LAMBERT: PARLIAMENT SUPPORTS ACTION AGAINST DRUG

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT AU PRINCE 000156

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT PASS DEA
STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR PINR HA
SUBJECT: LAMBERT: PARLIAMENT SUPPORTS ACTION AGAINST DRUG
TRAFFICKERS

REF: PORT AU PRINCE 2477

Classified By: Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).


1. (C) The Ambassador raised the question of drug
trafficking in Haiti to National Assembly President Joseph
Lambert, and he took the opportunity to speak at length about
the problem. In a meeting with the Ambassador on January 25,
Lambert stated that the Haitian parliament is ready to
support GoH action against drug trafficking, provided that
DEA will also provide reinforcement. He blames weak
institutions, especially during the interim-GoH, for allowing
the increase in drug trafficking through Haiti. Lambert
noted that drug trafficking intensified between 2002 and
2006, and agreed with the Ambassador's assessment that
airplane trafficking had especially increased. Lambert
stressed that Haiti is neither a producer nor consumer of
drugs, and that drugs are passing through on their way from
Colombia and Venezuela to the US and Europe. Since the drugs
are transiting through Haiti, the GoH needs improved port,
airport and customs control. The GoH does not have the
capacity to control the ports and intercept drugs. They need
specialized teams and equipment - especially satellites - to
track the airplanes, boats and vehicles carrying drugs into
and out of the county. Lambert stated that a DEA presence at
the ports, airport and in customs could help alleviate the
problem. He also cited the need for political will in Haiti
to do more then just talk about the drug problem, noting that
weak GoH institutions make action difficult.


2. (C) Lambert also said he has doubts as to the willingness
among the international community, especially the USG, to
help the GoH combat drugs. The Ambassador agreed that there
is more that we can do and emphasized the need for
cooperation between the USG, the GoH, and the Dominican
Republic. When the Ambassador mentioned that the GoH has
some responsibility in the matter as well, namely via police
and judicial reform, several members of the chamber of
deputies who were also in attendance, apparently believing
that faster reforms were unlikely, laughed at her suggestion.



3. (C) Lambert raised the issue of money seized from drug
traffickers, and stated that it would be good to have a law
specifying what should be done with this money. He suggested
a certain percentage of the confiscated money could be
designated for infrastructure and other development projects.
Lambert also mentioned the banking sector's role. Money
made from drug trafficking is invested into different banks,
and banks could help by tracking where the drug money is
coming from and where it's going. (Note: The Haitian press
reported on the meeting between the Ambassador and Senator
Lambert, focusing on the fact that they discussed Haiti's
drug trafficking problem. End Note.)


4. (C) Comment: Lambert is proving to be a remarkably
shrewd politician. He did not raise the subject of drug
trafficking himself, being keenly aware that rumors of his
own drug connections (ref A) are his Achilles heel. However,
when questioned by the Ambassador he was fully prepared to
take a proactive, rather than defensive, stance on the issue.
Lambert is also exceedingly smooth, firmly defending the
position established by President Preval that the US and
other consumer countries must solve Haiti's trafficking
problems, but conceding enough of the Ambassador's points to
avoid coming across as uncooperative. If his political
ambitions remain unchecked, he will at some point have to
move beyond talk and draw some clear lines regarding his
relationships with other individuals suspected of involvement
in the drug trade, most notably his allies in his hometown of
Jacmel, including the newly elected mayor, Edwin Zenny.
SANDERSON