ARGENTINA: CY 2005 END USE MONITORING REPORT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000223

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: CY 2005 END USE MONITORING REPORT

REF: STATE 238640


1. Vehicles and equipment provided to the GOA include: two
fiberoptic scopes provided in 2005, one to the Aduanas'
anti-narcotics unit in Mendoza and one to the DEA funded
Northern Border Task Force (NBTF); one man-portable X-ray
machine provided in 2005 to the NBTF; four vans provided in
late 2005 to the NBTF; several computers provided in 2004 to
the NBTF; 11 vehicles provided in late 2004 to the NBTF and
the anti-narcotics units of Aduanas and Prefectura; and, a
large list of older vehicles provided prior to 1999 to
various federal and provincial law enforcement units.

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Procedures Used to Verify End-Use
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2. The vast majority of the equipment is located in Salta,
Jujuy and Mendoza Provinces. Post's INL narcotics
coordinator does not have PD&S funding and as such is unable
to fund on-site inspections, or periodic spot checks, to
verify end use monitoring in these remote locations. The INL
narcotics coordinator relies upon DEA Officers to assess
appropriate usage of INL-funded equipment. Also, trusted
Argentine law enforcement officials provide us with periodic
updates on equipment usage when requested to do so. Short of
receiving PD&S funding to enable the INL narcotics
coordinator to personally conduct end use monitoring, this
system of overlapping verification methods, while not ideal,
is the best possible end use appraisal system currently
available.

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Status
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3. The majority of the equipment and vehicles provided are
located in the northern provinces of Salta and Jujuy, with
some computer and communication equipment located with the
successor unit for a defunct airport task force in Buenos
Aires. All indications are that all provided equipment is
being used for the intended purposes, no single case of
inappropriate or unauthorized use has been reported in 2005.
A large number of the items listed on the current end use
monitoring list are old or aging computers, vehicles and
radio equipment, much of which is near or well past its
"useful life." A major priority for the INL narcotics
coordinator in 2005 was the total overhaul of the end use
monitoring system to eliminate items that have exceeded their
"useful life." For example, Post's end use monitoring list
contains vehicles purchased in 1989, and while DEA and GOA
officials attest that all the vehicles are accounted for, a
great many of them are inoperable. Unfortunately, Post
received $0 PD&S funding so the end use monitoring system was
not revised. Post has again requested PD&S funding in FY2006
and hopes to update and revise the end use monitoring system
before the end of 2006. In general, the equipment provided
through INL funding continues to be used, but with problems
coming from advancing age and hard use. For example, radio
transmitters provided to the Northern Border Task Force
(NBTF) require routine maintenance and repair. We will also
have to repair or replace numerous hand-held radios provided
to federal and provincial police throughout Argentina because
of wear and tear resulting from routine use under harsh
operational and climatic conditions.

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Problems
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4. A lack of PD&S resources limits the INL narcotics
coordinator's effectiveness in managing Post's INL account.
With recent political changes in neighboring Bolivia, a
growing cocaine trafficking problem in Argentina and the
GOA's increasing willingness to work with Post on CN issues
Post has an opportunity to greatly improve the GOA's ability
to combat drug trafficking, but a lack of funding hampers
Post's efforts in this area. The INL narcotics coordinator
has requested PD&S funding to conduct a comprehensive
evaluation of provided equipment in order to consolidate the
listing of equipment needing to be monitored, and to
re-employ an EFN employee hired to conduct the end use
monitoring program.

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Impact of INL Program
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5. While the INL-funded equipment program in Argentina has
been a small one, it continues to have a positive impact,
especially on the perennially under-funded anti-drug units
operating in the northern provinces. Argentine law
enforcement agencies have reported large year-on-year
increases in cocaine seizures several years in a row. Post,
led by the DEA, has actively assisted local law enforcement
in their CN efforts. Overall, our program gives us a
valuable tool with which to pursue our joint
counter-narcotics agenda with the GOA. The GOA is currently
very focused on its security and narcotics problems, and they
have turned to Post for advice and assistance in creating a
national security plan. In coming years the INL program
could continue to assist the GOA's efforts both to combat its
growing narcotics trafficking problem and establish better
control over its border areas.
GUTIERREZ