Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASUNCION694
2008-10-13 14:15:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Asuncion
Cable title:
PARAGUAY'S 2008 THIRD QUARTER INL REPORT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHAC #0694/01 2871415 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 131415Z OCT 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7303 INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ASUNCION 000694
SIPDIS
FOR WHA/BSC MDASHBACH, INL/LP ASMITH, DGRAHAM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR AFIN KCRIM PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY'S 2008 THIRD QUARTER INL REPORT
I. SUMMARY: The Government of Paraguay's National Anti-Drug
Secretariat (SENAD) has made great strides in its drug enforcement
activities in the past quarter. Seizures of both cocaine and
marijuana remain steady and important drug traffickers were
arrested. Following the inauguration of President Fernando Lugo
August 15, 2008, Cesar Aquino was appointed as SENAD Minister. INL
supported SENAD's active demand reduction program, and provided
operational support to the Specialized Technical Unit (UTE). INL
also contracted to provide technical assistance to the Money
Laundering Secretariat (SEPRELAD). END SUMMARY.
II. Program Discussion:
A. Demand Reduction
During the months of July, August and September, SENAD's Prevention
Program provided a total of 365 workshops, reaching a total of
11,993 people, to include students, teachers and parents. It
conducted 15 educational workshops for teachers on the social
problems of drug consumption. It also coordinated activities for
prevention of drug-use in 49 educational institutions and
disseminated 2,492 informational pamphlets to teachers and
counselors to use during workshops. SENAD's prevention unit
continued working on its main objective to reach hundreds of
participants each month in Central and Amambay Departments. The
program included formal workshops, informal sessions, public
seminars, and the distribution of informational materials.
B. Narcotics Detection Canine (K-9)Program:
The canine program continues to have success in seizures and enhance
the overall efforts of SENAD's drug interdiction program. Canine
alerts led to the seizure of 7.9 kilograms of cocaine and 4 arrests.
C. Law Enforcement Accomplishments:
On August 5, 2008, SENAD seized 10,926 kilos of marijuana during
raids on four marijuana gathering camps near the town of Itakyry,
Alto Parana Department. The marijuana traffickers who were in
control of the camps fled the area before the SENAD arrived, but
SENAD seized 9 hydraulic presses used for compressing marijuana
bricks, 200 kilos of marijuana seeds, 4 motorcycles, and 2 shotguns.
On August 6, 2008, seven Lebanese subjects and one Paraguayan were
arrested in Ciudad del Este. Two of the Lebanese subjects were
arrested on U.S. indictments and are pending extradition. The
arrested Lebanese subjects were Nemr Al ZEITER, Samir Sobhi ZEITER,
Yamil Ali MAZLOUM, Youssef HOJEIJ, Hassanein Ali ZEITER, Zovater
HAMSEN, and Amer Zoher EL HOSSNI. The Paraguayan national detained
is Carlos Antonio ACUQA.
On August 14, 2008, a search warrant executed at the residence of
Cesar VILLALBA-Silvero in Lambare, Central Department resulted in
the seizure of two plastic containers with a total of 73 kilos of
ephedrine. An additional 3 kilograms of ephedrine were found in a
bedroom closet of the residence. Hugo GONZALEZ-Galeano and Estela
GONZALEZ-Galeano were arrested for possession of the 76 kilograms of
ephedrine. Simultaneous to the execution of the search warrant,
SENAD agents arrested Cesar VILLALBA-Silvero as he was riding a
motorcycle in the city of Fernando de la Mora, Central Department.
On August 20, 2008, SENAD seized 13.975 kilos of cocaine from
Paraguayan national Erico VILLALBA-Pereira in Ciudad del Este. At
the time of the arrest, VILLALBA-Pereira was attempting to cross the
Friendship Bridge from Ciudad del Este to Foz de Yguaz, Brazil. The
cocaine was hidden inside his vehicle.
On September 9, 2008, SENAD seized 6,331 kilos of marijuana from a
vehicle in vicinity of Coronel Oviedo, Caaguazu Department. Based
on prior information that the route where the vehicle was located
had been used as an avenue to smuggle marijuana, SENAD established a
checkpoint in the area. A checkpoint inspection led to the
discovery of a large number of bags containing marijuana in a cargo
truck. Following the discovery of the marijuana, the truck's
driver, Reinaldo SPAINI-Segovia, received a phone call from the
load's coordinator. The driver told the coordinator the truck had
suffered damage and asked the coordinator to come to his location to
render assistance. Approximately ten minutes later, a vehicle
arrived at the location with two occupants; Teodoro TOLEDO-Mendoza
and Atilio Javier TOLEDO-Jara. All three subjects were arrested and
both vehicles seized.
Between September 11 and 14, 2008, SENAD conducted marijuana
eradication operations at various locations in the Departments of
Itapua and Caazapa, along Paraguay's southern border with Argentina.
The operations were conducted in coordination with Argentineans
authorities to maximize limited resources. Although no arrests were
made in Paraguay, SENAD cleared 7 hectares of planted marijuana,
resulting in the destruction of approximately 21,000 kilos of
marijuana, seized 215 kilos of compressed marijuana and 80 kilos of
marijuana seeds, as well as related processing equipment.
On September 22, 2008, the SENAD seized 22.51 kilos of cocaine in
Ciudad Fernando de la Mora, Central Department from a leased vehicle
located in a parking lot of a supermarket. The cocaine was packaged
in several plastic bags that were placed in a carton box inside the
cargo area of the vehicle. SENAD is investigating leads on this
case.
In addition to the arrest of Yehya ZEITER in Romania on April 14,
2008, two additional U.S. indicted members of the organization were
arrested in Paraguay on August 6, 2008; Nemr Al ZEITER and Amer
Zoher EL HOSSNI. Additional members of the organization have been
indicted and are pending arrest.
E. IPR
During the first nine months of 2008, the Specialized Technical Unit
(UTE) under the leadership of Colonel Felix Cruz made significant
progress in investigating major traders of counterfeit goods and
seizing pirated goods in higher-valued assets, such hi-tech
equipment, computer software, general electronics, and other
consumer goods. Though national elections and a presidential
transition reduced the government's operational capacity, the
commercial value of counterfeit and pirated goods seized by UTE
reached 14 million USD, mostly from intense enforcement efforts in
and near Ciudad Del Este. INL continues to provide UTE with funds
for operational support.
F. Money Laundering
INL funds will support an upgrade of SEPRELAD's existing financial
crime software currently in use, including technical assistance.
SEPRELAD is hoping to have banks linked to the financial crime
software before the end of 2008.
III. Miscellaneous Issues:
Quarterly SENAD statistics
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Cocaine 58 46 49 0
Seized (kg)
Marijuana 9,434 110,228 26,698 0
Seized (kg)
Marijuana 994 568 N/A 0
Crops
Destroyed (Has)
Cocaine Related 15 39 N/A 0
Marijuana Related 39 57 N/A 0
Other Related 21 8 N/A 0
Violations
Total Arrests 75 104 70 0
NOTE: Due to the August government transition, all numbers are not
available for this quarter.
AYALDE
SIPDIS
FOR WHA/BSC MDASHBACH, INL/LP ASMITH, DGRAHAM
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR AFIN KCRIM PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY'S 2008 THIRD QUARTER INL REPORT
I. SUMMARY: The Government of Paraguay's National Anti-Drug
Secretariat (SENAD) has made great strides in its drug enforcement
activities in the past quarter. Seizures of both cocaine and
marijuana remain steady and important drug traffickers were
arrested. Following the inauguration of President Fernando Lugo
August 15, 2008, Cesar Aquino was appointed as SENAD Minister. INL
supported SENAD's active demand reduction program, and provided
operational support to the Specialized Technical Unit (UTE). INL
also contracted to provide technical assistance to the Money
Laundering Secretariat (SEPRELAD). END SUMMARY.
II. Program Discussion:
A. Demand Reduction
During the months of July, August and September, SENAD's Prevention
Program provided a total of 365 workshops, reaching a total of
11,993 people, to include students, teachers and parents. It
conducted 15 educational workshops for teachers on the social
problems of drug consumption. It also coordinated activities for
prevention of drug-use in 49 educational institutions and
disseminated 2,492 informational pamphlets to teachers and
counselors to use during workshops. SENAD's prevention unit
continued working on its main objective to reach hundreds of
participants each month in Central and Amambay Departments. The
program included formal workshops, informal sessions, public
seminars, and the distribution of informational materials.
B. Narcotics Detection Canine (K-9)Program:
The canine program continues to have success in seizures and enhance
the overall efforts of SENAD's drug interdiction program. Canine
alerts led to the seizure of 7.9 kilograms of cocaine and 4 arrests.
C. Law Enforcement Accomplishments:
On August 5, 2008, SENAD seized 10,926 kilos of marijuana during
raids on four marijuana gathering camps near the town of Itakyry,
Alto Parana Department. The marijuana traffickers who were in
control of the camps fled the area before the SENAD arrived, but
SENAD seized 9 hydraulic presses used for compressing marijuana
bricks, 200 kilos of marijuana seeds, 4 motorcycles, and 2 shotguns.
On August 6, 2008, seven Lebanese subjects and one Paraguayan were
arrested in Ciudad del Este. Two of the Lebanese subjects were
arrested on U.S. indictments and are pending extradition. The
arrested Lebanese subjects were Nemr Al ZEITER, Samir Sobhi ZEITER,
Yamil Ali MAZLOUM, Youssef HOJEIJ, Hassanein Ali ZEITER, Zovater
HAMSEN, and Amer Zoher EL HOSSNI. The Paraguayan national detained
is Carlos Antonio ACUQA.
On August 14, 2008, a search warrant executed at the residence of
Cesar VILLALBA-Silvero in Lambare, Central Department resulted in
the seizure of two plastic containers with a total of 73 kilos of
ephedrine. An additional 3 kilograms of ephedrine were found in a
bedroom closet of the residence. Hugo GONZALEZ-Galeano and Estela
GONZALEZ-Galeano were arrested for possession of the 76 kilograms of
ephedrine. Simultaneous to the execution of the search warrant,
SENAD agents arrested Cesar VILLALBA-Silvero as he was riding a
motorcycle in the city of Fernando de la Mora, Central Department.
On August 20, 2008, SENAD seized 13.975 kilos of cocaine from
Paraguayan national Erico VILLALBA-Pereira in Ciudad del Este. At
the time of the arrest, VILLALBA-Pereira was attempting to cross the
Friendship Bridge from Ciudad del Este to Foz de Yguaz, Brazil. The
cocaine was hidden inside his vehicle.
On September 9, 2008, SENAD seized 6,331 kilos of marijuana from a
vehicle in vicinity of Coronel Oviedo, Caaguazu Department. Based
on prior information that the route where the vehicle was located
had been used as an avenue to smuggle marijuana, SENAD established a
checkpoint in the area. A checkpoint inspection led to the
discovery of a large number of bags containing marijuana in a cargo
truck. Following the discovery of the marijuana, the truck's
driver, Reinaldo SPAINI-Segovia, received a phone call from the
load's coordinator. The driver told the coordinator the truck had
suffered damage and asked the coordinator to come to his location to
render assistance. Approximately ten minutes later, a vehicle
arrived at the location with two occupants; Teodoro TOLEDO-Mendoza
and Atilio Javier TOLEDO-Jara. All three subjects were arrested and
both vehicles seized.
Between September 11 and 14, 2008, SENAD conducted marijuana
eradication operations at various locations in the Departments of
Itapua and Caazapa, along Paraguay's southern border with Argentina.
The operations were conducted in coordination with Argentineans
authorities to maximize limited resources. Although no arrests were
made in Paraguay, SENAD cleared 7 hectares of planted marijuana,
resulting in the destruction of approximately 21,000 kilos of
marijuana, seized 215 kilos of compressed marijuana and 80 kilos of
marijuana seeds, as well as related processing equipment.
On September 22, 2008, the SENAD seized 22.51 kilos of cocaine in
Ciudad Fernando de la Mora, Central Department from a leased vehicle
located in a parking lot of a supermarket. The cocaine was packaged
in several plastic bags that were placed in a carton box inside the
cargo area of the vehicle. SENAD is investigating leads on this
case.
In addition to the arrest of Yehya ZEITER in Romania on April 14,
2008, two additional U.S. indicted members of the organization were
arrested in Paraguay on August 6, 2008; Nemr Al ZEITER and Amer
Zoher EL HOSSNI. Additional members of the organization have been
indicted and are pending arrest.
E. IPR
During the first nine months of 2008, the Specialized Technical Unit
(UTE) under the leadership of Colonel Felix Cruz made significant
progress in investigating major traders of counterfeit goods and
seizing pirated goods in higher-valued assets, such hi-tech
equipment, computer software, general electronics, and other
consumer goods. Though national elections and a presidential
transition reduced the government's operational capacity, the
commercial value of counterfeit and pirated goods seized by UTE
reached 14 million USD, mostly from intense enforcement efforts in
and near Ciudad Del Este. INL continues to provide UTE with funds
for operational support.
F. Money Laundering
INL funds will support an upgrade of SEPRELAD's existing financial
crime software currently in use, including technical assistance.
SEPRELAD is hoping to have banks linked to the financial crime
software before the end of 2008.
III. Miscellaneous Issues:
Quarterly SENAD statistics
1st 2nd 3rd 4th
Cocaine 58 46 49 0
Seized (kg)
Marijuana 9,434 110,228 26,698 0
Seized (kg)
Marijuana 994 568 N/A 0
Crops
Destroyed (Has)
Cocaine Related 15 39 N/A 0
Marijuana Related 39 57 N/A 0
Other Related 21 8 N/A 0
Violations
Total Arrests 75 104 70 0
NOTE: Due to the August government transition, all numbers are not
available for this quarter.
AYALDE