EXBS: TURKEY ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT- (JULY 2008)

UNCLAS ANKARA 001441 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NP/ECC- YWONG, ACHURCH, BGOLDEN DEPT FOR EUR/ACE- DSILLIMAN, BHUNT, PMALIK DOE/NNSA- TPERRY, LPARKER, EDESCHLER CBP/INA- BWATTS, BPICKETT DOC FOR DCREED E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TU SUBJECT: EXBS: TURKEY ADVISORS MONTHLY REPORT- (JULY 2008) Sensitive But Unclassified. Please handle appropriately. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: EXBS Advisor and Coordinator visited Kapikule and Ipsala Border Ports of Entry to review Customs Inspection and Enforcement operations and assess Turkish border security capabilities. MFA confirms Turkish interagency participation in a joint EXBS Nonproliferation Seminar at MFA headquarters Sept 17 & 18, 2008. New Customs Enforcement Deputy General agrees to visit to U.S. for Senior Professional Exchanges. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Completed Actions for the Reporting Period: ¶A. Meetings During Recent Reporting Period by EXBS Advisor and Coordinator: 1) (SBU) July 1-7 - EXBS Advisor was on emergency leave. 2) (SBU) July 11 - EXBS Advisor met with MFA Department Head for Nonproliferation and Disarmament Elif Ulgen to discuss details for the proposed EXBS Nonproliferation Seminar to take place mid September 2008 and review general findings of the EXBS team's visit to the western borders with Bulgaria and Greece. We reviewed the proposed agenda for the EXBS seminar, which included both US and GOT presentations. Ulgen noted that while MFA would provide several presentations, she could not promise other agency presentations, as they where more interested in hearing about EXBS programs and about what our implementing agencies can offer. MFA would host the conference at the ministry and will provide all logistics on-site, to include AV, computer support, refreshments for breaks, and possibly lunches for US participants and non-fasting GOT participants. Ulgen will seek out interagency input for dates and agenda items. (SBU) Advisor provided Ulgen with a generally favorable overview of the border visits of the week before. She requested a report of findings so that GOT could gain an "outsiders," prospective of their borders. In regard to Advisor's request to plan additional border visits in the near term, she noted that they would prefer to have their interagency group visit the border locations first, to evaluate each border prior to another visit by EXBS, which will most likely occur in October/November time frame. Advisor noted the need to visit more border locations before the fall since weather restricts access to many of them, which could delay planning efforts for near term activities, but Ulgen was firm in stating that future visits would need to wait until GOT interagency group visits are completed. 3) (SBU) July 15-18 - EXBS Advisor and Coordinator visited the two major land border gates between Turkey and the European Union on July 16th and 17th. At each location, both Customs and Custom Enforcement directors and regional officials provided a comprehensive brief of their capacities and provided us with open access to their border inspection operations. (SBU) On July 16th, EXBS Team visited the Kapikule Border Gate (Port of Entry) with Bulgaria. Kapikule is Turkey's busiest vehicular border gate, with daily traffic ranging from 2000 to 6000 passenger vehicles and between 200 to 600 commercial trucks, depending on the season. The entire border gate area is under renovation, creating a challenging situation for both inbound and outbound vehicles to navigate and Customs to track vehicular traffic. Both inbound and outbound lanes have older Ludlum Gamma Radiation Portal monitors installed on the western side of the border gate, but only the inbound monitor works. We did a brief visit to the Bulgarian Border Gate and confirmed that Bulgaria does have the newer Ludlum Gamma/Neutron Portal Radiation Monitors, but could not confirm their status. During the summer months, Custom officials noted that the line of vehicle can extend for miles on the Bulgarian side due to thousands of Turkish guest workers returning for holiday from Germany. Kapikule is a vehicle, rail, and passenger crossing. (SBU) On July 17th, EXBS team visited the Ipsala Border Gate with Greece. The border gate area is about 50% the size of Kapikule, with daily traffic ranging between 200-600 passenger vehicles and 60-120 commercial trucks. This border gate is only three plus years old and is very organized in its operations facilities and traveler amenities. There are no radiation detection portal monitors at this border gate. We briefly visited the Greek border gate adjoining Ipsala, a substantially smaller gate than Ipsala, and confirmed that there are no portal monitors there either. Ipsala is a vehicle and passenger border crossing. (SBU) General observations of EXBS team at each border gate: (SBU) There are 75 Customs Inspectors and 75 Enforcement Officers (44 are undercover smuggling, intelligence & narcotics officers) at Kapikule. At Ipsala there are 33 Customs inspectors and 44 Enforcement officers (7 are undercover smuggling, intelligence and narcotics). The numbers of officers at both border gates are substantially lower than needed for the volume of traffic at each border gate, and most of their training is by OJT by the senior customs officers, with no formal training. (SBU) While Ipsala is better equipped for vehicle inspections due to newer inspection bay and an extensive amount of mechanical tools, both gates have minimal inspection and detection equipment for routine searches. Customs Inspectors and Enforcement Officers have no personal inspection tools (screw drivers, flashlights, pliers, density testers, sample picks, or radiation pagers) to aid them with searches. There where no CT-30 Contraband Inspection kits at either location. At both locations, vehicle/truck x-ray units where in use (one in each direction at Kapikule, only one for the inbound lane at Ipsala). Each unit can x-ray 120 trucks/cars per day, and are heavily used by their well trained operators. This is the main tool that Customs Enforcement uses in the detection of drugs and other contraband. (SBU) Customs and Customs Enforcement officers do an excellent job with ongoing risk analyst to determine high-risk targets, including extensive vehicle plate recognition systems, behavioral observations, weighing of all commercial trucks, manifest reviews and entry/comparison of driver, vehicle, and cargo data into a central database, and visual inspection of vehicles and cargo at both border gates. Unfortunately, from a nonproliferation perspective, most inspectors and enforcement officials are not familiar with Export Control requirements for Dual-use items or licensing requirements, leaving both border gates at risk for proliferation concerns, including the lack of effective portal radiation monitors. (SBU) For both inbound and outbound traffic, the Turkish National Police is the first station to perform Passport Control for all persons entering and departing Turkey. Passports are scanned and verified for authenticity and data is into a networked central data base. Vehicles then transit to the Customs station for vehicle registration and proceed to the Customs Enforcement inspection area (an open parking lot in Kapikule) and all vehicle occupants are required to exit the vehicle and open all luggage. The luggage and vehicle are inspected by a Customs Enforcement officer. Once this search is completed, the vehicle moves to the final station and their documents are verified to ensure they have been stamped by each inspection station, and then it is allowed to depart the Customs border gate. (SBU) Commercial vehicles use the same process, but are weighed upon entry and processed with a higher degree of Risk Analysis. Inspections focus on compliance of revenue requirements for commercial goods and narcotic and synthetic drug smuggling. Both Kapikule and Ipsala use rail based x-ray scanning units and operators have extensive experience at operating these systems and detecting anomalies in the images. Both border gates have had numerous seizures of heroin, synthetic drugs and undeclared goods. (SBU) Our initial recommendations is for the EXBS program to offer the following to the GOT: -- An assortment of personal inspection tools (Gerber tools, flashlights, K10 Buster Density testers, etc.) for Customs Enforcement officers at each location; -- basic International Border Interdiction, Targeting and Risk Management, and Dual-Use/Commodity Identification Training at each border location; -- assistance to Turkish Customs with the development of a Customs Enforcement Academy for new officers and specialized training; and -- Radiation Detection equipment at each location to include new Dual-channel Portal Radiation Detection Monitors (6 Kapikule (4 vehicle & 2 rail),2 Ipsala),Radiation Detection Pagers (75 Kapikule, 25 Ipsala), and 4 Ridds/Hand-held detectors at each location. 4) (U) July 22 - Met w/Undersecretariat of Customs, Enforcement Head of Department Ender Gurleyik. Reviewed initial finding of Kapikule/Ipsala border visits and discussed various training and equipment requirements for the future. Gurleyik was glad that we where able to visit the border and is eager to get our recommendations on what they can do to improve their enforcement activities. 5) (U) July 23 - EXBS Advisor attended a PISCES demonstration, presented by ISN/WMDT. ISN is seeking to provide Turkey with a complete PISCES hardware/software package of computers, servers, passport readers, fingerprint readers, and associated training this FY. ISN provided a comprehensive demonstration for GOT to include MFA, TNP, and airport personnel. 6) (U) July 23 - EXBS Advisor met again with MFA,s Ulgen to review interagency input into the EXBS Seminar agenda. As expected, Ulgen noted that the interagency does not want to provide any presentations at this seminar. Advisor noted the value of both US and GOT participation in this seminar to ensure a more complete EXBS program. Advisor and Ulgen reviewed existing details for the proposed EXBS Nonproliferation Seminar and confirmed the dates of September 17th -18th for this event, which will be held at conference facility at the MFA. EXBS Team toured the seminar site, met with facilities engineer, and confirmed that the facilities are fully capable of supporting the seminar. 7) (U) July 25 - Met w/TNP Criminal Police Laboratory Bomb Disposal Unit Head of Section, Cengiz Ozdem and his new Deputy Kanbi Apaydin to review hand-held training materials and radiation detection equipment which was shipped to TNP by DOE/SLD. All equipment is in place for the August 18-29 SLD Hand-held training program. Apaydin will become the new section head for the Bomb Disposal Training Academy and Ozem has been promoted to oversee the TNP's Forensics facilities that are being collocated with the Bomb Disposal Academy, as well as management of all bomb disposal units throughout Turkey. 8) (U) July 31 - Anthony Godfrey reported to Post as the new Counselor Officer for Political-Military Affairs, replacing Carl Siebentritt as overall supervisor of EXBS Advisor at Post. 9) (U) July 31 - Met w/Undersecretariat of Customs' newly appointed Director General for Customs Enforcement Nest Erkoc. We discussed the recent border visits to western turkey and his desire to have EXBS and DEA teams from Embassy participate inQnt visits to Customs border posts in the future. During this visit, we discussed the possibility of having Erkoc and some of his senior advisors visit the US to meet his counterparts, including his request to visit DEA headquarters while in Washington. While in the United States, we discussed the possibility of his delegation also visiting FLETC and other DHS/CBP training academies, as well as Charleston Seaport, a Texas Port of Entry, and a rural section of the US/Mexico border that uses remote sensors. Erkoc noted that Turkey is working to restructure their border management system and he believes that Customs will be a major stakeholder in this restructuring. (U) Action Request: Advisor supports a senior Customs delegation visit to US and GOT believes that late October through late November is an ideal time for this visit. Request ECC and DHS/CBP advise on funding scheduling availability for this visit. If approved, Customs External Affairs will also participate in this visit at a senior level. ¶B. (U) Training Conducted During this Reporting Period: - None this period. ¶C. (U) Equipment Delivered During this Reporting Period: None this period. ¶D. (U) Imminent Training or Equipment Status Update: DOE/SLD will provide Radiation Detection training for TNP's Bomb Disposal Academy from August 18th - 29th, 2008. EXBS will send two Turkish Officials to UGA Export Control Academy August 11 - 22, 2008. ¶E. (U) Significant Developments in Export Controls, Nonproliferation, or Related Border Security: MFA has provided a draft copy of the proposed additions to Turkey's Export Control Laws currently with Parliament. EXBS is having this document translated and will provide an English copy to relevant agencies by mid August. ¶3. (U) Future Activities: Embassy Ankara will co-host with Turkish MFA the EXBS Nonproliferation Symposium in Ankara on 17 - 18 September, 2008. Both U.S. and Turkish interagency that worQth EXBS Nonproliferation initiatives will be participating in the seminar. ¶4. (U) Red Flag Issues: None. ¶5. (U) Contact information for EXBS Program Ankara is: Robert Cieslinski, EXBS Advisor, Email: CieslinskiRL@state.gov, Office (90) (312) 457-7210, Cell (90) (533) 716-4808 and Erhan Mert, EXBS Coordinator, Email: MertE2@state.gov, Office (90)312 457-7059, Cell (90) (533) 264-8407. EXBS Program Office Fax (90) (312) 468-4775. Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Turk ey SILLIMAN