FRANCE CARIBBEAN INSCR FOR 2007-2008

UNCLAS PARIS 004696 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE INL FOR JOHN LYLE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR FR SUBJECT: FRANCE CARIBBEAN INSCR FOR 2007-2008 REF: STATE 136780 ¶1. (U) Following is post's draft of the France Caribbean INSCR for 2007-2008. ¶2. (SBU) Begin Text: France Caribbean ¶I. Summary French Guiana, Martinique, Guadeloupe, the French side of Saint Martin and St. Barthelemy are all overseas departments of France and therefore subject to French law, including all international conventions signed by France. With the resources of France behind them, the French Caribbean departments and French Guiana are meeting the goals and objectives of the 1988 UN Drug Convention. The French Judiciary Police, Gendarmerie, and Customs Service play a major role in narcotics law enforcement in France's overseas departments, just as they do in the rest of France. Cocaine moves through the French Caribbean and from French Guiana to Europe and to a lesser extent, to the United States. II. Status French officials have observed an increase in cocaine coming directly to France from the French Caribbean, and created the Martinique Task Force in response. The USG is concerned that some of this increased trafficking could flow in to the United States. French Customs also takes an active part in the undertakings of the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (C.C.L.E.C),which was established in the early 1970s to improve the level of cooperation and exchange of information between its members in the Caribbean. C.C.L.E.C. has broadened its scope to include training programs, technical assistance and other projects. III. Country Actions Against Drugs In 2007, there were some 7,600 French troops in the Caribbean area and Guiana who played a major role in countering drug trafficking alongside the U.S. Joint Interagency Task Force South. During the year important drug seizures included the April 20, 2007 operation led by the Gendarmerie and police officials in Saint Martin which led to the discovery of 574 cannabis plants. Four people were arrested and the plants were destroyed shortly after by the Gendarmerie. On August 8, 2007, French customs officials seized close to 900 kg of cocaine on board a sailing ship in the south of Martinique estimated to be worth approximately 35 million euros (approx. $48.2 million). After initially locating the boat, French coastal authorities escorted it to port in southern Martinique where customs officials found the cocaine concealed in sports bags. The two occupants on board the boat were arrested. Agreements and Treaties. In addition to the agreements and treaties discussed in the report on France, USG and Government of France (GOF) counternarcotics cooperation in the Caribbean is enhanced by a 1997 multilateral Caribbean customs mutual assistance agreement that provides for information sharing to enforce customs laws and prevent smuggling, including those relating to drug trafficking. The assignment of a French Navy liaison officer to the U.S. Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S) at Key West Florida has also enhanced law enforcement cooperation in the Caribbean. In October 2005, the French Parliament approved the "Aruba Accord" (formally the "Accord Concerning the Cooperation in Suppressing Illicit Maritime and Aeronautical Trafficking in Drugs and Psychotropic Substances in the Caribbean Region") and in February 2006, France deposited its instrument of ratification in Costa Rica, completing action on the French side. In October 2006, France, along with 11 other nations signed the "Paramaribo Declaration" at a conference in Suriname, which is an agreement to establish an intelligence sharing network, to coordinate and execute drug sting operations among countries and to address money laundering The French Customs and Excise Service operates, together with the French National Police and French National Mounted Police, the Inter-ministerial Drug Control Training Center (CIFAD) in Fort-de-France, Martinique. CIFAD offers training in French, Spanish and English to law enforcement officials in the Caribbean and Central and South America, covering subjects as money laundering, precursor chemicals, mutual legal assistance, international legal cooperation, coast guard training, customs valuation and drug control in airports. CIFAD coordinates its training activities with the UNDOC, the Organization of American States/CICAD, and individual donor nations. U.S. Customs officials periodically teach at the CIFAD. French Customs is also co-funding with the Organization of American States (OAS),on a regular basis, training seminars aimed at Customs and Coast Guard Officers from O.A.S. member states. France supports European Union initiatives to increase counternarcotics assistance to the Caribbean. The EU and its member-states, the United States and other individual and multilateral donors are coordinating their assistance programs closely in the region through bilateral and multilateral discussions. The GOF participates actively in the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) as a cooperating and support nation (COSUN). END OF TEXT Please visit Paris' Classified Website at: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/paris/index.c fm STAPLETON