BI-WEEKLY REPORTING CABLE FOR PERIOD ENDING

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001175 DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP, DAS CHRISTY MCCAMPBELL AND AIMEE MARTIN DEPARTMENT FOR INL/RM, JAMES WALSH EMBASSIES FOR NAS PAFB FOR SHARON NELL SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR KCRM ASEC PREL GT SUBJECT: BI-WEEKLY REPORTING CABLE FOR PERIOD ENDING 09/05/08 ? NARCOTICS AFFAIRS SECTION (U) 1. SUMMARY: This cable provides a summary of NAS activities in Guatemala covering the period ending September 5, 2008. End Summary. -------------- ¶2. NARCOTICS -------------- (U) a. NAS attended a monthly GOG interagency meeting on airport security chaired by Vice President Espada. The participants included the Director of the DGAC (Civil Aviation) the MOG, the Chief of Staff, members of the President?s committee on strategic intelligence, SAT (Customs/tax entity) and Immigration Department on port/airport security. The main topic of the meeting was security at the airports throughout Guatemala and the need for additional staffing of DIPA (Port/Airport Police) agents to support operations at airports outside of the city of Guatemala. The head of the DGAC also brought to the attention of the Vice President the need for a control tower and a radar system to provide coverage in the area of Quiche, and said he needed assistance in regaining control of the Puerto Barrios airport, which was under the control of unionized workers who reportedly are in league with narco-traffickers. (U) b. A special U.S Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) arrived in Guatemala on August 26 to conduct a survey to determine whether they could host a four to six week training course for members of SAIA (local CN police), the FIAAT (the JTF for anti-drug and terrorism) and the MILGRP/DEA Pacific Task Force. (U) c. NAS, along with SAIA and DIPA, attended a meeting with the Director and Sub Director of PNC to discuss the staffing of units and special weapons and vehicles needed for future FIAAT operations. The request was well received by the Director who ordered the PNC Sub Director of Finance and Logistics to fulfill the request. (U) d. NAS hosted a planning session with senior SAIA officials, the MOD-D2 (Intel),DEA, and the FIAAT regarding the first FIATT deployment which is tentatively scheduled for September 23. -------------- ¶3. RULE OF LAW -------------- (U) a. NAS met with Supreme Court Magistrate Luis Fernandez Molina to address problems encountered with a judge recently appointed to Villa Nueva. The Villa Nueva Model Precinct had developed an integrated strategy (with NAS assistance) to investigate and prosecute extortion cases. The strategy has included joint training with judges and law enforcement officers on interpretation of legal issues, especially those related to the crimes sanctioned by the Anti-organized Crime Law. The newly- appointed judge has opposed cooperation with law enforcement officials. (U) b. NAS participated in a meeting convened by the Public Ministry to discuss the strategy by which the Public Ministry (Attorney General?s Office),the MOG, the MOD and SECCATID (Demand Reduction Agency) can obtain some of the assets seized in narcotics, money laundering and organized crime cases. The different GOG agencies agreed to prepare a draft agreement to be signed with the Supreme Court. The draft should be revised and approved by the Ministers by September 27, for its presentation to the SCJ plenary in early October. SECCATID informed NAS that Vice President Espada will lead the delegation that will address the issue with the Supreme Court. -------------- ¶4. POLICE -------------- (SBU) a. Villa Nueva: Personnel from CICIG requested NAS Q(SBU) a. Villa Nueva: Personnel from CICIG requested NAS assistance in recruiting, vetting and training investigators. NAS met with Raul Jofre, Rafael Guiaman, and Nelson Neri Figueroa who are in the process of selecting and training investigators for CICIG. They approached NAS because they have witnessed ?the success of the investigative unit in the Model Precinct? in Villa Nueva, as well as the high level of public confidence that the public has in the Model Precinct investigators. The CICIG group is very impressed with the quality of investigations, the high rate of convictions and sentences that have been achieved by the Model Precinct. They explained that their mission is to 1)recruit, train and develop a cadre of investigators, 2) investigate and solve high profile cases and 3) to make recommendations to the Justice Sector Institutions on how to improve the investigative process. NAS will continue to provide technical support to CICIG in the areas set forth above. (U) b. Adela Torrebiarte, former Minister of Government and members of Madres Angustiadas, a prominent NGO, requested a visit to Villa Nueva to tour the Model Precinct. They will go to Villa Nueva on Wednesday, Sept. ¶13. Torrebiarte believes that the Model Precinct should be replicated and would like to pressure the GOG to make this happen. She is taking other members of the NGO to Villa Nueva to see in person how the success that has been achieved. (U) c. CRADIC (Police Intelligence and Dissemination center): Interpol headquarters has authorized the connection of Interpol to CRADIC. This will enhance the capability of CRADIC and provide access to Red Notices on people wanted by Interpol. Additionally, CRADIC is in the process of establishing a direct link with the SAT which will provide vital information on vehicles and persons. (U) CRADIC has also coordinated with the 110 Center (911in the US) to channel all calls regarding criminal information directly to CRADIC where they will be analyzed and forwarded to the appropriate PNC unit. Statistical information reflects that approximately 35% of all calls are related to police corruption, 30% drug information, 20% regarding homicides and the remainder miscellaneous crimes. CRADIC is working closely with SAIA and the Inspector General to ensure that the information is received on a timely basis and to follow up on information sent. (U) NAS has trained the trainers who will teach the use of the Standard Incident Report (RPI) or complaint form at the PNC Academy. The trainers will teach 36 groups of 30 starting in Sept 2008 and ending December 2008. (U) d. Prison System: The Director of Prisons Edy Morales Mazariegos and Angel Morales, Inspector General of the Prison System and Jose Antonio Kupczewski, NAS Technical Advisor attended the First Prison Systems Regional Conference in El Salvador during the week of Aug 17-21. The participants were briefed on the status of prisons of the region and the INL proposal to work with each country. NAS continues to provide technical assistance and provide some donations to enhance the security of some high profile drug traffickers that are being held in detention. NAS is in the process of installing CC cameras and a biometric access door in the most critical areas of the prison. -------------- ¶5. DEMAND REDUCTION -------------- (U) Edgar Camargo, SECCATID Executive Secretary, attended the DGAC aviation security meeting under orders from the Vice President (who also attended). (SBU) Comment: Camargo?s higher profile activities at the orders of the VP are interesting. It is possible that Qorders of the VP are interesting. It is possible that Camargo is being groomed for a posting outside SECCATID. End comment. -------------- ¶6. AVIATION SUPPORT -------------- (U) a. There are now two FIAAT pilots in command (PIC) and four FIATT pilots (copilots) who are qualified in VFR day mission and standard mission tasks. NAS will start two weeks of special mission task training next Monday which will complete all training on these pilots until initiation of the NVG phase. NOTE: Guatemala is working with Patrick Air Force Base (PAFB) on bringing in the NVGs as quickly as possible. (U) b. NAS held the first meeting between the aviation and ground elements of the FIAAT. The meeting planned next week?s joint training sessions. (U) c. Four majors in the Guatemalan staff course have been identified as the next tranche of pilots. Three of the four successfully completed their polygraph and the fourth completed his on 5 September (results pending). NAS estimates that the Leahy vetting should be completed by the end of the month and will be able to commence flight training with them in October. These majors represent the third tranche of pilots. (U) d. Mark Bryant arrived in Guatemala on 1 September as the Guatemala Site Manager. There was appropriate overlap with the TDY Site Manager in order to ensure a good turnover of the program. -------------- ¶7. OTHER ISSUES -------------- (U) NAS has been working closely with INL/RM on getting the LFMS (Local Financial Management System) fully functional. MCFARLAND