BI-WEEKLY REPORTING CABLE FOR PERIOD ENDING 11/14/08 -

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001474 DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP, DAS CHRISTY MCCAMPBELL, AIMEE MARTIN AND JOE FURLONI 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 11/14/08 - NARCOTICS AFFAIRS SECTION ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: This cable provides a summary of NAS activities in Guatemala covering the period ending November 14, 2008. End Summary. -------------- NARCOTICS -------------- ¶2. (U) AIRPORT: NAS met with General Perusina, Chief of Guatemala national airport security, to discuss the DGAC plan to expand civilian airport operations in the airport at San Jose and the construction of the new Pacific Counter Narcotics base for the PNC narcotics units (DIPA/SAIA) in San Jose. General Perusina stated that in order for the base to become fully operational a radar system and landing lights must be installed to provide the airport with those critical operational safety measures. ¶3. (U) PUERTO BARRIOS: The heads of DIPA, SAIA and NAS met with the head of DIPA operations in Puerto Barrios to discuss the search criteria used to identify containers. The lack of results, as well as the containers searched over the past six months (only containers coming from the U.S. were searched),required explanation. His responses to the questioning were not satisfactory. (See below PUERTO BARRIOS 2). The leadership team also discussed the numerous barriers that impeded DIPA from making the selection and allowing access to these containers. ¶4. (U) PUERTO BARRIOS 2: NAS met with the PNC Director of Human Resources regarding numerous personnel changes that are being recommended within DIPA and SAIA. The only significant change was the replacement of the director of DIPA port operations in Puerto Barrios. Not only were there numerous complaints from within DIPA, both DIPA and NAS have lost confidence in his ability to perform (see above). ¶5. (U) CENTRAL SKIES: NAS met with SAIA and DEA to discuss the details concerning operation Central Skies. At the request of TAT/DEA and NAS, SAIA has commenced providing FIAAT personnel to the Central Skies operations. Note: Senior FIAAT leadership will rotate to Poptun for a one-week orientation of the Central Skies mission. ¶6. (U) SEIZURE: Based on information from ICE, DIPA airport units seized $341,000 from a Guatemalan national at La Aurora airport. ¶7. (U) SEIZURE 2: DIPA airport units seized approximately 2 kilograms of cocaine from a Guatemalan-American citizen traveling to New York via Atlanta. ¶8. (U) EUM EXERCISE: NAS conducted an End Use Monitoring K-9 exercise with the head of DIPA in Santo Tomas with a DIPA K-9 handler. NAS conducted the exercise in the container yards at the port. A separate report of this exercise and the results will follow. Note: NAS will perform EUM exercises with all NAS trained canine units throughout Guatemala. -------------- POLICE -------------- ¶9. (U) ACADEMY: The training calendar for the CID Program has been completed for 2009. There are presently 73 courses that have been programmed. Prosecutors, judges, and some civilians will be included in the training. ¶10. (U) REPLICATION OF VILLA NUEVA: A half-day seminar was conducted to examine the replication of the model precinct. All those that were involved in the process provided input into lessons learned and what should be done in any future replication of the model. 92 individuals from the PNC, MOG, MP, NGOs, clergy, transportation, business sector, schools, and the municipality provided input. ¶11. (U) VILLA NUEVA MODEL PRECINCT: PNC statistics for calendar year 2008 reflect that there were significant reductions in criminal Qyear 2008 reflect that there were significant reductions in criminal activity in Villa Nueva. The following sets forth the more significant developments: - The Model Precinct initiated the Police Athletic League in Positos with approximately 400 children. The Ministry of Education provided a physical fitness instructor and all of the athletic equipment. A local school is providing the athletic facilities. The teacher will stay with the program through 2009. The PNC is providing 12 police officers, including six females, who have been vetted to work with the children. - The Attorney General has approved the creation of two units within the Special Prosecutors Office for Organized Crime to address gang cases. The two agencies will not investigate all gang cases, but only those that can be developed into major cases against leaders and entire leadership structures utilizing the Organized Crime Law. - CICIG is coordinating with the officer in charge of the Model Precinct to assist in the selection, training and administration of investigators. CICIG wants to prepare a corps of investigators patterned after those of Villa Nueva. ¶12. (U) TIMS: Nineteen PNC officers are being trained in police computer system (SIPOL) and the proper use of the Complaint Form (RPI) in preparation for the new 24 hour court which will open this month in Escuintla. Additionally, the Director General has requested NAS assistance in the implementation of SIPOL and the RPI in Solola. NAS will provide training and some limited donations to the police station in Solola. ¶13. (U) PRISON SYSTEM: NAS continues to provide technical assistance to the prison system. Connectivity with the Chimaltenango Prison, where the majority of gang members are incarcerated, has been established to transmit more accurate inmate biographical information and information regarding visitors. This is an important step in identifying the gang members, their areas of operation, and those who provide logistical support. NAS will continue to work with the prison system to establish nationwide connectivity of the prisons to MOG and the NAS-funded unit for collection, analysis and dissemination of information (CRADIC). This should be accomplished within six months. ¶14. (U) ANTI-GANG PROGRAM: NAS continues to coordinate with the FBI Legat Office in El Salvador in establishing a gang program in Guatemala which will be compatible with the Regional Gang Strategy. The Director General of the PNC is very supportive and has provided office space within the PNC headquarters to be utilized by the gang investigators. PNC support, as well as cooperation from the prison system and the Public Ministry, in creating the units to investigate crimes is critical for success of the Regional Gang Project. ¶15. (U) INACIF (Forensic Lab): NAS is coordinating the transfer of previously donated office furniture from the PNC laboratory to the INACIF. The Minister of Government, with NAS approval, agreed to the transfer of furniture and a ballistics tank to the INACIF. NAS has coordinated with INACIF for the implementation of a quality control program for the laboratory to facilitate international certification. -------------- RULE OF LAW -------------- ¶16. (U) INVESTIGATIVE UNITS: NAS had multiple meetings with Public Ministry secretaries and prosecutors to coordinate the support that is being provided to the investigative units (that work with the Money Laundering, Narcotics and Corruption prosecutors) being opened in Quetzaltenango and Guatemala City. It was agreed that the Public Ministry will assign investigators as soon as the contracts are approved and signed by the Attorney General. In addition, both prosecutors and investigators will develop a protocol to process crime scenes in money laundering cases so that problems regarding handling and custody of evidence are avoided. ¶17. (U) TRAINING: Twenty-one prosecutors from the anti-corruption, Q17. (U) TRAINING: Twenty-one prosecutors from the anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and counternarcotics units of the Public Ministry received training on government accounting, as part of the comprehensive training schedule agreed between the MP and NAS. The twenty-four hour course focused on the legal framework and procedures related to governmental audits, reporting requirements, counter review procedures, expenditure justifications, etc. The course will be applicable to the prosecution of corruption cases. The course will be replicated to a second group of trainees this month. ¶18. (U) PROSECUTORS PROVIDE PNC TRAINING: The Anti-Narcotics Prosecutors Unit in Quetzaltenango hosted, with NAS support and coordination, a regional training course on police reports. All thirteen prosecutors and assistant prosecutors assigned to the south-eastern region of the country met with 28 law enforcement officers from eight different areas to agree on the investigative procedures assigned by law to police officers must adhere to during initial investigation of a case, the importance of police/prosecutor coordination during this time, and the importance of preparing a police report for further prosecution of a case. -------------- DEMAND REDUCTION -------------- ¶19. (U) PAL PROGRAM LAUNCHED: The Police Athletic League in Positos has officially been launched, beginning with a summer school program of 250 students, led by six PNC officers as organizers and teachers. D.A.R.E and anti-gang activities are integrated into the program. NAS and SECCATID negotiated an agreement with DIGEF (the Physical Education Directorate of the Ministry of Health) to provide substantial support to the program, with DIGEF funding the resurfacing and roofing of the basketball court, improvement of the football pitch, and provision of sports equipment and other materiel. See Police above. -------------- AVIATION SUPPORT (ASP) -------------- ¶20. (U) PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC): In addition to flying continuation training missions, both Majors Ruiz and Sagastume successfully passed their pilot-in-command check rides. This makes a total of four PICs out of the six pilots who have been trained and qualified. ¶21. (U) OBSERVATION MISSION: The ASP flew an opium poppy reconnaissance which encompassed the entire historic growing area. Observations by the ASP crews, NAS and GOG aerial observers indicated a small handful of fields in the area which previously had been designated as Area A (close to the town of Cuilco). Most poppy cultivation appears to be restricted to an area which is demarked by the towns of Tajamulco, Tacana and Ixchiguan in the San Marcos department. This area is now designated as the "Triangle." ¶22. (U) HELO FUEL: NAS met with Vice Minister of Government for Administration, Finance Chief for the PNC, and Logistics Officer for VMOG. At that meeting it was (verbally) agreed that the MOG would do the following: - Provide, per the LOA signed in February, a memo to NAS/CA detailing the funding that they are willing to provide for fuel for the ASP. Ramirez explicitly said the amount that they are requesting from the Finance Ministry would be ten million quetzales, which amounts to a little over USD 1.3 million at the current exchange rate. This is substantially more than expected, and NAS remains ready to provide assistance at every step as the request process unfolds. - In the interim, Ramirez offered USD 120,000 to cover current expenses. This money is already in place. ¶23. (U) FUEL LOCATIONS: NAS met with Lt. Col. Carlos Enrique Franco, Logistics Chief for the Guatemalan Air Force (GAF),to streamline helo fuel delivery and replacement within the GAF supply network. Cooperation from all parts of the GAF has been excellent thus far, and we now have received fuel from a total of four locations throughout the country. ¶24. (U) TRAINING: The ASP conducted multiple aircraft operations and airfield interdiction training with the Guatemalan Joint Task Force Fuentes (FIAAT) Quick Reaction Force in the southern coastal region of Guatemala. ¶25. (U) OPERATION: The ASP flew a multiple-purpose mission with the first leg to Poptun, Peten and the second leg to Puerto Barrios to: (a) Perform a local area orientation flight. (b) Meet with the Guatemalan Joint Task Force Fuentes (FIAAT) leadership in Poptun on personnel issues. (c) Review space availability/logistics as FIAAT becomes integrated in JIATF South Central Skies operations. (d) Conduct End Use Monitoring of NAS provided assets. Q(d) Conduct End Use Monitoring of NAS provided assets. (e) Deliver new weapons to the DEA Tactical Response Team in Poptun. MCFARLAND