2006 END USE MONITORING REPORT

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000873 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR INL/LP - JIM HIDES GUATEMALA FOR ALEX FEATHERSTONE VILNIUS FOR THOMAS P. KELLY E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: SNAR AFIN AR SUBJECT: 2006 END USE MONITORING REPORT 1) Embassy Buenos Aires' CY-2006 End Use Monitoring Report follows below: 2) PROCEDURES Post's Narcotics Coordinator does not have PD&S funding and as such is unable to fund on-site inspections or periodic spot checks to perform End Use Monitoring. The Coordinator relies on DEA officers to assess appropriate usages of INL-funded equipment. Argentine law enforcement officials provide post with periodic updates on equipment. This system of overlapping verification methods is the best possible end use appraisal system available. 3) STATUS The majority of equipment is located in the northern provinces of Salta and Jujuy. All indications are that all provided equipment is being used for the intended purposes. No single case of inappropriate or unauthorized use was reported in 2006. In general, the equipment provided through INL funding continues to be used but with problems coming from advancing age and hard use. Many computers, vehicles, and radio equipment are near or well past their useful lives. 4) DOGS The two dogs provided to the Northern Border Task Forces (NBTF) in 1988 are healthy, but are ten years old and nearing the end of their useful lives. The Government of Argentina bred six additional dogs for the program. The total force of eight dogs allows the handlers to maintain a rotation schedule that ensures the safe and efficient use of the animals. 5) MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT One gas tank fiberscope and 20 digital cameras were purchased in 2006; the fiberscope was provided to the NBTF; of the 20 cameras, two were provided to the Argentine Federal Police, one to the Border Patrol in Bariloche, two to Customs, one to the Mendoza Provincial Police, one to the Coast Guard, two to the NBTF, two to the Condor Group, and nine are still to be distributed by DEA.. Post continues to observe that both National and Provincial Police Forces make good use of the miscellaneous equipment (handcuffs, vests, flashlights, cameras, etc.) provided to them in previous years. 6) COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT Communications equipment has not been donated in the last few years. Radio transmitters provided to the NBTF require routine maintenance and repair. Many hand-held radios provided to Federal and Provincial Police throughout Argentina need to be repaired or replaced because of wear and tear resulting from routine use under harsh operational conditions. 7) COMPUTER EQUIPMENT Two lab tops with networking system and 18 desktops were provided in 2006 to the Northern Border Task Force (NBTF). A large number of old and aging computers are nearing the end of their useful lives. 8) VEHICLES One Chevrolet double cabin pickup was provided to the NBTF in 2006 with INCLE funds; and one Ford cargo van and one sedan was purchased in May 2006 with Andean Initiative funds. The van has been delivered to the Mendoza provincial police. There was a delay in the delivery of the sedan to the Embassy, delaying delivery to the police. That vehicle will be delivered shortly. Vehicles provided in previous years (1993-1997) already have over 200,000 kilometers on them and require fairly extensive routine maintenance on suspension and brakes. A few vehicles purchased in 1989 have reached the end of their useful lives. 9) PROBLEMS Post lost its Narcotics Coordinator position in June 2006. These additional duties were assumed by the PolMil Officer. A lack of PD&S resources limits the Narcotics Coordinator's effectiveness in managing post's INL account. The ongoing political instability in neighboring Bolivia coincides with growing cocaine transit through and trafficking in Argentina. However, the GOA's increasing willingness to work with post on counter narcotics issues provides us an opportunity to greatly improve the GOA's ability to combat drug trafficking. However, a lack of funding and dedicated personnel hampers post's effort in this area. The Narcotics Coordinator has requested PD&S funding to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of provided equipment to consolidate the listing of equipment needing to be monitored, and to re-employ an employee hired to conduct the End Use Monitoring program. 10) IMPACT While the INL-funded program in Argentina is small, it continues to have a positive impact working in coordination with DEA's country programs, especially on the perennially under-funded Provincial Police Anti-Drug Units operating in the Northern provinces. DEA and Narcotics Coordinator are working to establish an NBTF-like operation in the Misiones Province, near the Tri-Border Area with Brazil and Paraguay. Argentina law enforcement agencies have reported an increasing trend in large increases in cocaine seizures over the past several years. Post, lead by DEA, has actively assisted local law enforcement in their counter-narcotics efforts. 11) Overall, the growing program gives Post a valuable tool with which to pursue its joint counter-narcotics agenda with the GOA. The GOA is very focused on its security and narcotics problems and has turned to Post for advice and assistance in creating a national security plan. In the coming years, the INL program will be essential to the GOA's efforts both to combat its growing narcotics trafficking problem and to establish better control over its border areas. WAYNE