EMBASSY BANGKOK REQUEST FOR FY08 JIATF WEST SUPPORT

UNCLAS E F T O SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 005436

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INL/AAE AND INL/C/CJ
VIENTIANE FOR NAS
USDOJ FOR ICITAP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2017
TAGS: SNAR MOPS TH LA KCRM
SUBJECT: EMBASSY BANGKOK REQUEST FOR FY08 JIATF WEST SUPPORT


1. (SBU/NF) This is a request for U.S. DoD operational
support under section 1004, National Defense Authorization
Act of 1991 as amended, for FY 2008 JIATF West training and
construction support to Thai counterdrug law enforcement
agencies (LEAs) and Thai military units with counterdrug
roles.


2. (SBU/NF) Background
Thailand is primarily a drug transshipment country but also a
user of illicit amphetamine-type substance (ATS) drugs. The
country has not been a major illicit drug source for the past
five years despite formerly being a major "Golden Triangle"
opium and heroin source country. A relatively large number of
drug abusers and addicts (conservatively estimated at over
350,000) has alarmed the Royal Thai Government (RTG) which
continues to take proactive measures to create and expand
awareness of the dangers of illicit drugs as well as promote
treatment programs to break the cycle and reduce demand.
Methamphetamine (Meth) and other ATS drugs continue to be the
contraband of choice because of their compact size, ease of
manufacture, low production costs and continuing demand. The
Thai have not historically been consumers of the crystalline
form of methamphetamine ("Ice" or "Crystal Meth"),which can
either be smoked or used intravenously. However, the Royal
Thai Police (RTP) also report increased "Ice" trafficking and
use. There were no "Ice" seizures in 2000 but over 320
kilograms were reportedly seized in Thailand in 2005.
Trafficking and use of "Ice" is gradually increasing at the
same time as Thai use of the pill form of methamphetamine
remains stable (depending upon the region of the country).
"Ice" and ecstasy are used by some affluent Thai and
foreigners and is also trafficked out of Thailand via the
Malaysian border and Bangkok's international airport after
entering Thailand across the Burma and Laos borders.
Methamphetamine pills, usually a combination of Meth and
caffeine, have historically been preferred in Thailand and
are either smoked or swallowed. The majority of tablet-form
methamphetamine trafficked through Thailand originates in
Burma, especially from United Wa state army-controlled
regions in eastern Burma, and is increasingly smuggled via
southern Laos and Cambodia into eastern Thai border towns.


3. (SBU/NF) Training Programs


A. (SBU/NF) Baker Program Centralized Training for Multiple
Agencies. Embassy Bangkok continues to support development
of a centralized training concept for Thai LEAs as an
effective means for JIATF West to conduct programs aimed at
enhancing RTG counterdrug capabilities. Mission understands
that this concept is designed to bring together regional
Border Patrol Police (BPP) graduates of JIATF West-sponsored
Baker Instructor Training Courses (ITC) and other RTG
agencies as appropriate in order to provide instruction on
basic and advanced urban-oriented policing skills with
attention given to regional BPP requirements. This concept
will promote standardization of skill sets across RTG LEA
forces as a whole, encourage interagency cooperation among
RTG LEA forces, economize USG training resources and foster
future training self-sustainment of BPP units. Mission
concurs that other RTG security forces in addition to BPP be
invited to attend centralized training, as appropriate.
Mission understands that operational concerns for JIATF West
sponsored trainers continues to be an issue and that
availability of forces is limited. Therefore, mission
requests JIATF West consider the centralized training concept
as the main effort with continued support to DEA requirements
within Regions II, III, IV as forces become available.


B. (SBU/NF) Fusion Program Marine Police Training. Mission
appreciates JIATF West's FY07 fusion training programs for
Royal Thai Marine Police in the Udon Thani and Phang Nga
regions. This training supported a Thai LEA that operates on
the Mekong River in a very challenging environment with
limited resources. Mission requests JIATF West continue to
provide riverine training, while utilizing law enforcement
working group guidance and requirements, to Thai LEAs or Thai
military units that operate in the same or similar areas.

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This training will be directed at countering growing
drug-trafficking activities across international borders.
Mission understands that operational concerns for JIATF West
sponsored trainers continue to be an issue and that
availability of forces is limited. Mission requests JIATF
West continue support riverine training as forces become
available.


C. (SBU/NF) Joint Programs with ILEA. Mission requests JIATF
West provide instruction to International Law Enforcement
Academy (ILEA) Bangkok students with coordination and
concurrence of ILEA management. Mission believes that
instruction in areas of information planning and analysis
given to Thai and other Southeast Asia LEA personnel will
build capacity to manage intelligence/information as well as
assist Thai LEAs to improve the conduct of their own
operations and activities. Mission requests that JIATF West
coordinate with ILEA to determine appropriate instruction
materials and dates for course presentations.


D. (SBU/NF) Check Point Training. Upon conclusion of
upgrades, modifications, assessments and establishment of an
additional checkpoint south of Bangkok in the vicinity of
Chumphon province to augment existing checkpoints, Mission
requests that JIATF West provide training assistance for RTP
personnel who will operate these checkpoints.


E. (SBU/NF) IIFC Training. Due to the complex and diverse
nature of information and the operations of the interagency
organizations that are members of the interagency
intelligence fusion center (IIFC),Mission believes that
frequent and relevant information sharing, analytical and
operations training should occur for all personnel assigned
to the IIFC program. Therefore, Mission requests JIATF West,
in coordination with DEA and LEGATT, provide information
sharing, analytical and operations training to assigned
members of the IIFC program. Mission further requests that
this training be cyclic, allowing syllabus to move from basic
to advance skills, which post believes will provide IIFC
personnel with the necessary capability to conduct efficient
casework and well coordinated interagency operations. This
training would also boost the IIFC's ability to coordinate
interagency operations, an area of particular need.

F. (SBU) Small Craft Maintenance Training Team (SCMTT). Post
is aware that JIATF West has the organic capability to
provide instruction in the repair and preventive maintenance
of small watercraft. Post believes this type of training
would be highly beneficial and this support will have the
following effects: foster a culture of maintenance within
Thai maritime law enforcement and Thai naval riverine units,
build Thai interagency relationships and build the capability
of maritime units with riverine and coastal interdiction
responsibilities. Therefore, post requests JIATF West
provide small craft maintenance training to selected units of
the Royal Thai Marine Police, and possibly Royal Thai Navy
riverine detachments. Locations and Thai participation should
be coordinated with mission sponsor.


4. (SBU/NF) Infrastructure Support.


A. (SBU/NF) Checkpoint Program. Mission appreciates the
continued support of JIATF West for the Royal Thai Police
Narcotics Suppression Bureau's (NSB) checkpoint program,
aimed at supporting interdiction and policing operations and
building interagency cooperation among Thai LEAs. Due to
operational limitations, mission requests that JIATF West
provide additional assistance in FY08 through construction
modifications to the Chumphon checkpoint facility.


5. (SBU/NF) Information Sharing


A. (SBU) Airport Interdiction Capacity-Building.

(1) Mission requests JIATF West assess the capacity for an
airport enforcement program at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi
Airport, with the cooperation and participation of relevant
embassy law enforcement working group members and RTG

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agencies that currently operate airport interdiction units.
Mission recognizes that a well-designed and equipped
interdiction system that is bolstered by RTG interagency
cooperation will provide a much-needed initial defense
against illegal trafficking through this airport. Once an
assessment has been completed and coordinated with U.S. and
Thai LEAs, mission requests that the results be used by JIATF
West to develop an effective enforcement program in
cooperation with RTG agencies and all relevant U.S. mission
elements.

(2) Chiang Mai International Airport has also experienced
increased commercial operations and evidence indicates that
drug trafficking takes place through this facility. Mission
requests JIATF West assess Chiang Mai International Airport,
in coordination with Thai and U.S. mission LEAs, in order to
determine support requirements for the establishment of an
airport enforcement facility and subsequent training at
Chiang Mai International Airport.


B. (SBU/NF) Criminal Records Database. The development of a
criminal records database for Thailand would greatly benefit
the Thai/US/Allied law enforcement communities while
contributing to the overall global war on terror and U.S.
national security strategies. Mission appreciates JIATF
West's FY07 support to Legal Attach (LEGATT) Bangkok in
conducting an assessment of Thai LEAS requirements for the
establishment of a National Criminal Information Center
(NCIC). Mission requests JIATF West's continued support to
LEGATT Bangkok in the establishment of an effective national
database which supports integration with similar projects by
other regional partners.


6. (SBU/NF) Analytical Support. Mission requests JIATF West
intelligence analysts continue providing support to U.S. LEAs
assigned to Embassy Bangkok. This support has been an
important asset that has directly and positively impacted
drug trafficking cases and has indirectly helped U.S. LEAs
identify other transnational threats such as immigration and
passport fraud, asylum fraud, international money laundering,
and human trafficking. Post further requests JIATF West
assign a minimum of one counterdrug intelligence analyst to
work in the IIFC to facilitate information sharing and
analysis on counternarcoterrorist issues.


7. (U) Embassy Bangkok appreciates JIATF West's continued
cooperation and activities in support of mission law
enforcement requirements and programs.
BOYCE