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