LIMA NAS END OF MONTH REPORT - NOVEMBER

UNCLAS LIMA 001981 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR INL/LP AND WHA/PPC ONDCP FOR LTCOL RONALD GARMEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR KCRM ASEC PREL PE SUBJECT: LIMA NAS END OF MONTH REPORT - NOVEMBER ¶1. (U) Summary: * Eradication Report * Maritime Ports Report * PNP Ambushed Outside of Tingo Maria/Police Program Report * Threats to Helicopters * Continued Legal Progress on TIP * Prime Minister Releases First Draft of Anti-Corruption Plan * Money Laundering - Legal news and a new arrest Eradication Report ¶2. (U) The month of November closed with 1163.43 hectares eradicated for a total of 9805.11 for the year thus far. CORAH will operate with two work groups until December 15th and then suspend operations for the end of year break. Maritime Ports Report ¶3. (U) NAS supported units seized a total of 790 kilograms of cocaine during the month of November. Peruvian customs (SUNAT) and police officials seized 185.384 kg of cocaine HCL from drug mules (internal and external carriers) at Jorge Chavez International Airport. In an joint operation with Israeli police, NAS supported PNP/DIRANDRO Port Interdiction Team (PIT) seized 505 kg of cocaine HCL concealed in machinery destined for Israel. Following the seizure and arrests, Israeli police informed NAS counterparts that this was the largest drug smuggling case in Israeli police history. As an update to October's Lima NAS Monthly Report, the PIT seized 2,250 kg of cocaine concealed inside sea dock bumpers destined for Europe and arrested twenty individuals. PNP Ambushed Outside of Tingo Maria/Police Program Report ¶4. (U) On November 26, unknown elements ambushed a Peruvian National Police (PNP) convoy killing five. Details of the attack are still under review as is the determination of who was responsible. PNP believe the narco-terrorist element of Sendero Luminoso (SL) to be responsible for the attack after a SL pamphlet was found in Santa Lucia claiming responsibility. During the month of November, PNP units uncovered and destroyed five cocaine base laboratories in the eradication zones as well as 25 cocaine base laboratories in the Ayacucho and Cuzco areas. Threats to Helicopters ¶5. (SBU) NAS continues to receive intelligence of a SL effort to down a UH-2 helicopter during eradication operations. Though there have been no attempts, NAS regards these threats as real and takes appropriate preventive measures including variations in entry and exit from landing 
zones, flight paths and altitudes, education and awareness training for flight crews, and dispersing security forces on the ground. Threats against UH-2s, though not daily, are reoccurring. In response to these reoccurring threats, NAS has finally succeeded in acquiring the proper armor kits and plates and is in the process of installing them in each UH-2. Continued Legal Progress on TIP ¶6. (U) On November 30, a Supreme Decree was issued to complement the existing law against Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling. This latest decree establishes and outlines the competencies and responsibilities of the various institutions involved in this issue with the intent of delineating clear areas of responsibility for each institution. The decree also instructs the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to evaluate and elaborate upon MFA proposals of international agreements needed to implement this law, put into place preventive measures, and to expand victims' assistance and cross border cooperation. Prime Minister Releases First Draft of Anti-Corruption Plan ¶7. (U) Shortly after coming into office, Prime Minister Simon declared the fight against corruption as one of his first priorities. He has presented the draft of his Anticorruption Plan and has invited comment not only from public institutions, but from society as a whole. The plan outlines the following strategic targets: 1) strengthen the National system against corruption; 2) institutionalize in the public administration best practices of good governance, ethics, transparency and anticorruption principles; 3) craft an effective and comprehensive Judicial strategy against corruption; 4) promote ethics in the private sector; 5) promote and encourage the active participation of the mass media in the fight against corruption; 6) obtain social commitment and participation against corruption; 7) coordinate on an international level to address national level corruption. The final draft is expected to be released before the end of the year. Money Laundering - Legal news and a new arrest ¶8. (U) The Superintendent of Banks and Insurance has signed off on a new regulation modifying the Complementary Rules to Prevent Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing. The new approved regulation brings existing anti-money laundering laws into line with international standards and GAFISUD recommendations. ¶9. (U) Sandra Sanchez Galdos - wife of Fernando Zevallos who was the founder and owner of Peru's largest airline currently on trial for drug trafficking and money laundering - was arrested in Florida this month. She is being charged under the Kingpin Act for creating two front companies in Florida allegedly for laundering money. MCKINLEY