INCREASED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AT SAO PAULO'S

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 001356

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR DS, DS/DSS, DS/IP/WHA, DS/IP/ITA,
DS/DSS/OSAC, WHA/EX AND WHA/BSC,CA/OCS/ACS/WHA, POSTS FOR
RSO AND PSO, PASS TO TSA AND DHS AT POSTS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC BR CA KCRM SC
SUBJECT: INCREASED CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AT SAO PAULO'S
GUARULHOS AIRPORT


1. (U) Two incidents involving American citizens within the
last month at or near Sao Paulo's Guarulhos International
airport have highlighted what has already been perceived by
many as a significant rise in criminal incidents targeting
travelers moving through the airport. In both cases the
victims appeared to be targets of opportunity as opposed to
being American.


2. (U) On 12/09/2005, the local newspapers reported that an
American citizen named David Lee Collson was assaulted by two
unidentified Brazilian males in a bathroom at the airport.
The attackers knocked Collson unconscious and robbed him of
approximately $900 dollars. No further details were provided
except that Collson was a tourist visiting his Brazilian
girlfriend. Collson was reportedly taken to a local hospital
were he was treated and released. Attempts to contact Collson
by the Consulates American Citizen Services were negative.
RSO has contacted Brazilian law enforcement authorities for
additional information.


3. (U) On 12/07/05 RSO received information from local
Monsanto Co. security representatives that on 11/02/2005, two
of their US contractors, along with a Brazilian military
police driver, were riding in a luggage van to the airport
when they became victims to an attempted carjacking near the
Caesar Park hotel, approximately 10 minutes away from the
airport. One motorcycle with two passengers, one armed with a
handgun and one vehicle with four passengers, all armed with
the same type handgun, attempted to force the van off the
road. The military police officer used evasive maneuvers and
continued driving, at one point reportedly almost forcing the
other vehicles off the road and preventing them from passing
the van. The incident was short in duration and the
attackers peeled off, either fearing exposure from their
close proximity to the airport or frustrated from the
resistance. No shots were fired and there were no injuries.
Monsanto did not file a police report since they were
departing immediately from the country. RSO has contacted
Brazilian law enforcement authorities for additional
information. RSO advised Monsanto that RSO or OSAC in
Washington DC should be advised immediately in incidents such
as these.


4. (U) The media reports surrounding the first incident
featured a startling statistic that the Military police has
cut its police presence at the airport by 70%, from fifty
officers to 15. RSO contacted the Brazilian Military Police
and verified that the actual figure was 50%, still a
significant reduction in security and a significant concern
given that Guarulhos airport in Sao Paulo is the major
airline hub for South America.


5. (U) RSO Actions: RSO disseminated the details of these
incidents to all US Consulate employees with a security
notice. The notice also reminded employees to take the proper
security precautions as previously recommended by the RSO
office. All American employees and their dependents have
already been instructed to take personal security and safety
precautions during their mandatory in-brief upon arrival at
this critical crime threat post and schedule refresher
security briefings for those who have been at post for more
than one year. A Consular Warden message was also issued and
RSO is coordinating with OSAC in Headquarters for a similar
security posting on the website. RSO will provide additional
information should it become available.
MCMULLEN