NAS BRASILIA REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 2007

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRASILIA 001893 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR INL, WHA/BSC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR EAID KCRM PREL BR SUBJECT: NAS BRASILIA REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 2007 Sensitive but unclassified -- please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: NAS-supported activities during September -- though still limited in size and scope -- continued to produce results. In particular, two key NAS and DEA-supported operations carried out by the Brazilian Federal Police (DPF) resulted in several arrests and the seizure of significant amounts of illicit drugs, weapons, vehicles, and other contraband. More importantly, these operations contributed to disrupting a plan to establish a country-wide drug distribution center and to preventing explosives and weapons from reaching the Primeiro Commando da Capital (PCC) -- one of Brazil's most powerful organized criminal gangs. Despite several high-level changes in personnel at the DPF stemming from the arrival of the new Director General, Luiz Fernando Correa, NAS has continued to enjoy a very good relationship with the DPF, and signed the INL Implementing Arrangement, which will improve the transparency and efficiency of our financial cooperation. Finally, on the demand reduction front, the GOB has begun to explore expanding the Brazilian version of the DARE program to reach a wider segment of youth. END SUMMARY. -------------- POLICE OPERATIONS DISRUPT CRIMINAL PLANS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) NAS Brasilia's continued support for DEA-vetted Sensitive Investigative Units (SIUs) has facilitated Brazilian Federal Police (DPF) investigations and operations. In particular, the DPF concluded two successful operations in September, which resulted in the capture of high-level drug traffickers and the seizure of illicit contraband that was ultimately destined for use in other, more nefarious, criminal activity: ¶A. On September 21, Federal Police in the Brazilian state of Goias, acting on SIU-developed intelligence, seized approximately 1.3 tons of marijuana that was hidden in two tractor trailers normally used for transporting livestock. The marijuana was of Paraguayan origin and was destined for a farm in the Brazilian city of Marrinhos in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, where an international drug trafficking organization with operations in Brazil, Suriname, Guyana, and Colombia planned to establish a Brazil-wide marijuana distribution center. The DPF seized the two trucks, two other vehicles, and a .22 caliber rifle, and arrested five people, which included the leader of the group. These individuals are facing prison terms of up to 15 years for violation of international drug trafficking laws. ¶B. The same day, the DPF also effectively utilized SIU intelligence in a task force operation, involving DPF and Brazilian Military Police Officers, which resulted in two arrests and the seizure of three vehicles, two motorcycles, an arsenal of explosives, firearms, and approximately 432 kilograms of cocaine base in the city of Ribeirao Preto, in the state of Sao Paulo. Brazilian Civil Police at the Presidente Venceslau (P2) Prison, which houses 760 members of the Primeiro Commando da Capital (PCC) gang, provided intelligence on the gang's ongoing and planned operations. Federal Police learned that the PCC had arranged for Bolivian cocaine base and Paraguayan furnished weapons and explosives to be smuggled into Brazil via aircraft to the city of Ribeirao Preto. Moreover, the seized arms and explosives were to be used by the PCC in a series of attacks on armored car operators and eventually target aircraft in Sao Paulo. It remains unclear whether the PCC merely ordered the purchase of the drugs or whether the PCC's influence and operational capability have extended to Paraguay and Bolivia. What is clear to the DPF from this investigation is that trafficking drugs and munitions is increasingly becoming a part of the PCC's modus operandi. -------------- NAS-DPF IMPLEMENTING ARRANGEMENT -------------- ¶3. (SBU) On September 19, NAS and the DPF signed an Implementing Arrangement (IA) for the administration of narcotics control and law BRASILIA 00001893 002 OF 002 enforcement funds. (Note: The signed original has been sent to INL/LP. End note.) The IA defines procedures for governing an operational expense account and establishes a more transparent and efficient system for providing and accounting for INL funds. Luiz Fernando Correa, the new Director General, and Delegado Roberto Troncon, the new Director of the DPF's Organized Crime Division, both expressed their appreciation for NAS cooperation, and conveyed their desire to maintain "our excellent partnership." (Bio note: Correa was previously the head of National Public Safety Secretariat, SENASP, and Troncon headed the DPF's Financial Crimes SIPDIS Section in Sao Paulo. End bio note.) -------------- DEMAND REDUCTION -- DARE TO EXPAND -------------- ¶4. (U) The Brazilian National Anti-drug Secretariat (SENAD) and the National Public Safety Secretariat (SENASP) have begun to re-examine the U.S.-based Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program (DARE) or as it is known in Brazil, PROERD. Paulo Roberto Uchoa, the National Anti-drug Secretary (the Brazilian Drug Czar),told NAS Director on September 27 that although Brazil successfully implemented the DARE program in all of Brazil's 26 states and the Federal District, the GOB would like to expand the program in order to reach a broader and older audience, especially adolescents most prone to fall victim to drug abuse and violence. NAS will continue to follow these efforts and report via septel. SOBEL