DEA/OPBAT PROPOSES NEW PROGRAM TO COMBAT SMUGGLING

S E C R E T NASSAU 001196

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (ADDING CCGDSEVEN MIAMI
ADDEE)

STATE FOR WHA/CAR RCBUDDEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2016
TAGS: PREL SMIG SNAR PINR HA BF
SUBJECT: DEA/OPBAT PROPOSES NEW PROGRAM TO COMBAT SMUGGLING
FROM HAITI

Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Brent Hardt for reasons 1.4(b) a
nd (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Operation
Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) representatives have
proposed a new program to the Bahamian Government to improve
cooperation in the interdiction of illegal migrants and drugs
from Haiti, which could also serve as excellent source of

V S A LIVE MSG
intelligence to aid anti-smuggling efforts. The program
would place DEA and Bahamian drug officers with Bahamian
customs units on Great Inagua Island to gather information
from each Haitian vessel passing Great Inagua through
Bahamian waters. END SUMMARY.


2. (S) DEA has observed increased air traffic bringing drugs
from Columbia, Venezuela and others to Haiti. Limited
intelligence capabilities in Haiti, however, has hindered
U.S. ability to determine the exit routes for these drug
inflows. Geography and well-established migration routes
makes it likely that The Bahamas is a primary route for drugs
and migrants from Haiti to the U.S.


3. (S) A program currently under discussion with the
Bahamian Government is intended to help fill intelligence
gaps and improve DEA/OPBAT interdiction efforts in The
Bahamas. For all Haitian boats passing Great Inagua island
-- The Bahamas' closest island to Haiti along the primary
shipping route -- the program would require Bahamian Customs
to register boats, obtain fingerprints and other identifying
data from crews, and conduct medical screenings. This
information would create an intelligence database for use by
DEA and Bahamian DEU. While detained for processing by
Bahamian Customs, Creole-speaking officers from the DEA and
the vetted Bahamian Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU),along with
United States Coast Guard, would search vessels, recruit
contacts and obtain better intelligence regarding suspect
vessels.


4. (C) Current thinking suggests that this
operations/intelligence program should include vetted,
English-speaking Haitian DEU officers, who would train with
Bahamian DEU and US DEA officers in Nassau. Separately, we
have also proposed Haitian DEU training at the well-respected
Bahamian Police College. Bahamian officials have been
initially receptive, and are reviewing the concept internally.


5. (C) To further discuss the DEA proposal and develop
program parameters, a meeting is planned for September
including DEA, Bahamian DEU, Haitian DEU, Narcotics Affairs
Officers from Haiti and The Bahamas, Coast Guard and the
Joint Inter-Agency Task Force South.


6. (C) COMMENT: We believe that the training and working
relationships flowing from this initiative would provide, not
only valuable intelligence assets to penetrate narcotics
trafficking in Haiti, but also information regarding migrant
smuggling through The Bahamas. Post, in coordination with
Embassy Port au Prince, suggests full support of the
DEA-initiated program, including State participation in the
September meetings. The program, functioning within the
crucial resources provided by OPBAT, will help deter the
narcotics trafficking and alien smuggling that weakens our
own national security. END COMMENT.
HARDT