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

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SUMMARY
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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)

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SAN GABAN ERADICATION IN FULL SWING
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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.

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POLICE PROGRAM: INTERDICTION AND ERADICATION SECURITY
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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.

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AVIATION SUPPORT AND TRAINING COSTS CONTINUE TO RISE
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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.

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C-26B AIRCRAFT DEDICATED TO CN MISSIONS
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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.

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NEW B-1900D AIRCRAFT SHOWS ITS VALUE IMMEDIATELY
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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.

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SEAPORT SECURITY PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO EXPAND
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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.

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DRUG SEIZURES INCREASE IN PERU'S SEA AND AIR PORTS
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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).

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COMMUNITY ANTI-DRUG COALITIONS BEGIN IN OCTOBER
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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