional airlift support to the CN effort. The Maritime Port/Riverine Program is ramping up its activities at sea and air ports as well as the Peruvian Postal Service. The K-9 program is being revitalized and large-scale x-ray units have been ordered by NAS to use to examine maritime containers. Seizures are becoming a regular event at the ports, and cooperation with DEA on controlled delivery operations have resulted in seizures as far away as Estonia. Six community anti-drug coalitions started this month. (END SUMMARY) -------------- SAN GABAN ERADICATION IN FULL SWING -------------- ¶2. (U) A total of 390 police and eradicators started operations in the San Gaban area in Puno Department on October 4. The police were met by a group of rock-throwing protesters who dispersed when their leader was arrested. As of October 31, CORAH has eradicated 609 hectares in this area plus 3,355 square meters of seedbeds. Total eradication for the year is 7,670 hectares. Eradicators are not as productive as they were in the Pizana-Polvora area because of the intense heat and heavy rains and more significantly due to encountering a substantial number of thick, older coca plants with deep roots that require extra effort to extract (Ref A). ¶3. (SBU) NAS prompted CORAH to broadcast a series of programs for the local radio audience in San Gaban to inform local residents about the interdiction/eradication operations and to counter cocalero-sponsored disinformation. NAS also outfitted CORAH with cameras, microphones, and related communications to provide photos/videos of area activities, including speeches by cocalero leaders, for the national media. ¶4. (U) NAS continues to discuss the 2006 eradication plan with GOP counterparts. A Cocaine Production Averted (CPA) formula is still being developed. The formula seeks to translate the number of hectares eradicated into the amount of cocaine HCL that was not produced as a result. In an effort to refine the CPA formula, a group of ICT and CADA engineers traveled to Masuco on October 18-20 to measure coca plant densities and take leaf samples in order to determine the alkaloid content of the plants in the San Gaban area. ICT also trained the CADA engineers on making density measurements. There was consensus to use it as one of the ways to state the eradication goal for 2006. -------------- -------------- POLICE PROGRAM: INTERDICTION AND ERADICATION SECURITY -------------- -------------- ¶5. (U) DIRANDRO's Special Operations Group continues to provide security for eradication and helicopter operations. Prior to the start of eradication in San Gaban, DIRANDRO destroyed 21 cocaine-base laboratories around San Gaban. As eradication started, prompt action by the DIRANDRO Special Operations Group defused a cocalero protest and arrested the local cocalero leader. The DIRANDRO Road Interdiction Unit continues operations in the Ayacucho area. Interdiction operations continue in Palma Pampa where, since October 2004, 734 cocaine-base laboratories have been destroyed. Seizures so far this year total 4.39 tons of cocaine base and 10.08 tons of cocaine HCL. A total of 598 tons of precursor chemicals have been destroyed and 72.24 tons seized. Regarding opium, 92.50 hectares of opium poppies have been eradicated and 468 kg of opium latex seized. -------------- -------------- AVIATION SUPPORT AND TRAINING COSTS CONTINUE TO RISE -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) NAS Aviation maintained a complex air bridge from Lima through the Main Operating Base (MOB) in Pucallpa through Puerto Maldonado to the Masuco base camp and, finally, to support eradication operations in San Gaban. The cost of aviation fuel has skyrocketed. NAS projected a cost of USD 2.00 to 2.50 a gallon. It now costs approximately USD 4.74 delivered to Masuco. ¶7. (SBU) Six PNP officers will graduate from initial entry rotor-wing flight training at Titusville, Florida on October ¶24. NAS had been sending the PNP aviators to Fort Rucker until the Army closed the school. -------------- C-26B AIRCRAFT DEDICATED TO CN MISSIONS -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Two C-26 aircraft, donated to the Peruvian Air Force (FAP) by the USG in 1997, were officially handed over to the GOP in a ceremony attended by the Ambassador and senior Peruvian officials (Ref B). Both aircraft will be dedicated to CN purposes. -------------- -------------- NEW B-1900D AIRCRAFT SHOWS ITS VALUE IMMEDIATELY -------------- -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The new B-1900D aircraft, in its first month, has transported 219 passengers and 16,665 lbs of cargo in support of CN operations. NAS and contractor personnel can now rotate in one day to and from forward-operating locations and on a flexible schedule. Rotations took two to three days when we depended on commercial aviation. The SOUTHCOM team scheduled to assess the Regional Aerial Interdiction Initiatives (RAII) for Peru in late October was delayed until November 15-17. NAS-Lima representatives will participate in the assessment. -------------- SEAPORT SECURITY PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO EXPAND -------------- ¶10. (U) The NAS Maritime Port/Riverine Program is still waiting for the Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA) between US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) and Peruvian Customs (SUNAT-Customs) to be signed by the GOP. The CMAA should improve joint investigations, operations, and information flow between USCBP and SUNAT-Customs. ¶11. (U) NAS expects to receive to mobile x-ray vans in April ¶2006. It is also leasing an x-ray machine to inspect international-bound cargo at primary air and seaports throughout Peru. We are also expanding the SUNAT-Customs and DIRANDRO canine program. Canine handlers and managers begin a training program in the U.S. in November. This training will double the number of handlers and dogs available to SUNAT-Customs and DIRANDRO. The x-ray equipment and K-9 teams will also be used at the Peruvian Postal Service (SERPOST). ¶12. (SBU) USCBP officers are working closely with the Business Anti-Smuggling Coalition (BASC - an association of Peruvian export companies, shipping firms, and sea/air terminal representatives) and SUNAT-A. These efforts have already produced a 100 percent increase of HUMINT on suspect cargo. -------------- -------------- DRUG SEIZURES INCREASE IN PERU'S SEA AND AIR PORTS -------------- -------------- ¶13. (SBU) In October, 97 kg of cocaine and 1.5 kg of heroin latex were seized after inspections of packages of outgoing international mail at the Peruvian Postal distribution center (SERPOST) (Ref C). Several international controlled-deliveries are planned based on the seizures. Addresses are serving as an intelligence windfall. At the Lima airport, 18 kg were found in passenger luggage. The MRU in the Port of Callao assisted DEA in a controlled-delivery operation that resulted in eight arrests in Estonia and Peru. The 40 kg of cocaine seized in Estonia was the largest seizure in that country's history. These seizures highlight NAS's initiative to strengthen the GOP control over contraband at sea and airports (Ref D). -------------- --- COMMUNITY ANTI-DRUG COALITIONS BEGIN IN OCTOBER -------------- --- ¶14. (U) Six community anti-drug coalitions (CAC) initiated their programs this month. Each CAC is staffed by a 4-person team drawn from different Demand Reduction NGOs. Each team is working in a different municipality in the Lima metropolitan area. On October 24-27, the U.S.-based NGO Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) held a one-day workshop on CAC-style community outreach. It was followed by three days of field work where CADCA and NAS staff met with community representatives and demonstrated how to mobilize the community by knocking on doors. The "knock and talk" strategy so familiar to Americans and a key element in CACs is a new concept in Peru. ¶15. (U) The community response has been overwhelmingly positive. The CACs emphasize using community resources whenever possible, and, despite some initial skepticism by the teams, two communities have already donated free office space to the CACs. NAS is holding an all CAC-team meeting at least once a month for training, sharing ideas, and coordinating efforts. The teams are developing a joint CAC logo and a communications (or social marketing) plan that would include posters, brochures, manuals, community events, and radio spots. STRUBLE