KAZAKHSTAN: COUNTER NARCOTICS DONOR MEETING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 001988 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN (OMARA),INL/AAE (BUHLER) CENTCOM FOR MALCOM AND ROESNER DHS FOR CBP - GLYNCO SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PGOV KCRM KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: COUNTER NARCOTICS DONOR MEETING ASTANA 00001988 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On July 16, the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Section of the US Embassy in Kazakhstan hosted another in a series of Counter Narcotics Donor Coordination meetings. Major General Nukenov, Chairman of the Committee on Combating Drug Trafficking (KBN) briefed participants on the drug situation in Kazakhstan and spoke frankly about the material shortcomings of the KBN. He described the concept for strengthening internal "Rubezh-Narkotiki" (Narcotics Frontier Posts). Securing funding for the interdiction checkpoints was a focal point of the meeting. Donors noted that while resources are limited and preclude commitment to fund expensive equipment, e.g. UAVs, much can still be achieved through joint effort. Participants appeared ready to fund additional projects,including development of a counter-narcotics K-9 breeding/training program and equipment for public affairs work to enable KBN to establish public outreach and demand reduction programs In addition, INL has $1.1 million to assist in the development of the checkpoints. End summary. -------------- NUKENOV SETS THE SCENE -------------- ¶2. (SBU) For the first time since assuming leadership of the Committee on Combating Narcotics of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) in March, Major General Maratkali Nukenov participated in a counter-narcotics donor community meeting. At the July 16 meeting hosted by INL officer at Embassy Astana, Nukenov said that between January 1 and June 30 the MVD initiated approximately 5,600 drug cases and seized 6,660 kilos of drugs including 75 kilos of heroin and 200 kilos of opium. He reported that 55,000 drug addicts are registered in the country. He noted the KBN works closely with Kazakhstan's drug addiction treatment centers and has a demand reduction program that he would like to expand. The MVD is planning to add staff and purchase additional equipment to counter the projected increase in narcotics transit and sale in Kazakhstan. ¶3. (SBU) Regarding interdiction, Nukenov outlined his committee's plan for improving results. Using the limited number of highways and the immense open spaces of Kazakhstan to the best advantage, the MVD established seven "Rubezh-Narcotiki" checkpoints (Narcotics Frontier Posts) to stem the flow of narcotics transiting Kazakhstan. The posts are Kargaly in Aktobe oblast; Post Arasan in Akmola oblast; Post Ayagoz in Eastern Kazakhstan oblast; Post Syrdarya in Kyzylorda oblast; Post Ulken in Almatinskya oblast; Post Kyzyltu in South Kazakhstan oblast; and Post Leninskiy in Pavlodar oblast. (Note: To more effectively combat drug flow the Committee plans to move the post from the Akmolinskaya oblast to Karagandinskaya oblast which is now considered to be as more vulnerable area. End note.) ¶4. The checkpoints are located at intersections of major north-south traffic arteries in the interior of the country where readily available alternate vehicle routes are not possible. The desert surrounding the posts prevents smugglers from detouring around the posts. The bottlenecks serve as excellent locations to monitor the passage of vehicles and passengers. Currently, 19 MVD counter-drug officers work at each post. ¶5. (SBU) Nukenov presented his vision of the overall functioning of the posts. He described a future with established posts, fully staffed and operational 24/7. The staff will be a team of professional counter-narcotics officers. They will have received advanced professional training from foreign experts (including Customs and Border Protection and the Drug Enforcement Agency) to develop their skills. Training will include courses for counter-narcotics operations officers, profiling, vehicles, and personnel search techniques. The officers will use modern drug detection devices for which they will have also received training. The officers' detection and investigation skills will be supplemented by a high pedigree K-9 corps trained to locate narcotics. ¶6. (SBU) The posts will launch from 3-6 mobile teams each who will deploy randomly on paths and desert tracks to detect and deter those who try to skirt the main highways to avoid the fixed checkpoints. The checkpoints and mobile teams will be equipped with unmanned aircraft capable of working twenty-four hours a day and will be able to communicate with data and voice channels throughout the country via satellite connectivity. ¶7. (SBU) Nukenov outlined the government of Kazakhstan's contribution to establishing, staffing, and equipping the ASTANA 00001988 002.2 OF 003 "Rubezh-Narcotiki." He said the government had allotted funding for construction of staff offices, erecting inspection hangars, and establishment of dog kennels. He pointed out that given the checkpoints' remote locations establishing them was neither easy nor inexpensive. The locations are usually far from existing electrical lines and cell phone towers, communication by land-line is limited, if available at all, and the travel time from population centers is lengthy. Nukenov said that the Committee will perform the necessary engineering work, construct inspection hangars, provide staff, and construct office space. He requested donor assistance to complete the "picture" with equipment such as fixed and mobile X-ray machines, unmanned aircraft, communications for data and voice. (Note: a scanned copy of the complete list of the requested equipment has been forwarded to INL/AAE. End note.) -------------- HALF A LOAF IS NOT TOO BAD -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Budget limitations preclude the assembled donors from sponsoring the expensive items the MVD requested such as UAVs or x-ray machines. However, some of the less expensive items were of interest to the attendees. Hardy Roehling, Team-Leader of the European Union-sponsored Border Management for Central Asia (BOMCA) and representative of Central Asia Development Assistance Program (CADAP)noted that the equipment and other assistance requested by the Nukenov to create an Public Information Section seemed like a good fit with three CADAP projects scheduled for the next year. He said EU programs on raising awareness of drug consumption, drug abuse prevention, and drug abuse monitoring systems could fit with Nukenov's desire to produce press clips, training films, and information pamphlets for public outreach campaigns on demand reduction. ¶9. (SBU) Jean-Francois Puel, Attach of Internal Security of the French Embassy reported that the Ministry of Internal Affairs of France is ready to provide training for K-9 experts and to train agents on shadowing techniques. Mike Welch, newly arrived Deputy Chief of Mission of the British Embassy stated that most UK funds are allotted for regional programs involving Afghanistan. He said that cooperation with the Kazakhstani MVD may therefore be considered only within a regional framework. ¶10. (SU) INL Officer noted State's substantial $1.1 million dedicated funding for the Rubezh-Narcotiki checkpoints and encouraged other donors to contribute. U.S. funding is split between an $860,000 grant to UNODC to purchase equipment and training and $300,000 managed at post to purchase specialized training from U.S. sources. The funds will be used to purchase a portion of the communications system to connect checkpoints and HQ, professional training, and expand K-9 capacities. In addition, UNODC is considering training MVD officers under one or more of its regional programs. (Note: technical specifications of the communication equipment to be purchased have been provided to INL/AAE and OMC/CENTCOM via email. End note.) ¶11. The head of the Office of Military Cooperation briefly described CENTCOM's Counter Narcotics Program. He noted ongoing cooperation with the Border Guards and expressed interest in the GOK Counter-Narcotics Strategy 2006-2010. Nukenov promised to provide the strategy to all attendees including representatives of the British Embassy, French Embassy, UNODC, BOMCA/CADAP, OSCE. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶12. (SBU) Persuading Nukenov to come to the embassy for a counter-narcotics coordination meeting was not difficult - he is an engaging, open fellow - but it is a big milestone in INL's relationship with the MVD. Generally, there is a strong reluctance by security service officials to visit, much less conduct business, in the chancery. The donor and quasi-donor turnout at the meeting (most, but not all, now reside in Astana) and the active participation of the MVD is a strong indication that a quorum can be achieved in the new capital city to create multilateral cooperation to assist the GOK to counter the drug trade. ¶13. (SBU) The MVD request was ambitious but the equipment and ASTANA 00001988 003.2 OF 003 training fit into an overall development plan which is a marked improvement from requests received as recently as last year. Nukenov's can-do approach is a welcomed change. To present the request to the donors, the MVD had to admit gaps in its current approach; this was a sign of openness and a new serious approach of the Committee to improving interdiction capability. It is obvious that Nukenov is going to actively participate and closely oversee the work of his Committee. Proof of this was his invitation to donor meeting participants to visit the MVD posts and see how the KBN works behind the scenes. MILAS