Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LISBON1388
2007-05-18 17:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:  

Portugal: INL DAS McCampbell Visit Analyzes European

Tags:  SNAR PREL KCRM PO 
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VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLI #1388 1381719
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181719Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5885
UNCLAS LISBON 001388 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

Department for INL, EUR/WE, EUR/PPD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PREL KCRM PO
SUBJECT: Portugal: INL DAS McCampbell Visit Analyzes European
Transshipment
UNCLAS LISBON 001388

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

Department for INL, EUR/WE, EUR/PPD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PREL KCRM PO
SUBJECT: Portugal: INL DAS McCampbell Visit Analyzes European
Transshipment

1. (SBU) SUMMARY: During INL DAS Christy McCampbell's May 11 visit
to Lisbon, she met with several counterparts to discuss the
increasing use of Portugal as a transshipment area for drugs.

Portuguese interlocutors offered a brief analysis into the drug
trafficking problem facing Portugal and Europe writ large and urged
the U.S. to continue to enhance our law enforcement cooperation
efforts. End Summary.
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TOOLS TO COMBAT THE SURGE
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2. (SBU) According to Judicial Police (Policia Judiciaria - PJ)
statistics, Portugal has seen significant jumps in maritime drug
trafficking over the last three years. Cocaine seizures totaled
seven metric tons in 2004, rose to 18 tons in 2005 and reached 34
metric tons last year. PJ Director Alipio Ribeiro told DAS
McCampbell that much of the increased cocaine activity was coming
through Africa - especially Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau -- before
reaching Portugal. He explained that the PJ was working to combat
that trend by training Cape Verde law enforcement and conducting
more undercover operations. Ribeiro mentioned that the PJ had made
a large hashish seizure the night before the visit: 4.9 metric tons
of hashish, 2 vehicles, 4 cell phones, and 5,000 Euros cash entering
from Morocco. He told McCampbell that, although the PJ were
successful in undercover operations, it would be "very interesting
to work with DEA in Portugal" on future training for undercover
operations. (Note: DEA Madrid currently coordinates undercover
operations with PJ officials and is attempting to open an office in
Lisbon if resources allow.)

3. (SBU) The narcotics trade increasingly affects other European
nations and in 2006 seven EU member states agreed to form a
multinational Maritime Analysis Operations Center (MAOC),with
headquarters in Lisbon. Portugal, the UK, France, Spain, Ireland,
Italy, and the Netherlands aim to share information, train narcotics
monitoring specialists, and establish transnational operational
taskings. While the MAOC is not yet fully operational, British
Liaison Officer Glen Pounder reported that the group already had
completed a successful operation where members shared information to
seize a maritime shipment. Once the group is operational and
members have an approved memorandum of understanding, the MAOC will
facilitate cross-border arrests by using Law Enforcement Detachment
(LEDETs). The LEDETS are dedicated personnel who will serve as
liaison officers to coordinate arrests in their respective
jurisdictions. DAS McCampbell noted that MAOC has based its efforts
on the highly successful Joint Inter Agency Task Force (JIATF-South)
work and underscored JIATF's valuable role in U.S. counternarcotics
efforts.
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Tripartite Cooperation
--------------

4. (U) Both Pounder and Ribeiro reported that narcotraffickers were
increasingly using African routes before landing in Europe. Due to
Portugal's historic relationship with Portuguese-speaking African
nations, it is regularly asked by African partners to assist with
police training and maritime operations in Africa. Embassy Lisbon's
Country Team mentioned to DAS McCampbell that Portugal and the
United States have been successful in developing tripartite
cooperation programs on key issues. For example, the Department of
Commerce has been working with the Portuguese to modernize Angola's
justice sector and DAO cited enhanced cooperation with the
Portuguese on defense related issues in Africa as well. Ambassador
Hoffman emphasized Portugal's repeated requests for a closer
relationship on narcotics and the importance of establishing a
full-time U.S. counternarcotics presence in Portugal.
--------------
Facts and Figures
--------------

5. (U) The European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction
(EMCDDA) Director of Reduction and Cooperation Alexis Goddard
explained that the center focuses on gathering information, tracking
treatment data, drug-related crime, and establishing a common EU
definition for joint action on the issue. Goddard reported that the
center works mostly with other narcotics observation units and has
sponsored best practices conferences with Latin American nations.
EMCDDA is the only observatory in the world that covers twenty-nine
different nations (the EU 27, Turkey, and Croatia) and produces
trend studies for each. Goddard offered DAS McCampbell the latest
statistics and underscored that Europe was developing a more
targeted, unified approach on the narcotics issue as a result of
having reliable statistics.

6. (U) DAS McCampbell was interviewed by Portuguese weekly
newsmagazine "Sabado" (circ. 56,000) on counternarcotics issues and
on her personal experience as a law enforcement officer in the field
at the local and state levels. Embassy Lisbon will pass the story
as soon as it is published.

7. (U) This cable has been cleared by DAS McCampbell.


O'Neal