SALVADORAN POLICE SHIFT STRATEGY AGAINST DRUG

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 000454

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10 YEARS
TAGS: PGOV PINS SNAR KCRM KJUS ES
SUBJECT: SALVADORAN POLICE SHIFT STRATEGY AGAINST DRUG
PUSHERS

REF: SAN SALVADOR 00418

Classified By: CDA Michael Butler for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d)


1. (C) On February 18, elements of the Salvadoran
Anti-Narcotics police arrested 155 low-level drug dealers for
trafficking in narcotics. This raid occurred as part of a
larger operation designated Plan Hawk (Halcon),which has
netted 426 drug dealers in the last six weeks. Normally,
ninety percent of individuals arrested in large raids are
ordered released by the judiciary due to technical failings.
In this most recent raid, however, 147 of the 155 individuals
arrested were ordered held over for trial. This means that
they will be incarcerated -- and off the streets -- for at
least six months until their trial. Avila told emboffs that
he channeled the arrested drug dealers to a friendly first
instance judge, to avoid having a crooked or ineffective
judge release the dealers.


2. (C) Plan Hawk is part of an overall GOES strategy to
target street crimes -- such as drug dealing, extortion, and
petty theft -- that are the bread and butter of Salvadoran
gangs. Police Director Rodrigo Avila, who is under heavy
public pressure to address the crime situation (Reftel),told
emboffs to expect additional large scale operations against
gang-controlled criminal activity. More importantly, he
indicated that he will continue to work closely with the
Attorney General's office, thereby reducing the "technical
failings" that have previously prompted the immediate release
of arrested gang members by first instance judges.


3. (C) Comment: Since his appointment as National Police
Commissioner, Avila has undertaken a complete shake-up of the
police, and has had corrupt cops arrested and inefficient
ones transferred. Avila told Polcouns late last week that he
had no idea he was inheriting such a demoralized and
ineffective police force, but that he was going to fix it
from the top down. Avila's recent, aggressive raids against
"mara" extortionists and the retail drug industry in San
Salvador and other cities is an indication that he will
tackle El Salvador's out-of-control crime situation,
regardless of the impediments. Whether judges coperate and
keep criminals in jail is a different story.
Butler