PARAGUAY: ANTI-DRUG UNIT SUCCESS NO ACCIDENT

S E C R E T ASUNCION 001089

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INL/LP JAMES HIDES
DS/DSS/ITA
DS/IP/WHA
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FOR ATF

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/25/2026
TAGS: ASEC KCRM PTER SNAR PINR PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: ANTI-DRUG UNIT SUCCESS NO ACCIDENT

REF: ASUNCION 1053

Classified By: DCM Michael J. Fitzpatrick; Reasons: 1.4(b),(d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Paraguay's National Anti-Drug Secretariat
(SENAD) has taken serious steps to combat illicit trafficking
of narcotic drugs by disrupting important cocaine and
marijuana trafficking networks in close cooperation with
international law enforcement agencies. The arrests of
important drug traffickers has led to large seizures of drugs
and weapons caches, clearly highlighting Paraguay's role as a
transshipment point in the continent's drugs-for-guns trade.
END SUMMARY.


2. (S) SENAD Director Hugo Ibarra and SENAD's Director of
Operations Luis Rojas told PolOff and INL Off October 25 the
intelligence behind the latest seizures are a direct result
of high-value arrests of top narco-traffickers. Rojas
reported that captured narco-traffickers, such as Marcelino
Niteroi (arrested July 27) and others, provided pivotal
information that led directly to the capture of additional
traffickers, drugs and weapons in three major operations over
the last three-months. In those operations on August 11,
September 3 and October 13, SENAD seized over 1,100 weapons
and more than 66,474 rounds of ammunition valued at
approximately USD 1.5 million. Rojas stated there is no
evidence or any intention to keep the weapons in Paraguay.
Rather, the evidence suggests the traffickers trade the
weapons in exchange for drugs from Colombia, Bolivia and
Peru. Rojas expressed concern that the weapons and
paramilitary gear were being trafficked to criminal gangs in
Brazil, particularly the First Capital Command (PCC). The
munitions, however, were presumably destined for the FARC in
Colombia. Rojas estimates these seizures represent
approximately 10 percent of the total weapons trafficked
through Paraguay.


3. (S) SENAD Minister Hugo Ibarra asserted that the weapons
are legally purchased by distributors and gun dealerships.
However, these companies, which do not do background checks
on purchasers, resell legal and illegal weapons to criminal
organizations, which then traffick them across Paraguay's
porous borders. Ibarra indicated Paraguay's control over the
importation and sales of weapons is extremely limited.
(NOTE: SENAD is forbidden by law to seize weapons that are
not associated with known drug trafficking activities. The
War Materials Directorate (DIMABEL) has the sole
responsibility to control and register weapons. DIMABEL does
not have an operational unit to seek out and seize illegal
weapons. In essence, there is no active organization (like
the ATF) within the government to investigate and capture
arms traffickers directly. All of SENAD's recent arms
seizures were made on the basis of information acquired from
drug traffickers, providing loose pretexts for its raids. END
NOTE).


4. (C) COMMENT: SENAD's targeting of key members of these
criminal organizations is designed to disrupt and destroy
their ability to operate freely within Paraguay. The success
of late is a clear indication that SENAD is the most
effective law enforcement agency in the country. SENAD under
Ibarra's leadership has demonstrated its focus on the
tremendous task of dismantling the transnational criminal
organizations that have long operated with impunity within
Paraguay. INL and DEA assistance programs play a huge role in
SENAD's success. We expect our continued close cooperation
with SENAD will contribute to significant advances in the
future. END COMMENT.
CASON