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

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Complaint of Piracy: Dubious Story
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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.

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Suspicion of Insurance Fraud
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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.

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Claims of Piracy not Uncommon
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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