Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASUNCION233
2008-04-11 17:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asuncion
Cable title:
UN CONFIRMS PARAGUAY TOP POT PRODUCER IN SOUTH
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAC #0233 1021739 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 111739Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6793 INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 0581 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0041 RUEAWJA/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0115 RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 000233
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
TO WHA/BSC KREAD, INL/LP DGRAHAM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2027
TAGS: SNAR PREL PGOV PA
SUBJECT: UN CONFIRMS PARAGUAY TOP POT PRODUCER IN SOUTH
AMERICA
Classified By: DCM Michael J. Fitzpatrick; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 000233
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
TO WHA/BSC KREAD, INL/LP DGRAHAM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2027
TAGS: SNAR PREL PGOV PA
SUBJECT: UN CONFIRMS PARAGUAY TOP POT PRODUCER IN SOUTH
AMERICA
Classified By: DCM Michael J. Fitzpatrick; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) The United Nation's International Narcotics Control
Board (INCB, or JIFE in Spanish) declared Paraguay the top
South American producer of marijuana in its 2007 report,
published March 5. The report (available on www.incb.org
website) noted that Paraguay now is by far the region's
primary pot producer, "followed (at a much lower level) by
Colombia and Brazil." The report also suggests that Paraguay
has taken up the slack as Colombia's marijuana crop declined
significantly in recent years. And the report further cites
Brazilian authorities as estimating that Paraguay provides
sixty percent of Brazil's own domestic demand. Post's 2007
International Narcotics Control and Strategy Report (INCSR)
also noted Paraguay's status as the region's top marijuana
producer.
2. (C)COMMENT: Paraguay has consolidated its top spot as the
producer of choice -- both in quantity and quality -- of the
illegal drug most widely used in South America. This has
been accompanied by increasingly obvious drug-gang violence
in border and growing areas -- and domestic political
corruption on behalf of traffickers. (The profits can be
huge; a 5 USD kilo of marijuana here yields 1000 USD in
Santiago, Chile.) All of the major political candidates
competing in this month's elections to succeed President
Duarte have suggested that, should they win, they support
increased U.S. anti-narcotics assistance to fight production,
trafficking and related crime and violence. Regardless of
who wins here April 20, we should expect such a formal
request for expanded U.S. assistance, including support for
possible alternative development programs, before 2008 is
out. END COMMENT.
Please visit us at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/asuncion
CASON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
TO WHA/BSC KREAD, INL/LP DGRAHAM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/06/2027
TAGS: SNAR PREL PGOV PA
SUBJECT: UN CONFIRMS PARAGUAY TOP POT PRODUCER IN SOUTH
AMERICA
Classified By: DCM Michael J. Fitzpatrick; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) The United Nation's International Narcotics Control
Board (INCB, or JIFE in Spanish) declared Paraguay the top
South American producer of marijuana in its 2007 report,
published March 5. The report (available on www.incb.org
website) noted that Paraguay now is by far the region's
primary pot producer, "followed (at a much lower level) by
Colombia and Brazil." The report also suggests that Paraguay
has taken up the slack as Colombia's marijuana crop declined
significantly in recent years. And the report further cites
Brazilian authorities as estimating that Paraguay provides
sixty percent of Brazil's own domestic demand. Post's 2007
International Narcotics Control and Strategy Report (INCSR)
also noted Paraguay's status as the region's top marijuana
producer.
2. (C)COMMENT: Paraguay has consolidated its top spot as the
producer of choice -- both in quantity and quality -- of the
illegal drug most widely used in South America. This has
been accompanied by increasingly obvious drug-gang violence
in border and growing areas -- and domestic political
corruption on behalf of traffickers. (The profits can be
huge; a 5 USD kilo of marijuana here yields 1000 USD in
Santiago, Chile.) All of the major political candidates
competing in this month's elections to succeed President
Duarte have suggested that, should they win, they support
increased U.S. anti-narcotics assistance to fight production,
trafficking and related crime and violence. Regardless of
who wins here April 20, we should expect such a formal
request for expanded U.S. assistance, including support for
possible alternative development programs, before 2008 is
out. END COMMENT.
Please visit us at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/asuncion
CASON