SPAIN/BARCELONA CT HUB PROPOSAL: PRELIMINARY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 000067 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR S/CT, EUR/FO, AND EUR/WE E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/23/2018 TAGS: PTER AMGT AFIN SP SUBJECT: SPAIN/BARCELONA CT HUB PROPOSAL: PRELIMINARY BUDGET NUMBERS FOR PROPOSED DEPARTMENT STAFF INCREASES REF: 2007 MADRID 1914 Classified By: DCM Hugo Llorens for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (c) ¶1. (C) Per REFTEL proposal from Embassy Madrid and CG Barcelona to create a counterterrorism and law enforcement hub in Barcelona to improve US regional capabilities and work with our Spanish hosts in the target-rich environment of Catalonia, we provide rough estimates of the budgetary impact of staffing new Department positions. These estimates are based on the original proposal and could be revised as the project moves forward. The hub will likely be built in a piecemeal fashion, as the relevant USG agencies provide staffing as they are able. The costs to non-State Department agencies is unknown, and the actual costs may vary. On a separate note, we understand that the Department may be considering a site visit to the Consulate General to review its ability to support the hub, and we look forward to arranging a successful visit. We believe that 1-2 days spent in Barcelona, followed by a stopover in Madrid to meet with the DCM and members of the Mission's Counterterrorism Working Group, would provide ample opportunity to discuss all aspects of this field-driven strategy. ¶2. (C) //New Positions in Barcelona and Funding Required from State Department Allotments)// STATE-ICASS - 1 US Direct Hire (USDH) and 4 Locally Engaged Staff (LES) = $340,000 STATE - 3 USDH = $351,708 Total estimated increase required in post-level funding = $691,708 //Increases to Agency ICASS Invoices (as the Hub is staffed)// DHS-CSI - 1 USDH = $54,148 DHS-USSS - 1 USDH = $55,822 STATE-PA - 1 USDH = $60,032 STATE - 3 USDH = $170,775 JUSTICE-FBI - 2 USDH = $107,095 JUSTICE-DEA - 2 USDH = $107,278 ICASS Redistribution Costs (shared on a pro-rata basis by all agencies) = $136,825 //THE CASE FOR BARCELONA// ¶3. (C) The January 19 arrests in Barcelona of 14 individuals suspected of being members of a radical Islamic terrorist cell affiliated with Al-Qaeda and allegedly in the final stages of preparing suicide attacks on city transportation lines based in the heart of the tourist area, underscores the mounting evidence that Catalonia is emerging as a theater of operations for those who would threaten our interests and national security. A confluence of terrorist networks and organized crime syndicates involved in the contraband of narcotics, human trafficking, money laundering, credit card fraud, and document falsification continues to flow through this region and will only strengthen in the coming years. REFTEL provides a detailed profile of the rising threat in Barcelona and describes how terrorists, narcotraffickers and organized criminals have settled in the region to ply their illicit trade. Barcelona is also home to one of Spain's busiest ports and sees hundreds of thousands of U.S. tourists each year. The port hosts some of the largest cruise lines in the world, including the Disney Cruise Line this past year. The USG needs an on-site ability to monitor and coordinate with the Spanish to counter who and what is passing through from areas such as North Africa, the Sahel, and the Mediterranean. The multi-agency hub would both serve to eliminate stovepipes within USG departments and agencies and build host nation capacity to address the most serious current threats to U.S. national security. The Consulate General in Barcelona is the ideal site for this platform because it has the space available, secure communications, and a prime location. We look forward to working closely with the Department and the US interagency team to help build a strong and effective regional CT and law enforcement MADRID 00000067 002 OF 002 operation in Barcelona. AGUIRRE