JUSTICE MINISTER REQUESTS DRUG ASSISTANCE

UNCLAS PORT AU PRINCE 000513 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA) WHA/EX PLEASE PASS USOAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR HA SUBJECT: JUSTICE MINISTER REQUESTS DRUG ASSISTANCE ¶1. (SBU) Justice Minister Rene Magloire told the Ambassador on March 8 that the anti-drug trafficking unit of the Haitian National Police (known by its French acronym, BLTS) does not have the means to combat drug trafficking in Haiti without improved performance of the judiciary. He specifically asked the Ambassador for assistance to train prosecutors and judges of his proposed counter-drug trafficking task force, which would work in tandem with counter-narcotics police officers of the BLTS and would oversee all drug-related arrests, investigations, and trials. He cited the recent success of his kidnapping task force (reported septel) that sentenced two major kidnappers to life in prison with forced labor. ¶2. (SBU) Magloire confirmed that Haitian representatives from the airport authority, the port authority, BLTS, customs, and the anti-money laundering unit would attend the drug trafficking summit in Santo Domingo on March 16. Magloire stressed that President Preval is preoccupied by drugs transiting Haiti and that the President hopes this summit will jump-start greater regional cooperation. ¶3. (SBU) Minister Magloire and Ambassador also commented on the DEA Administrator Karen Tandy's March 7 trip to Haiti, which both considered a success. The Ambassador said that the visit served to show Tandy the obstacles, such as roads and dreadful traffic, to counter-drug trafficking efforts in Haiti. The Minister said that the president had a good impression of the visit and hoped that further cooperation would follow. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: Minister Magloire has proven to be cooperative with the international community, if not very effective within his own government. However, he was given responsibility for the summit in Santo Domingo on March 16 and his request for assistance to strengthen an anti-drug-trafficking judicial response shows initiative. It will be interesting to see if he raises the same point with the U.S. delegation in Santo Domingo. End comment. SANDERSON