PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN IN SURINAME--OR INSURANCE

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000452 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS WHA/CAR FOR JROSHOLT, INL FOR KBROWN, INR FOR RCARHART E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM PBTS NS SUBJECT: PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN IN SURINAME--OR INSURANCE FRAUD ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The owner of three fishing boats in Suriname,s second city, Nieuw Nickerie, reported a supposed act of piracy to the police on August 18-19. However, police inspectors told post insurance fraud, not pirates, is a more likely explanation of this incident near the Guyanese border. Whether the case is legitimate or not, piracy is periodically an issue along the Surinamese coast, and the police can do little to stop it--or other forms of waterborne crime. END SUMMARY -------------- Complaint of Piracy: Dubious Story -------------- ¶2. (U) A Mr. Nageswar, co-owner of three fishing boats, told police on August 18-19 that his boats were hijacked off the coast while fishing in Surinamese waters near Nickerie and Guyana. Nageswar said some boat equipment was stolen, some destroyed (including one or more of the boats themselves),and some (including empty fuel tanks) thrown into the sea. Nageswar said his crew was left behind, and came ashore three days later in Guyanese territory. How they are supposed to have reached land is among many details of Nageswar's story which remain unclear. -------------- Suspicion of Insurance Fraud -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Assistant Inspector Iwan Jabini of the Nickerie police told post he doubts Nageswar,s report, and suspects insurance fraud. The Surinamese Navy patrolled the area and found no debris, no empty fuel tanks, and no other signs of the supposed hijacking. Furthermore, the pirates supposedly did not take crew member money, or the third of three valuable motors. In addition, the police have questions about "Roy," the co-owner, who they say has repeatedly been involved in smuggling between Suriname and Guyana, and suspect that Nageswar coached the crew members for their questioning by police. -------------- Claims of Piracy not Uncommon -------------- ¶4. (U) While this particular case raises questions, complaints about piracy are not uncommon along the Surinamese coast, with four or five incidents of supposed piracy (attributed to Guyanese pirates) logged in 2006, and the latest incident the second of 2007. Stolen goods are usually sold in either Guyana or Venezuela. Nickerie Chief of Police Kenneth Bruining told the press that pirates are difficult to catch, as they are constantly switching boats for use in attacking targets. ¶5. (SBU) COMMENT: The Surinamese border with Guyana essentially remains open--as does the coast, and the border with French Guiana. Fraudsters, pirates, smugglers, and traffickers all have nearly free reign to commit whatever crimes they may choose along the riverine and ocean borders of Suriname--and to bring the fruits of those crimes ashore. Meanwhile, the Nickerie police are much more likely to catch perpetrators of fraud than of piracy, as without proper boats or equipment it is impossible to pursue pirates. As is usual, in this case the police asked the Surinamese military for help. The military, sometimes so resource-poor that it cannot afford boat fuel, is little help. Suriname's coasts are wide open for crime. END COMMENT SCHREIBER HUGHES