PERUVIAN FISHING VESSEL LINDA ROCIO: MULTI-TON

UNCLAS LIMA 000584 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PE SUBJECT: PERUVIAN FISHING VESSEL LINDA ROCIO: MULTI-TON COCAINE SEIZURE -------------- BACKGROUND -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On February 7, USCG encountered Ecuadorian flagged fishing vessel DIVA 750 miles from the Peruvian coast. As the USCG boarding team arrived, DIVA's crew members set the vessel on fire and it sank with the hold filled with bales of cocaine. Only a total of 50 pounds was recovered from the DIVA. On the afternoon of February 7, 2006, NAS received an advisory from INL/USCG Liaison Officer that the USCG had located a second ship, LINDA ROCIO, in international waters, approximately 800 miles west of the Peruvian coastline, suspected of carrying a large quantity of cocaine. The USCG/INL Liaison Officer informed NAS that the LINDA ROCIO was associated with the DIVA based on an on-going criminal investigation, and requested confirmation of the LINDA ROCIO's flag registry, and permission to board from the Peruvian Government (GOP),in accordance with Article17 of the 1988 U.N. Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. NAS sent written requests to the Peruvian Coast Guard (the GOP Executive Agent in these matters) to confirm flag registry and permission to board for the USCG. Mission advised the Ministry of Foreign Relations (MRE). ¶2. (SBU) In the evening of February 7, the GOP confirmed that the LINDA ROCIO was in fact registered to Peru and gave authorization to board and search vessel, cargo, and persons, on the following conditions: a. That the interdiction would be carried out by a US flag ship; b. That this activity be subject to Peruvian Laws/jurisdiction and the US would be responsible for any human/material damages incurred during the interdiction; c. That if evidence of illicit narcotrafficking was found, the corresponding ship and crew be returned to a Peruvian port and turned over to Peruvian competent authorities; d. That the Peruvian Navy/MRE be kept updated/advised on the interdiction operation. ¶3. (SBU) We understand that when the USCGC MORGENTHAU approached the LINDA ROCIO, the LINDA ROCIO commenced evasive actions and would not respond to radio transmissions. A boarding team discovered that the LINDA ROCIO had been scuttled by its crewmembers and was sinking with five feet of water already in its engine room: the boat eventually sank in the early morning hours of February 8. The MORGENTHAU's crew salvaged 105 bales of cocaine estimated at 4,620 lbs. The crew of the LINDA ROCIO (4 Ecuadorians and 3 Peruvians) were taken aboard the USCGC. The Peruvian Government has subsequently asked the USG to return the detainees to Peru for prosecution. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: This incident is the first of its type that we have dealt with. Mission is working to standardize procedures for future interdiction of Peruvian Flagged ships in international waters. The GOP interagency decision-making process took over three hours to take a decision on boarding, with continuous pressure from NAS - relatively speedy for a national level decision. However, Mission will attempt to speed up future interdiction response times by engaging the GOP and formulating a mutual standard operating procedure. INL/USCG suggested Mission should pursue a bilateral international treaty between the USCG and the Peruvian Coast Guard. We understand that there are approximately twenty-eight international treaties between the US Coast Guard and various other navies/coast guards that facilitate timely response to interdiction operations. Embassy believes it is imperative that we honor the conditions under which USCGC boarded the LINDA ROCIO as a prelude for seeking a bilateral Coast Guard agreement. POWERS