Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PORTAUPRINCE513
2007-03-15 18:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:
JUSTICE MINISTER REQUESTS DRUG ASSISTANCE
how-toVZCZCXRO6752 PP RUEHQU DE RUEHPU #0513 0741822 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 151822Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5615 INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 1464 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 1287 RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC PRIORITY 0748 RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC PRIORITY RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1162
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
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
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