TOUGH WEEK FOR THE BAD GUYS: COLOMBIAN POLICE FORCES

UNCLAS BOGOTA 003604 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/AND E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PREL PGOV CO SUBJECT: TOUGH WEEK FOR THE BAD GUYS: COLOMBIAN POLICE FORCES DECIMATE NARCOTRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR ASSETS 1.(U) SUMMARY: Colombian National Police (CNP) forces, trained and equipped by the United States, captured Criminal Band (Banda Criminal or BACRIM in Spanish) leader alias "Memin"; killed the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC in Spanish) 34th Front Commander, alias " El Paisa"; and dealt an indelible blow to FARC 21st Front during the week of September 13-21. In addition, U.S.-trained Carabineros and Police Junglas captured FARC military supplies, destroyed multiple high-yield Hydrochloric Acid (HCL) labs, and seized a 45-foot semi-submersible and a semi-submersible construction facility near the Ecuadorian border. END SUMMARY. 2.(SBU) On September 13, the Colombian Antinarcotics Police (DIRAN) supported by the Colombian Air Force (COLAF),attacked the FARC 21st Front Headquarters near Chaparral, Tolima. The COLAF dropped nine bombs on the mountain camp as 36 DIRAN Junglas (Colombian Antinarcotics Police Airmobile Commandos) conducted the airmobile assault. Subsequent intelligence indicated that 24 of the estimated 37 FARC guerrillas were wounded during the attack with no friendly casualties. 3.(SBU) On September 18, The CNP's Task Force "Bloque de Busqueda" ("Search Block") captured Luis Arnulfo Tuberquia, alias "Memin." "Memin," the former paramilitary leader of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC in Spanish) Northwestern Block was the principal subordinate of the notorious, and still at-large nacrotrafficker, Daniel Rendon Herrera, alias "Don Mario." In addition to narcotrafficking, "Memin" is accused of 400 murders in the Antioquia State. CNP forces conducting the operation included the US-trained and equipped Carabinero Mobile Squadron (EMCAR). 4.(SBU) On September 19, the DIRAN Junglas captured a 45 foot semi-submersible craft and a semi-submersible construction facility located deep in the mangrove swamp near the Ecuadorian border, 25 miles directly south of Tumaco, 300 meters away from the Ecuadorian border on the Pacific coast. Estimates are that the semi-submersible construction site had been operation for over two years. 5.(SBU) On September 21, the CNP and COLAF attacked the FARC 34th Front Headquarters located 62 miles north of Quibdo in Vigia del Fuerte, Antioquia State. Following the COLAF bombing mission, 45 CNP Commandos rappelled in to search the area. They found the body of FARC 34th Front Commander Aicardo de Jesus Agudelo, alias "El Paisa," his personal computer and four cellular phones. "El Paisa" had spent over 20 years in the FARC and is believed to be responsible for planning and executing over 500 murders and 400 kidnappings in the Antioquia. In May, 2003, "El Paisa" had ordered the death of eight kidnapped Colombian soldiers, the ex-governor of Antioquia Guillermo Gaviria, and the ex-Minister of Defense Gilberto Echeverri when he feared that a Colombian Army rescue force was headed to his camp. ¶6. (SBU) Throughout the week of September 13-21 several other successes were registered by the CNP. The Colombian National Police at the Port of Cartagena seized 1.6 tons of cocaine destined for a cargo shipment to Guatemala (street value $48 million). Antioquia EMCAR units captured two caches containing 163 rifles, 4 PKM Machine guns, 1 Multiple Grenade Launcher, 500 kgs of cocaine, 200 kgs of cocaine base and a large quantity of ammunition and grenades. The Cauca EMCAR captured 25 rifles, 99,300 rounds of rifle ammunition, grenades, and other equipment. The EMCAR in the state of Risaralda destroyed a FARC camp and the EMCAR in the state of Caldas destroyed an HCL lab in the municipality of Victoria. The DIRAN Junglas destroyed two cocaine HCL labs in Magdalena Medio on Sep 17, capturing 500 kilos of cocaine. The Junglas also destroyed three HCL labs in Cauca State, containing a total of 650 kilos of cocaine (US street value $19.5 million). ¶7. (U) The Colombian Army Counterdrug Brigade was also quite active. On September 15, the 3rd Battalion destroyed a sulfuric acid factory and an HCL lab in the vicinity of Playa del Mira, Narino. The 2nd Battalion destroyed 9 coca base labs in Meta and Guaviare, and the 1st Battalion destroyed one base lab in Putumayo. The discovery of an improvised sulfuric acid lab in a very remote area indicates that the measures to control sulfuric acid and other precursor chemicals must be having some impact. ¶8. (U) COMMENT: While this was an exceptionally busy week for the security forces of Colombia, these types of operations occur every week. It is clear that USG-provided training and equipment have given Colombia the ability to take the fight to the bad guys and deal serious simultaneous blows to narcoterrorism on multiple fronts. END COMMENT. NICHOLS