MINI-DUBLIN GROUP MEETING IN BRASILIA -- NOVEMBER 2007

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRASILIA 002158 SIPDIS SIPDIS FOR INL, WHA/BSC, AND EUR/WE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR EAID KCRM PREL BR SUBJECT: MINI-DUBLIN GROUP MEETING IN BRASILIA -- NOVEMBER 2007 ¶1. SUMMARY: On November 19, 2007, under the chairmanship of the Government of Spain, the Mini-Dublin Group convened at the Spanish Embassy to discuss counter narcotics assistance and cooperation between member countries and the Government of Brazil (GoB). This was the first time the group had gathered since November 2005. Participants included representatives from several European Union countries, Canada, Japan, the European Commission, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),and the United States. Following the closed meeting of the group, the head of Brazil's Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD),General Paulo Uchoa, as well as representatives from the National Secretariat of Public Security (SENASP) and the Federal Police, made presentations to the group. The Brazilian participants expressed appreciation for USG support, noting that NAS assistance has helped the GoB advance its counter-narcotics and drug demand-reduction efforts. END SUMMARY. ¶2. The Spanish DCM and Chair of the meeting, Miguel Gomez de Aranda, opened by stating that it was unfortunate that no Mini-Dublin meeting had taken place during 2006, noting that the last meeting had taken place on November 17, 2005. -------------- UNODC OVERVIEW OF DRUG TRENDS -------------- ¶3. Giovanni Quaglia, country director for UNODC, presented information collected by the UN on the global supply of cocaine and other illicit drugs between the years 1995-2005. According to the World Drug Report, the illicit drug market has stabilized at around US$ 320 billion per year. Likewise, there has also been a stabilization of coca production worldwide. During the same period, cocaine seizures worldwide have increased. In Brazil, cocaine use is climbing, and Brazil has reported the third-largest number of users, after the United States and Spain. Quaglia also reviewed trafficking trends for major illicit drugs, and observed that cocaine trafficking from Latin America to Europe via Africa is increasing, as is ecstasy trafficking from Europe to Latin America. -------------- VARIOUS BILATERAL PROGRAMS IN BRAZIL -------------- ¶4. Other representatives described their programs: ¶A. Portugal described Brazil as one of the principal transit countries of cocaine produced in South America and destined for Europe, with Portugal as the primary point of entry. Consequently, Portugal and Brazil maintain ongoing cooperation at the police level, facilitating significant operations that have resulted in arrests and seizures. Both countries enjoy an agreement of cooperation, established in 1992 and modified in 2004, on combating the production of illicit drugs and promoting demand reduction efforts. ¶B. Spain has organized and hosted six regional seminars on counter-narcotics, which included the participation of 12 Brazilian officials, designed to improve technical capabilities and share best practices. Moreover, Spain plans to hold a seminar in Brasilia in December 2007, in cooperation with the Brazilian Federal Police, on synthetic drugs and trafficking through airports. In the field of drug prevention, two Brazilian non-government organizations (NGOs) participated in the annual Ibero-American Network on drug addiction to study health and education in relation to drug consumption and its mental effects. Additionally, Spanish and Brazilian police routinely cooperate on joint operations, investigations of mutual interest, and intelligence exchanges. ¶C. The United Kingdom, although not present, submitted a brief report stating that through the British Embassy in Brasilia, the British Government has funded a series of programs with the Brazilian Federal Police aimed at increasing their capacity to fight drug trafficking. The programs have included training and the BRASILIA 00002158 002 OF 002 provision of equipment for surveillance and the profiling of air passengers. The British also have a significant program aimed at reducing trafficking through Brazil's ports. This has included training and providing equipment for profiling and searching containers, and improving techniques for searching ships. The British officers of the Serious Organized Crime Agency, based in Brasilia and Sao Paulo, have been integral to the delivery of these programs, which complement their active operational partnership with the Federal Police. ¶D. As USG representative, the NAS Director re-iterated that the GoB and USG have maintained close cooperation to develop and implement counter-narcotics, anti-crime, and border control programs that minimize the impact of international crime and illegal drugs. He outlined INL assistance to Brazil, and briefly described the U.S.-Brazil letter of agreement (LOA),noting that the USG will implement an updated strategy that addresses changing policy priorities of both countries and also makes the bilateral counter-narcotics law enforcement efforts more effective and cost efficient. -------------- BRAZIL'S ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS -------------- ¶5. During the second part of the meeting General Paulo Uchoa (the Brazilian Drug Czar) and Paulina Duarte from SENAD gave a presentation on the history of Brazil's demand reduction and treatment efforts. Both presenters expressed gratitude for longstanding cooperation provided by Portugal and the United States. SENAD has a three-pronged approach to drug prevention: diagnosing the problems, promoting capacity-building, and implementing its strategy. In other words, by conducting diagnostic studies through surveys, training educators and key law enforcement officials, and by maintaining and replicating systems and programs that are working, SENAD believes it is on the road to drug prevention success. While past surveys have focused on general drug and alcohol abuse, SENAD now wants to study the student and prison populations in order to formulate a more accurate quantitative and qualitative baseline from which to direct future efforts. SENAD hopes to expand the D.A.R.E. program and operate the toll-free 0800 telephone hotline 24 hours per day in order to reach a broader audience and better serve the Brazilian population. In closing, Duarte praised USG support for training educators at the University of Brasilia and Federal Police agents in drug prevention methods and practices, noting that NAS support has been a key component to advancing GoB efforts. CHICOLA