EL SALVADOR: RESULTS OF MINI-DUBLIN GROUP MEETING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SAN SALVADOR 003013

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INL/PC LAURA MCKECHNIE
EMBASSIES FOR INL OR NARCOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR ES PINR PINS PREL KCRM INL
SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR: RESULTS OF MINI-DUBLIN GROUP MEETING
2005

REF: SECSTATE 200169


1. (U) On November 4, 2005, Post convened a meeting of the
Salvadoran Mini-Dublin Group (MDG). In attendance were
representatives from the Embassies of Canada, Japan, France,
Germany, Spain, and Italy. The following provides
information requested in Reftel and a summary of MDG
bilateral, counter-narcotics support to El Salvador.

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General Drug Situation
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2. (U) El Salvador is a transit country for narcotics, mainly
cocaine and heroin. Cocaine from Colombia typically transits
El Salvador via the Pan-American Highway and via maritime
routes off the country's Pacific coast. Heroin from Colombia
usually goes through Panama, then via courier on a commercial
passenger flight to El Salvador to another commercial flight
to Honduras and then by bus to Guatemala. The Pan-American
and Littoral Highways are the land routes preferred by
traffickers. As in the rest of Central America, there has
been a notable increase in the amount of heroin transiting
both the international airport and land ports of entry. Both
heroin and cocaine also transit by sea off the Salvadoran
coast as well as through Salvadoran airspace.


3. (U) Climate and soil conditions do not favor the
cultivation of coca plants. Small quantities of cannabis are
produced in the mountainous regions along the border with
Guatemala and
Honduras. However, the cannabis is of poor quality and is
consumed domestically. Precursor chemical production and
transit either do not exist, or occur at undetectable levels.


4. (U) According to a study conducted by Salvadoran NGO
FundaSalva, six percent of males and one percent of females
use drugs at least once a month. The vast majority of these
individuals are between the ages of 18 and 34. Marijuana is
the most popular drug, with 22 percent of men and four
percent of women trying the drug at least once in their life.

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El Salvador's Anti-Narcotics Strategy
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5. (U) In November 2003, the government enacted a new
counter-narcotics law that contains a stronger and more
well-defined conspiracy provision, increases the penalties
for a broad range of drug-related offenses, and includes
additional aggravating circumstances that can further enhance
penalties. It also punishes simple possession of illegal
drugs and better defines procedures for the use of undercover
agents, undercover buys, controlled deliveries, and
confidential informants.

SIPDIS


6. (U) Salvadoran law enforcement efforts are still hindered
by constitutional prohibitions on investigative tools such as
wiretapping. The government gives a very high priority to
counter-narcotics law enforcement, but its available
resources are inadequate to achieve all of its
counter-narcotics objectives. Nevertheless, from January to
September 2005, the Anti-Narcotics Police seized 400
kilograms (kg) of marijuana, 27 kg of cocaine, 20 kg of
heroin, and five kg of crack, with a total street value of
USD $2.7 million.


7. (U) El Salvador is a party to the following conventions:
1988 UN Drug Convention; 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic
Substances; 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs as
amended by the 1972 Protocol; UN Convention against
Transnational Organized Crime; Central American convention
for the Prevention of Money Laundering Related to
Drug-Trafficking and Similar Crimes; Central American Mutual
Legal Assistance Agreement; Inter-American Convention on
Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters

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Bilateral Counter-Narcotics Assistance
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8. (U) The United States is the only Mini-Dublin Group (MDG)
member to provide bilateral counter-narcotics assistance to
El Salvador. The other MDG members contribute aid through
the United Nations, the OAS, or the European Union. All
provide funding for after school programs for at-risk youths.
France, Germany, and Italy provide support to Central
America as a region, rather than focusing on any particular
country. Japan sponsors Salvadoran NGO House of Youth (Casa
de Juventud),and offers training on public security. Canada
plans to offer police training on solving complex cases and
on crime scene management. Spain sponsors two
gang-prevention programs, as well as Salvadoran NGO Carisma
(Charisma). All emphasized the importance of funding social
programs to prevent substance abuse and violence. Their
efforts are laudable, and Post officers appreciated hearing
their views on global counter-narcotics endeavors. This
cable has been cleared by the other members of the MDG.
Barclay