TURKMENISTAN'S NEW STATE COUNTERNARCOTICS SERVICE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000347

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EUR/ACE, INL
DUSHANBE FOR DEA
MOSCOW FOR DEA
ISLAMABAD FOR DEA
ANKARA FOR DEA
AID/W FOR EE/AA (BOB WALLIN)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR EAID SNAR TX
SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN'S NEW STATE COUNTERNARCOTICS SERVICE
HAS MANY NEEDS, VALUES U.S. ASSISTANCE

REF: ASHGABAT 0204


1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet.


2. (SBU) SUMMARY: While wearing his colonel uniform -- and
a new patch from the newly-formed State Counternarcotics
Service, which he heads -- Murad Islamov said in a meeting
with Embassy representatives on March 11 that the United
States is Turkmenistan's most important partner in
counternarcotics. This is no minor point, since President
Berdimuhamedov has publicly stated many times over the past
year that fighting drugs is one of his highest priorities.
For a long time, Islamov has been an acknowledged can-do man,
but his new role as head of the State Counternarcotics
Service -- while retaining the previous job of Head of the
State Counternarcotics Coordinating Committee -- strengthens
his position in the government. Islamov made his preference
clear for assistance in the form of equipment and physical
structures, over training and study tours. The U.S. Drug
Enforcement Agency (DEA) has a limited window of opportunity
to get in on the ground floor, but it will not be open
forever. Post encourages a DEA delegation to visit as soon
as possible, to assess the potential of assisting with the
organization of this new, national counter-drug agency in
Turkmenistan. END SUMMARY.

BACKGROUND ON THE NEW STATE COUNTERNARCOTICS SERVICE


3. (SBU) Head of the State Counternarcotics Service Murad
Islamov said on March 11 that since January 18, the Service
has been responsible for interdicting narcotics trafficking
from neighboring countries and domestically, drug seizures,
drug investigations, and drug demand reduction programs in
Turkmenistan, which he coordinates from his headquarters in
the former Geology Institute next to the Ministry of Internal
Affairs. The Service is a law enforcement agency staffed by
ranked and uniformed military personnel. Its work will be
focused at Turkmenistan's border crossing checkpoints, but
also will have offices at the regional and local levels. The
Service has its own lab and will have its own training
facility. In addition, it coordinates international
cooperation and assistance.

HOW THE SERVICE WILL WORK WITH OTHER AGENCIES


4. (SBU) Islamov retains his position as Head of the State
Counternarcotics Coordinating Committee, a "drug czar" role
in which he coordinates counternarcotics activities among all
government agencies. Islamov said that government entities
such as the State Border Service and State Customs Service
that have been involved in counternarcotics efforts will
continue to work in this sphere because "crime is crime," but
the State Counternarcotics Service will specialize in
fighting narcotics on all fronts, including working
side-by-side with other law enforcement agencies. For
example, while a Customs agent may search a vehicle for
various forms of contraband, an officer of the State
Counternarcotics Service will focus on interdicting drugs.
He added that his officers will interdict narcotics
trafficked via the Caspian Sea from Turkmenbashy City, not on
vessels.

APPRECIATES U.S. ASSISTANCE...


5. (SBU) Islamov acknowledged that the U.S. is the country's
largest partner in the fight against narcotics and gave
thanks in particular for the "concrete assistance" given,
saying that it "really helps" in counternarcotics efforts and

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in strengthening border control.

...AND ISN'T AFRAID TO ASK FOR MORE


6. (SBU) Islamov said he still was in the process of hiring
personnel, and his prioirty for assitance was instructional
material -- including training course syllabi, law
enforcement instruction manuals, reference books, and
methodologies -- used in training drug enforcement officers.
He was interested to learn how the DEA trained its personnel
and what communications, observation, and other special
equipment DEA uses in interdicting a criminal group. His
second priority was acquiring new equipment through either
assistance or his own budget. He said that he could buy some
new equipment with his own budget, but requeted U.S. advice
on which were the best counternarcotics tools currently
available on the market. He sought info on U.S. companies
that produce counternarcotics equipment and also on DEA'S
organizational structure. He was especially interested in
empowering his agents on the border with powerful computers
and software used by counternarcotics professionals
worldwide. He also would like assistance in training and use
of search dogs. He was pleased that the truck scanners being
installed at the border crossing station currently under
construction in Farap are stationary, adding that the State
Customs Service would have control of the scanners if they
could be used for searching for material other than drugs.

INTERESTED IN THE COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM


7. (SBU) Islamov said that his organization wants to
participate in the CENTCOM-funded counternarcotics
communications project already underway in Turkmenistan. He
said that he preferred a more expanded radio system,
including two-way communication (telephone) capability, as
opposed to one-way radio communication. He added that
telephony is the priority need, but he would also like to be
able to send photographs and documents electronically via
this system. The Embassy's project manager is currently in
the process of quantifying the scope of what would be
necessary to connect all law enforcement agencies in this
counternarcotics information-sharing system. Islamov said
that he would be interested in expanding the system by
introducing various features in phases, on a yearly basis.

FEEDBACK ON TRAINING PROGRAMS


8. (SBU) Islamov expressed personal interest in all forms of
training courses for himself and his staff. He requested
that post ask his opinion before planning training programs
to ensure that it will be beneficial to the participants, and
to make sure the right participants are selected. He prefers
to review hard copies of U.S. Government proposals in advance
-- if funding has not been located or approved, post should
clearly state in a diplomatic note that this is a
"preliminary proposal" -- and the note should also clearly
state which agencies are intended to participate in the
training or receive the equipment. In Islamov's opinion, it
is a waste of time to send low-level officers on study tours,
because they are not the ones who can apply their
experiences. Higher level professionals and trainers can
spread the knowledge throughout the ranks and can implement
their new knowledge in practice. He also thinks that it is a
waste of time to spend time in training programs
demonstrating equipment that is taken away when the course is
over. He is not very interested in conferences.


9. (SBU) COMMENT: Islamov is in charge of building an

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entire counternarcotics agency from the ground floor up.
This is a unique time during which new ties can be formed or
expanded with the international counternarcotics community.
Turkmenistan needs real experts who can help coordinate this
organization's evolution. If the Drug Enforcement Agency
were to send a team as soon as possible for meetings with
Colonel Muradov and other law enforcement agency leaders, the
U.S. Government potentially has an opportunity to capitalize
on the strong relationship that has been built with Colonel
Islamov and others over a period of many years, and to work
hand-in-hand to organize the State Counternarcotics Service.
Post can make no promises about how close Islamov will let
U.S. or foreign partners into his organization. Based on the
current relationship and ongoing counternarcotics assistance,
the United States has the best chance through DEA to put them
on a productive, more transparent coordinated course. No
U.S. Department or agency has been able to reach this level
of cooperation with a Turkmen government counterpart
organization before. However, this window of opportunity may
not be open in six months, so post requests DEA come not only
more often, but indeed as soon as possible. END COMMENT.
HOAGLAND