EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING

UNCLAS BANGKOK 000411 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/ECC YWONG, ACHURCH, KCROUCH, ROWEN, EAP/MLS DRICHELSOPH, BBLACKSHAW CBP/INA FOR RWATT DEPT OF ENERGY FOR NNSA TPERRY AMEMBASSY HANOI FOR PECKSTROM AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR FOR RMOODY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TH VN SUBJECT: EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - JANUARY 2008 REF: SECSTATE 10479 SUMMARY ¶1. (U) CBP conducted an International Seaport Interdiction Training (ISIT II) course at Laem Chabang port, Thailand, January 7-11. A planning session and System Administrator training for the Tracker licensing system was conducted in Hanoi, January 14-18. EXBS Advisor visited Bangkok Port on January 29. Three CT-30 inspection kits and fourteen Personal Radiation Detectors (PRDs) were transferred to Royal Thai Customs. Imminent training includes an ISIT II in Vietnam and ICE Export Enforcement training in Thailand. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS ¶2. (U) EXBS Advisor visited the Port of Bangkok on January ¶29. Because of draft limitations, Bangkok is a regional port, handling trade with Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and other Asian ports. Port capacity is 1.5 million TEU's (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) per year. The Thai Port Authority operates the port. Customs officials said that the most common violations include Intellectual Property Rights violations (shipment of counterfeit goods), shipment of illegal logs, and avoidance of customs duties. TRAINING CONDUCTED ¶3. (U) U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducted an International Seaport Interdiction Training (ISIT II) course at Laem Chabang port, Thailand, January 7-11. Laem Chabang is Thailand's largest port, and one of the twenty busiest in the world. It also is a participating site in the Container Security Initiative (CSI) and Megaports program. Twenty five Thai officials participated, including representatives from Customs, the Navy, Marine Police, Port Authority, the Vessel Traffic Control and Maritime Security Center, and Immigration. ¶4. (U) Commonwealth Trading Partners (CTP) conducted a planning session and System Administrator training for the Tracker licensing system in Hanoi, January 14-18. Participants included the Vietnam Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Authority (VARANSAC) and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT). Representatives from Customs and the Ministry of Defense observed. VARANSAC and MOIT intend to move forward with customizing and implementing the system as soon as possible. Customs requested a Tracker terminal for the VARANSAC system and is considering one linked to the MOIT system as well. Additional details reported REFTEL. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED ¶5. (U) In conjunction with the ISIT training, EXBS Advisor delivered two CT-30 Inspection Kits and eight Personal Radiation Detectors (PRDs) to the Laem Chabang Customs Bureau. Advisor also delivered one CT-30 kit and six PRD's to the Port of Bangkok Customs Bureau (Bangkok Customs officials had attended the Laem Chabang training). IMMINENT TRAINING/EQUIPMENT UPDATE ¶6. (U) U.S. Customs and Border Protection will conduct an International Seaport Interdiction Training (ISIT II) course at Ho Chi Minh City port, March 3-7. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will conduct an Export Control Enforcement Training course in Bangkok, March 10-14. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS ¶7. (U) None. JOHN