INL SUPPORT IN 2007 IS YIELDING RESULTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BRASILIA 001772 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR INL, WHA/BSC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR EAID KCRM PREL BR SUBJECT: INL SUPPORT IN 2007 IS YIELDING RESULTS Sensitive but unclassified -- please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Despite a dramatic reduction in NAS Brasilia external activities since June 2006, while an internal re-organization and new overall program strategy were being developed, INL authorized the continued support of several projects. In cooperation with other USG agencies at post, NAS support has helped the Government of Brazil make important advances in its drug prevention and law enforcement programs, including numerous seizures of illicit narcotics and weapons, and the arrest of important drug traffickers. In one notable example, intelligence developed via NAS supported, DEA-vetted Sensitive Investigative Units (SIUs) helped bring about the capture of Juan Carlos Ramirez-Abadia, a notorious Colombian drug trafficker. NAS Brasilia looks forward to expanding its counter-narcotics and law enforcement programs, in line with its revitalized strategy, which will likely produce additional results. END SUMMARY. -------------- SENSITIVE INVESTIGATIVE UNITS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) NAS Brasilia has continued to support DEA-vetted Sensitive Investigative Units (SIUs) via assistance such as travel, per diem, and translation services, which has allowed DEA Brazil to cooperate with the Brazilian Federal Police (DPF) to initiate several investigations and develop important intelligence involving illicit narcotics and contraband being trafficked through Brazil and destined for the United States. Several operations have resulted in the capture of high-level drug traffickers: ¶A. On August 7, Brazilian Federal Police, acting on intelligence developed by the Sao Paulo SIU, captured Juan Carlos Ramirez-Abadia, a Colombian national, in a raid on a luxury home near Sao Paulo, from which authorities say he oversaw a multibillion-dollar drug and money laundering ring stretching to Europe and the United States. Ramirez-Abadia gained notoriety in the 1990s as a leader of the still powerful Norte del Valle cartel based near Cali, and had undergone extensive plastic surgery to change his appearance in a bid to avoid being identified. The DPF seized U.S. and foreign currency worth approximately USD 615,000, gym equipment worth USD 500,000, ten flat screen televisions, artwork, jewelry, and four vehicles at Ramirez-Abadia's house in Brazil. Brazilian and Colombian authorities also seized numerous assets, including property valued at USD 4 million, jewelry worth approximately USD 1 million, nearly 70 vehicles, U.S. and foreign currency worth almost USD 1.2 million, nearly 100 jet skis from one of Ramirez-Abadia's companies, approximately 100 cell phones and 300 sim cards. On August 10, the DPF arrested two of Ramirez-Abadia's accomplices in Campinas, Sao Paulo: Colombian Jaime Verano Garcia and Brazilian Eliseu Almeida de Machado, who reportedly carried more than USD 500,000 in Brazilian currency with them. ¶B. The DPF also worked closely with DEA Brazil and federal law enforcement agencies in Argentina and Uruguay on operation "San Francisco," a three-year long investigation based out of the SIU in Sao Paulo. During the span of the investigation, the SIU intercepted 38 telephone lines being used by a Colombian drug trafficking organization headed by Gustavo Duran-Bautista. Intelligence gathered while monitoring over 300,000 calls indicated that the FARC (16th Front) was supplying Duran-Bautista with Colombian cocaine, which was then smuggled by his export companies out of South America, hidden in shipments of produce, and transported to Europe and the United States via maritime routes. On August 18, the Uruguayan Federal Police arrested Gustavo Duran-Bautista, Angel Andres Duran Bautista, Julio Cesar Duran Bautista, Juan Carlos Villamil Parra, and Fredy Reaiana, all of whom are Colombian nationals. The DPF arrested two Brazilian pilots: Neilson Mongeloso and Plinio Lopes Ribeiro. The Uruguayan Federal Police seized approximately 485 kilograms of pure Colombian cocaine and a Barron 55 airplane; the DPF are in the process of seizing over 23 properties -- including farms, houses, ranches, and apartments located in six Brazilian states -- and another airplane and BRASILIA 00001772 002 OF 003 helicopter. Thanks to the SIU intelligence, the DPF also anticipate arresting nine other individuals involved in the Duran-Bautista drug trafficking organization. ¶C. Based on wire intercepts, the Rio de Janeiro SIU received information that the Beira Mar drug trafficking organization was preparing to transport narcotics, firearms, and ammunition from Pelotas and Porto Alegre, two cities located in the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul. The SIU intelligence indicated that the shipment was destined to the Primeiro Commando da Capital (PCC) -- one of Brazil's most powerful organized criminal gangs. On April 17, the operation led to the arrest on April 17 of five Brazilian nationals, and the seizure of 50 kilograms of cocaine, 10 kilograms of marijuana, various firearms, and ammunition. ¶D. On May 29, 2007, the DPF in the state of Parana, acting on information provided by the Rio de Janeiro SIU, seized 174 kilograms of HCL cocaine and a Cessna Skylane aircraft. The DPF also arrested three Brazilian nationals at the Municipal airport in Marechal Candido Rondon, Parana, which is located approximately 180 kilometers from Foz do Iguacu. This seizure is also believed to be connected to the Beira Mar drug trafficking organization. ¶E. There have also been several instances of Mexican nationals arrested for attempting to smuggle Colombian heroin out of Brazil to Mexico (ultimately destined for the United States) and individuals using express mail and the Brazilian Postal Service to send packages containing heroin to the United States. -------------- OFFICER EXCHANGE PROGRAM -------------- ¶3. (SBU) On March 1, 2007, representatives from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and Paraguay met in Asuncion to discuss the Officer Exchange Program and sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU). NAS Brasilia has funded TDY travel for up to six Bolivian SIU officers to assist in SIU investigations targeting Spanish speakers. It is anticipated that four more Bolivians will be assigned to work at the Bolivia-Brazil border. The police officers who are part of the program are positioned in neighboring countries and are able to investigate, share real-time intelligence, and target members of international drug trafficking organizations. This cooperative exchange of officers has allowed agents from other South American countries to build professional and comfortable working relationships where none existed previously. It has also allowed for the successful completion of International Controlled Deliveries (ICDs),greater confidence in intelligence sharing, and a more extensive use of the Centers for Drug Information (CDI) terminal system for the exchange of information. -------------- DEMAND REDUCTION PROGRAM -------------- ¶4. (U) In early 2007, the Brazilian National Anti-drug Secretariat (SENAD) released the results of the 2005-2006 national household drug consumption survey, jointly funded by NAS and SENAD. The results indicated that since the last survey was done in 2001, marijuana consumption had increased from 6.9% to 8.8% and cocaine consumption had increased from 2.3% to 2.9%. NAS has also supported SENAD's efforts to reach drug users via a toll free number which provides educational material and information on stopping drug abuse. ¶5. (U) The U.S. based Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program (DARE) or as it is known in Brazil, PROERD, is the second largest DARE program in the world and is implemented in all of Brazil's 26 states and the Federal District. Our support for regional and international training during 2007 included funding the travel of two educators, accompanied by an interpreter, to the 20th Annual International DARE conference in Nashville, Tennessee. BRASILIA 00001772 003 OF 003 -------------- QUARTERLY DPF STATISTICS -------------- ¶6. (U) The Brazilian Federal Police (DPF) have reported increased drug seizures in FY 2007, compared to last year -- a phenomenon attributable to both improved interdiction effectiveness and an increase in the amount of drugs produced by neighboring countries that is transiting Brazil. The following drug seizure and arrest statistics are provided by the DPF, and are in kilograms, unless otherwise noted. 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Marijuana 34,230 25,516 32,508 Cocaine 3,000 2,439 3,032 Crack 25 57 152 Cocaine base 78 210 287 Heroin 38 5 11 Hashish 17 7 70 MDMA (units) n/a 27,000 26,738 Arrests (total) 40 28 40 -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Despite improved cooperation with its neighbors, Brazil's expansive territory and borders make effective border control and narcotics enforcement in the vast Amazonian region -- more than half the national territory -- a serious challenge. Interagency USG coordination and NAS support have been key to achieving the kinds of results noted above, and will remain vital to our future counter-narcotics and law enforcement efforts. CHICOLA