AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: APRIL 2008 PROGRAM UPDATE

UNCLAS BOGOTA 001925 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO SUBJECT: AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: APRIL 2008 PROGRAM UPDATE REF: 03 STATE 265910 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY. This is the monthly Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report for April, 2008, as required by Reftel. The Government of Colombia (GOC) sorted 6,859 tracks during April. Four were Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS). Two other aircraft without a flight plan were visually identified in international airspace and information passed on to Central American countries, resulting in two Law Enforcement end games in Guatemala with seven arrests and approximately 1,500 kilos of cocaine impounded. END SUMMARY. -------------- Tracks -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In April 2008, 6,859 tracks were sorted over Colombia, and four were declared UAS aircraft. Another two aircraft were visually identified in international airspace. Host Nation (HN) did not respond to one of the UAS due to no aircraft available at the time. HN responded to three of the UAS but was unable to locate them. Two of these aircraft were tracked departing north from Venezuela then headed westbound in international airspace without a flight plan or radio contact with air traffic control. First one was on 8 April and the second on 12 April. A Citation aircraft visually identified each of the aircraft and the information was passed on to Central American authorities. Guatemalan authorities completed Law Enforcement end games in both cases, impounding over 1,500 kilos of cocaine and nine AK-47s, and arresting 7 individuals. -------------- Flight Operations -------------- ¶3. (SBU) In April 2008, the Citations flew 167 hours in 81 sorties with an Operational Readiness (OR) rate of 39 percent. Of the 81 sorties, 37 were for GOC ABD intelligence gathering and patrolling; nine for training; nine were for operational support; 17 were for maritime patrolling; and nine were in reaction to GOC-provided information. The SR-26 aircraft 5741 flew 60 hours in 19 sorties with a 76% OR rate. 16 SR-26 sorties were in support of ABD, of which 13 were maritime missions. Three sorties were for non-ABD purposes. SR-26 tail number 5742 is still out of commission after a ground mishap. BROWNFIELD