NAS MONTHLY REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 2008

UNCLAS BOGOTA 004499 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR INL/LP AND INL/RM DEPT FOR WHA/AND E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO SUBJECT: NAS MONTHLY REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 2008 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In November, only 4,492 hectares of coca were sprayed due to bad weather and lack of support from the Colombian National Police (CNP); this setback slowed our progress toward the annual eradication goal of 130,000 hectares sprayed. Eradication aircraft were involved in four hostile fire incidents, resulting in eight impacts. On Nov. 21, the Aerial Eradication Manager hosted a Colombian Eradication Conference that aimed to increase cooperation and jointness in operations. Total manual eradication of coca by December 15 will be several thousand hectares short of the 2008 manual eradication goal of 100,000 hectares; the GOC's manual eradication program for 2009 is still in the planning stages awaiting the finalization of budget allocations. Plan Colombia Helicopter Program (PCHP) aircraft flew 483.2 hours, which included providing support for eight medical evacuation flights for 12 patients; eighty-eight contractors were cut from the PCHP program. The CNP Aviation Wing's (ARAVI) NAS-supported fleet flew 1,330 mission hours in November; the C-26 Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Aerial Platform (ISRAP) awaits possible delivery of a second C-26 ISRAP in December. The Carabineros captured 99 targets, performed 87 seizures, deactivated 10 improvised explosive devices, and destroyed 18 base laboratories. The Naval Intelligence Group (GRUIN in its Spanish acronym),working with DEA information, interdicted a 20-foot vessel in the vicinity of Isla Tortuguilla; the vessel had a cargo of 38 bales containing 948 packages of cocaine that weighed 1,036 kilos. One million 5.56 mm rounds and three thousand AN-M14 Incendiary (Thermite) hand grenades arrived and have been donated to the Antinarcotics police. DIRAN's Ports and Airports Area (ARPAE) unit seized 22.5 kilos of cocaine at the Port of Cartagena; 5.2 kilos of cocaine at the airport of Pereira; 3.5 kilos at the airport of Cali; 512.7 kilos of cocaine, 4 kilos of heroin and 31.3 kilos of marijuana in Bogota's airport. The Ministry of Defense's (MOD) demobilization program achieved another record year in 2008 as 3,240 people had demobilized through November 30th, compared to 3,192 for entire 2007; the quality of demobilization continues to improve with mid-level leadership demobilization doubling and a 17% increase in demobilization of experienced combatants compared to the same period in 2007. On November 27, the GOC launched its National Plan for Drug Consumption Reduction 2009-2010 that aims to prevent initial drug consumption, mitigate the impact once someone is a consumer, integrate former addicts back into the society, and increase overall capabilities to fight consumption. END SUMMARY. -------------- AERIAL ERADICATION PROGRAM -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In November, 4,492 hectares of coca were sprayed. The CONDOR team, based in Larandia, sprayed 2,726 hectares and the RAPTOR team, based in San Jose, sprayed 1,766 hectares. This brings the calendar year total to 125,320 hectares of coca sprayed. Eradication aircraft were involved in four hostile fire incidents in November, resulting in eight impacts. This brings the total for the year to 54 hostile fire incidents, resulting in 107 impacts. ¶3. (SBU) In the beginning of November, the aerial eradication program was on track to make the annual eradication goal of 130,000 hectares. The program has been set back due to poor weather and lack of CNP support. Rain and high winds have dominated the spray areas. CNP fuel support has been slow with minimal amounts being delivered to the FOLs/FARPs (Forward Operating Locations/Forward Area Refueling and Rearming Points)that barely meet requirements. Several days of spraying were lost due to lack of fuel. The San Jose FOL lost five days of spraying due to lack of CNP gunship support. With no CNP spare gunships available, if an aircraft broke, the operation had to be canceled until repairs could be made. Lack of CNP fuel support at commercial bases affected the ability of C-208 to image targets outside the reach of the FOLs. ¶4. (SBU) On November 21, the Aerial Eradication Program Manager hosted a Colombian Eradication conference at the Bogota Plaza Hotel. In attendance were DIRAN (National Police Antinarcotics Division in its Spanish acronym),ARAVI, CNP leadership, Antinarcotics Brigade (BRACNA),Helicopter Battalion (BAHEL),EJERCITO E3, and Accion Social representing Manual Eradication. The conference was successful in setting a tone for better coordination and jointness in operations, although the Colombian participants were resistant to making any agreements. One of the focuses of next year's Aerial Eradication Strategy will be to continue to build cooperation among players and to strengthen the efficiency of the overall operation. -------------- MANUAL ERADICATION PROGRAM -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The GOC's manual eradication program for 2008 wraps up on December 15. Total coca eradication for the month of November was 11,872 hectares - bringing the GME program's year-to-date total to 80,480 hectares. Including eradication carried out by the Colombian security forces, total coca eradication through October totaled 91,370 hectares. Manual eradication operations are ongoing in 11 departments with the majority of GMEs in the traditional coca growing regions of Putumayo, Antioquia, Vichada, Meta and Narino. At the current pace of eradication and with only two weeks left in this year's manual eradication campaign, it estimated that total manual eradication of coca by December 15 will be several thousand hectares short of the 2008 manual eradication goal of 100,000 hectares. At this point, the GOC is not committed to extending manual eradication operations beyond December 15. The GOC's manual eradication program for 2009 is still in the planning stages and final decisions on the 2009 manual eradication goal will not be made until budget allocations for manual eradication are finalized. There were no reported security incidents in November. Through November, 25 people (12 civilians and 13 security personnel) had died during this year's manual eradication operations, surpassing the sixteen killed during the entire 2007 campaign. ¶6. (SBU) Separate from the GME program, the Colombian Army (COLAR) and the CNP conducted manual eradication as part of their normal operations. Through the end of November, COLAR had eradicated 9,643 hectares of coca, 230 hectares of poppy, and 11 hectares of marijuana, and the CNP had eradicated 1,246 hectares of coca, 119 hectares of poppy, and 12 hectares of marijuana. -------------- PLAN COLOMBIA HELICOPTER PROGRAM (PCHP) -------------- ¶7. (SBU) PCHP Aircraft operated from Tumaco, San Jose, Larandia, and Tolemaida, and flew a total of 483.2 hours. PCHP aircraft provided air assaults, air movements, reconnaissance, medical evacuations, and support missions for the CD Brigade and other vetted COLAR units. Air assaults continued to be an effective means of increasing security for aerial eradication spray operations and Counternarcotics (CN) interdiction operations conducted by BACNA (Counternarcotics Battalion) units of the Counterdrug (CD) Brigade. PCHP flew 26.3 hours supporting 8 medical evacuation flights that transported 12 patients. Significant reductions were made in contractor support personnel in the contract year that began on November 1. A total of 88 personnel were cut from the PCHP team. ¶8. (SBU) Aircrew continuation/mission training and aircraft qualification training were conducted throughout the month in both the UH-60 and UH-II. Two COLAR pilots were qualified as Pilots-in-Command, and two pilots completed qualification as Maintenance Test Flight/Standardization Evaluators. ¶9. (SBU) NAS Peru had two Peruvian Police officers attending flight training at the Joint Initial Entry Rotary Wing School in Melgar. CPT Guevara was given a total of three progress evaluations and two additional blocks of flight training periods, but was unable to demonstrate acceptable proficiency to continue in the course. The second Peruvian pilot student continues to struggle with low prospects for successful completion. -------------- COLOMBIA NATIONAL POLICE (CNP) AIR SERVICE (ARAVI) SUPPORT -------------- ¶10. (SBU) ARAVI's NAS-supported fleet flew 1,330 mission hours in November. The seven UH-60 Black Hawks closed out the month with 158 flight hours and an Operational Readiness (OR) rate of 88 percent. ¶11. (SBU) The Bell 212 fleet flew 156 mission hours with an OR rate of 69 percent. Two Bell 212's have yet to be inducted to the Service Life Extension Program/Rewire and the program is waiting for funding from the INL/A Critical Flight Safety Program. The Huey II OR rate was 76 percent while flying 654 hours. Two Huey II aircraft, or six percent of the fleet, are waiting for depot maintenance for structural repairs. Because of an addition of 15 workers in July, two Huey II's have been repaired, reassembled, and are operational. ¶12. (SBU) The DC-3 fleet flew 259 hours in November, with an OR rate of 47 percent. The C-26 Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Aerial Platform (ISRAP) Program awaits possible delivery of a second C-26 ISRAP in December. -------------- -------------- REESTABLISH POLICE PRESENCE PROGRAM (CARABINEROS) -------------- -------------- ¶13. (SBU) Thirty-four carabineros squadrons continue to conduct manual eradication in Vichada, Putumayo, Narino and Meta Departments. The Don Mario Search Block relocated to Cordoba Department to try and control the increasing violence between the emerging criminal bands in the area. Other squadrons continue their normal missions of rural security along the major lines of communications. ¶14. (SBU) 1,100 students graduated from the Rural Commando Operations School's (COR's) basic course. The combat medic, demining, and designated marksmanship courses will start during the second week of December. ¶15. (SBU) Results for November were: 99 captures (5 narcos, 5 FARC/ELN, 5 BACRIM and 84 common criminals); 87 seizures (87 weapons, 40 60mm Mortars, 2,412 gallons of liquid precursors, 5,831 kilograms of solid precursors, 8 kilograms of cocaine, 2 kilograms of marijuana, 30 vehicles. Carabineros deactivated 10 improvised explosive devices and destroyed 18 base laboratories. -------------- MARITIME INTERDICTION -------------- ¶16. (SBU) The GRUIN working with DEA information interdicted a black 20-foot vessel named "Negra" with three crew members one nautical mile from Puerto Escondido (in the vicinity of Isla Tortuguilla). The vessel had a cargo of 38 bales containing 948 packages of cocaine. The net weight (according to the Fiscalia's office) is 1,036 kilograms; the three crew members were arrested. ¶17. (SBU) The teams conducted various reconnaissance missions verifying intelligence in various farms, ships, and at other targets. These missions are critical to obtain information of the activities and resources of potential enemies. -------------- WEAPONS -------------- ¶18. (SBU) One million 5.56 mm rounds arrived in Bogota and have been donated to the Antinarcotics police in support of future missions. In addition, three thousand AN-M14 Incendiary (Thermite) Hand Grenades arrived and have been donated to the Antinarcotics police in support of destruction of HCL (hydrochloride) laboratories. Coordination continues to have the remaining three-thousand M67 Fragmentation Grenades delivered; a charter plane is being coordinated for early January 2009 to transport these sensitive items. ¶19. (SBU) 7th Group Special Forces team conducted site survey and training for the Jungla Company in Tulua. Training consisted of night firing with NVDs (Night Vision Devices),zeroing the ACOG, medic course, and familiarization firing of the K-3 (M249 variant). -------------- BASE SECURITY/ROAD INTERDICTION/NVD Program -------------- ¶20. (SBU) The one-month Base Defense course in Tumaco began on November 17 after all of the vetting requirements were completed. The course is scheduled to be completed on December 18. A total of 41 students began the course; DIRAN had 35 students, CD Brigade 5, and the Marine Corps Fluvial Battalion (BAFLIM) - one. ¶21. (SBU) The IDIQ project proposals at Cerro Cruz Verde, San Jose de Guaviare and Mapiripan were bid, contracts awarded, and projects begun. ACS is the primary contractor for Cerro Cruz Verde and San Jose de Guaviare. DSS/LLC is the primary contractor for Mapiripan. ¶22. (SBU) The test equipment for the GRUIN NVD laboratory arrived and was nationalized in preparation for final presentation to the unit. The 30 NVD's that had been on order for six months have also arrived and are being nationalized. Once nationalized, the NVD laboratory renovation project will be considered as completed. ¶23. (SBU) NAS completed inspections and conducted required maintenance and inventories on NVD's at multiple sites throughout the country. Locations included El Dorado, Guayameral, Tulua, Santa Marta, Facatativa, Espinal, Pijaos, Cespo and DITRA. A total of over 250 NVD's were serviced and made fully mission-capable. In addition, 500 NVD's purchased for DICAR arrived and are being tested to determine that they meet the standards required. They will be subsequently shipped out to specific DICAR units. -------------- COMMUNICATIONS -------------- ¶24. (SBU) DIRAN Communication's mobile team conducted Thales (MBITR) training for the three Jungla Companies on programming and use of radios. The radio section also programmed and fielded 80 Motorola XTS 5000 radios donated by NAS; these radios will replace older radios in support of the digital network. The radio communications team conducted preventive maintenance in the Northern Zone Headquarters and reestablished single channel communications with Puerto Estrella. The team then repaired a repeater in Meta that had a malfunctioning card damaged by a lightning strike. ¶25. (SBU) The data section supported a microwave installation in the Rionegro International Airport. This installation connects the antinarcotics police at the airport with the National Data Network giving them access to the internet, official email, shared files, and other mission-critical resources. -------------- PORT SECURITY PROGRAM (PSP) -------------- ¶26. (SBU) In November, DIRAN's Ports and Airports Area (ARPAE) unit seized 22.5 kilos of cocaine at the Port of Cartagena; 5.2 kilos of cocaine at the airport of Pereira; 3.5 kilos at the airport of Cali; 512.7 kilos of cocaine, 4 kilos of heroin and 31.3 kilos of marijuana at the airport of Bogota. Following a four-month training regimen, eighteen new canines were evaluated and approved for deployment on explosive-detection missions with Carabinero units engaged in manual eradication. ¶27. (SBU) The DIRAN polygraph unit conducted polygraph exams on 125 members of the DIRAN's Administrative, Interdiction, Ports and Airports units (74 passed the exam, 41 failed, and ten were inconclusive). The Polygraph unit also assisted the DIRAN Internal Affairs Unit's investigations on several cases. -------------- INDIVIDUAL DEMOBILIZATION PROGRAM -------------- ¶28. (SBU) The Ministry of Defense's (MOD) demobilization program achieved another record year in 2008 at 3,240 people demobilized through November 30th, as compared to the 3,192 total in 2007. The quality of demobilization continues to improve with mid-level leadership demobilization doubling and a 17% increase in demobilization of experienced combatants as compared to the same period in 2007. The most common motivations for desertion from the illegal groups are poor quality of life, physical abuse by their commanders, and military pressure. Incidence of demobilization due to military pressure has increased significantly since 2007. This "carrot and stick" approach is reaping great rewards for the Colombian government. ¶29. (SBU) The fifth and final demobilization rally of 2008 is scheduled for December 17th in the border town of Arauca. The event will include a free concert featuring Colombian Vallenato stars Pipe Pelaez and Checo Acosta, as well as a children's parade for peace. Hundreds of demobilized individuals and their children will attend a popular Christmas musical on December 19th along with program staff and their children, courtesy of the MOD. Senior Colombian officials and foreign diplomats are expected to attend the televised event. -------------- ENVIRONMENTAL -------------- ¶30. (SBU) In November, the interagency complaints committee received 35 new claims of alleged spray damage to legal crops. Out of the 74 cases closed this month, in 69 cases either spray operations did not occur or coca was mixed with licit crops. Two complainants were compensated for a total of 12,800,000 COP (approximately 5,634 USD). The final payment that was initialized in October to a complainant in the city of Florencia, totaling 32,468,500 COP (approximately 13,983 USD),will be finalized in December. As of November 30, 116 people have been compensated this year, totaling 1,089,400,257 COP (approximately 478,963 USD). ¶31. (SBU) The environmental team continues to educate Colombians on the complaint process and related eradication issues. On December 11, the team traveled to the department of Bolivar to speak to government officials on these topics and will return in January to speak to local mayors about their responsibilities under Colombian law in handling crop damage complaints. -------------- ADMINISTRATION -------------- ¶32. (SBU) The F Process Performance Plan Report for FY 08 was submitted to the Foreign Assistance bureau; FY 09 spending plan report is being coordinated with INL. -------------- DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION (DDR) -------------- ¶33. (SBU) On November 27, the GOC launched its National Plan for Drug Consumption Reduction 2009-2010. Vice-president Francisco Santos Calderon, Minister of the Interior and Justice Fabio Valencia Cossio, Vice-minister of Health and Well-being Carlos Ignacio Cuervo, Director of the Directorate of Dangerous Drugs Carlos Albornoz, UNODC Representative Aldo Lale-Demoz, and DIRAN's Antinarcotics Deputy Director Jose Angel Mendoza addressed various regional government and community leaders. The GOC aims to prevent initial drug consumption, mitigate the impact once someone is a consumer, integrate former addicts back into society, and increase overall capabilities to fight consumption. NICHOLS