2006 END USE MONITORING REPORT

UNCLAS DHAKA 000252 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR AFIN BG SUBJECT: 2006 END USE MONITORING REPORT REF: A. STATE 11351 ¶B. 06 DHAKA 01464 ¶1. Per reftel A, Econoff visited the Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) laboratory in Dhaka on February 12 to verify the INL-funded equipment and discuss their use in the lab. The DNC was helpful in arranging the visit and the lab's chief and his deputy were cooperative and willing to answer any question. BACKGROUND ¶2. The USG has contributed several pieces of equipment to the DNC lab. In 2000, INL provided an analytical balance, a top loading balance, and a polarizing microscope. In 2005, INL provided two high powered microscopes. According to the lab's deputy, the USG has also provided a supply of supplemental equipment such as microscope slides, thin layer chromatography slides, and solvent tanks. STATUS OF THE EQUIPMENT ¶3. Econoff viewed the analytical balance and the top loading balance from 2000 and one of the high powered microscopes from 2005. The equipment was in use, and working properly with the exception of the previously reported problem (ref B) with the analytical balance. Due to electrical power fluctuations, it has an intermittent fault. The polarizing microscope from 2000 and the other high powered microscope from 2005 are in storage at the lab. Econoff also viewed the thin layer chromatography slides. The one high powered microscope not in storage is used to visually identify cannabis, using distinctive microscopic physical qualities, as demonstrated to Econoff. Cannabis is the third most common substance tested in the lab. The most common substances tested at the lab are alcohol, both locally made country liquor (moonshine) and smuggled commercial brands of hard liquor, followed by heroin; neither is testable in the INL donated microscopes. STATUS OF THE LABORATORY ¶4. The understaffing and budget problems, identified in ref B, continue. One third of its positions are vacant (nine of 23 total positions) and only one third of the trained positions are filled (presently they have one chemical examiner and one assistant examiner, instead of two and four, respectively). At the same time, its workload of samples for testing has increased substantially (the lab is on track to test samples in over 20,000 cases in 2007, up from 8,991 in 2004 and 2,336 in 2001). Both the lab's chief and his deputy stressed this personnel crisis to Econoff, requesting that it be relayed to the Director General of DNC, who still has not yet visited the lab over a year into his tenure. They reported the critical issues to be the pay rate and lack of leave time. The lab's staff is very appreciative of USG donations of equipment, but is also honest in their self-assessment that they do not have adequate staff to operate the equipment they have on hand. After the staffing problem, the lab's next highest priority is improvements to the facility itself, specifically an exhaust fan or exhaust hood system. Econoff noted a strong chemical odor in the lab, and the lab's chief and deputy both commented on the health risks of using some of the chemicals needed in their testing work without adequate ventilation. ANALYSIS ¶5. USG efforts to support the lab are not enough to ensure efficient operation without increased GOB support. Encouraging the DNC to ensure staffing at authorized levels would allow the lab to utilize the equipment they already have more effectively. The contribution of an exhaust fan or exhaust hood system for work involving the most dangerous vapors would be the next logical step in equipment contributions, as that would increase the health and safety of the lab staff already employed. BUTENIS