EL SALVADOR: INL MONTHLY ACTIVITIES REPORT FOR

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 002193 SIPDIS SIPDIS INL FOR MARTIN WHA/CEN FOR THOMPSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC EFIN PINR PTER SNAR KCRM KJUS ES SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR: INL MONTHLY ACTIVITIES REPORT FOR JULY 2006 ¶1. (U) The following summarizes Embassy INL activities in July 2006. -------------- ILEA -------------- ¶2. (U) ILEA staff continued supervising the renovation of the ILEA - Santa Tecla facility, and made preparations to host two ILEA courses in August 2006. -------------- NARCOTICS INTERDICTION -------------- ¶3. (U) Operations: Officers of the Anti-Narcotics Police (DAN) at the INL-constructed vehicle inspection facility in El Amatillo inspected 3,177 cars, 885 passenger buses, and 196 commercial freight trucks, resulting in the arrest of eight individuals for narcotics trafficking and the seizure of 11 kilograms of marijuana and USD 464,589 in undeclared cash. In all operations throughout the country, the INL-supported DAN seized 17 kg of marijuana and six kg of cocaine, and arrested 97 individuals for trafficking offenses. ¶4. (U) Equipment: INL donated 38 police raid jackets to the Anti-Narcotics Special Operations Unit (GEON) to be used in tactical operations. -------------- MONEY LAUNDERING -------------- ¶5. (U) Operations: The INL-supported Financial Investigations Unit (FIU) received 29 Suspicious Activities Reports, opened eight new investigations, and identified and removed 306 false dollar-denominated bills from circulation. No arrests or seizures were made in the month of July. -------------- -------------- HUMAN SMUGGLING/TRAFFICKING AND TRANSIT SECURITY -------------- -------------- ¶6. (U) Operations: The INL-supported Border Police (Fronteras) arrested 24 individuals for human smuggling and six suspects for trafficking in persons. Police operations rescued 14 minors in the process of being smuggled or trafficked. No convictions for either offense were realized. -------------- -------------- ORGANIZED CRIME, RULE OF LAW, AND DEMAND REDUCTION -------------- -------------- ¶7. (U) Organized Crime: In July, the PNC arrested 1,233 individuals for gang-related criminal activity. Of these arrests, 42 percent of the cases were dismissed for lack of evidence, four percent are incarcerated awaiting trial, and 54 percent were assigned alternative sentencing (community service). 62 gang members were killed due to gang-related violence. ¶8. (U) Rule of Law: INL donated twelve riot barricades to the police to be used for traffic control during protest marches and stationary demonstrations. Barclay