Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASUNCION157
2009-03-16 11:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Asuncion
Cable title:
PARAGUAY'S 2008 FOURTH QUARTER INL REPORT
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHAC #0157/01 0751111 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 161111Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7679 INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ASUNCION 000157
SIPDIS
FOR WHA/BSC MDASHBACH, INL/LP DHOOKER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR AFIN PREL KCRIM PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY'S 2008 FOURTH QUARTER INL REPORT
I. SUMMARY: The Government of Paraguay's National Anti-Drug
Secretariat (SENAD) continued to work diligently on drug enforcement
activities in the last quarter of 2008. Seizures of both cocaine
and marijuana remained steady and authorities arrested numerous drug
traffickers.
President Fernando Lugo's new administration has shown serious
interest in strengthening its anti-narcotics efforts. INL continues
to support SENAD's active demand reduction program, and provides
operational support to the Specialized Technical Unit (UTE). INL
also continues to provide assistance for the Trafficking in Person
Program (TIP) run by the Woman's Secretariat. END SUMMARY.
II. PROGRAM DISCUSSION:
A. Demand Reduction:
In October and November, SENAD's Prevention Program provided a total
of 324 workshops, reaching 8,976 students, teachers and parents. It
conducted six educational workshops for 144 teachers on the social
problems of drug consumption. It also coordinated activities for
prevention of drug use in 40 educational institutions and
disseminated 2,395 informational pamphlets to teachers and
counselors to use during workshops as well as three media releases
regarding drug abuse. No workshops occurred during the month of
December due to school vacations.
SENAD's prevention unit continued working on its main objective to
reach hundreds of participants each month in Central and Amambay
Departments. The program included formal workshops, informal
sessions, public seminars, and the distribution of informational
materials.
B. Narcotics detection canine (K-9) program:
The canine program continues to have success in seizures and to
enhance the overall efforts of SENAD's drug interdiction program.
This quarter, canine alerts led to the seizure of seven kilos of
cocaine, six kilos of ephedrine, and the arrests of seven suspects
for these crimes.
C. Law Enforcement:
On October 2, 2008, SENAD seized five kilos of ephedrine contained
in packages of tea hidden in a suitcase belonging to Mexican citizen
Leobardo Gaxiola Lopez at Asuncion's airport. The transport route
was Asuncion-Sao Paulo-Mexico. Authorities detained two additional
Mexican suspects at a hotel in Asuncion.
Between October 13 and 24, 2008, SENAD conducted marijuana
eradication operations at various locations in the Amambay and
Canindeyu Departments. Although authorities made no arrests in these
operations, SENAD cleared 125 hectares of planted marijuana and
destroyed 12,810 kilos of marijuana, 525 kilos of marijuana seeds,
six hydraulic presses and 42 tents.
On November 7, 2008, a search warrant executed at the DHL storage
facility at the Asuncion airport resulted in the seizure of two
packages with a total of one kilo of cocaine. The cocaine was
hidden in sewing kit spools of thread. The two packages had a final
destination of Lagos, Nigeria. Authorities made no arrests in this
operation.
On November 12, 2008, SENAD seized five kilos of cocaine from
Peruvian citizens Enrique Osmar Lazo Perez and Martin Hinostroza
Rivera at the Customs control post in Mariscal Estigarribia.
On December 5, 2008, SENAD arrested Brazilians Sergio De Souza AKA
Da Nemen Costeira, Danilo De Souza, Tiago Cordeiro AKA Calcinha, and
Rodrigo De Rosa Oliveira AKA Rata, all suspected of being members of
"COMANDO VERMELHO," one of the most powerful drug trafficking
operations in Brazil. The authorities caught the suspects driving a
Suzuki Swift car without a license plate. SENAD released the
suspects into Brazilian custody at the Friendship Bridge.
On December 17, 2008, SENAD agents seized 11 kilos of cocaine and
two vehicles in Fernando de la Mora, Central Department. SENAD
arrested Paraguayans Arlindo Villanueva Caceres and Marcelo Carballo
Gimenez and Brazilian Rony Freitas.
D. Auto theft:
News media reported an average of three auto thefts per day in
November, for an average of 90 cars per month or 1,080 cars per year
within the country.
E. Border control:
Border controls continue to be weak. Control posts coincide with
Paraguayan Customs offices at the main points of entry/exit of the
country, leaving long stretches of Paraguay's borders with
Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil unattended.
F. Domestic violence and trafficking in persons:
INL continues to support the anti-TIP program providing funds to
cover operational costs for a shelter in Asuncion run by the Woman's
Secretariat and funding the publication of pamphlets to be released
among TIP victims and the general population. The shelter's
operational costs for the months of August through November were USD
2,000.
G. Intellectual property rights:
During the last quarter of 2008, the Specialized Technical Unit
(UTE) made significant progress in investigating major traders of
counterfeit goods. UTE seized pirated goods and assets such as
hi-tech equipment, computer software, general electronics, and other
consumer goods valued at USD 3,948,746.
During the calendar year, UTE received USD 28,203 in operational
support and seized a total of USD 18,502,607 in counterfeit and
pirated goods mostly from intense enforcement efforts in and near
Ciudad Del Este. INL continues to provide UTE with funds for
operational support.
H. Money laundering and financial crimes:
INL funds will support an upgrade of SEPRELAD's existing financial
crime software currently in use, including technical assistance.
SEPRELAD is hoping to have banks linked to the financial crime
software by the first quarter of 2009.
III. TRAINING:
This past quarter INL Asuncion sent two SENAD canine handlers for a
ten-week training course at the Regional Counter-narcotics Training
Center in Laguna Pino, Guatemala from October 6 - December 12, 2008.
NAS Guatemala provided the training and INL Asuncion provided the
funding at a total cost of USD 9,346.
IV. MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES:
Annual 2008 SENAD statistics
Cocaine Seized (kg): 278
Marijuana Seized (kg): 172,460
Marijuana Crops Destroyed (Has): 1,725
Marijuana Related (kg): 701,800
(Wax, seeds and plants)
Total Arrests: 419
AYALDE
SIPDIS
FOR WHA/BSC MDASHBACH, INL/LP DHOOKER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR AFIN PREL KCRIM PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY'S 2008 FOURTH QUARTER INL REPORT
I. SUMMARY: The Government of Paraguay's National Anti-Drug
Secretariat (SENAD) continued to work diligently on drug enforcement
activities in the last quarter of 2008. Seizures of both cocaine
and marijuana remained steady and authorities arrested numerous drug
traffickers.
President Fernando Lugo's new administration has shown serious
interest in strengthening its anti-narcotics efforts. INL continues
to support SENAD's active demand reduction program, and provides
operational support to the Specialized Technical Unit (UTE). INL
also continues to provide assistance for the Trafficking in Person
Program (TIP) run by the Woman's Secretariat. END SUMMARY.
II. PROGRAM DISCUSSION:
A. Demand Reduction:
In October and November, SENAD's Prevention Program provided a total
of 324 workshops, reaching 8,976 students, teachers and parents. It
conducted six educational workshops for 144 teachers on the social
problems of drug consumption. It also coordinated activities for
prevention of drug use in 40 educational institutions and
disseminated 2,395 informational pamphlets to teachers and
counselors to use during workshops as well as three media releases
regarding drug abuse. No workshops occurred during the month of
December due to school vacations.
SENAD's prevention unit continued working on its main objective to
reach hundreds of participants each month in Central and Amambay
Departments. The program included formal workshops, informal
sessions, public seminars, and the distribution of informational
materials.
B. Narcotics detection canine (K-9) program:
The canine program continues to have success in seizures and to
enhance the overall efforts of SENAD's drug interdiction program.
This quarter, canine alerts led to the seizure of seven kilos of
cocaine, six kilos of ephedrine, and the arrests of seven suspects
for these crimes.
C. Law Enforcement:
On October 2, 2008, SENAD seized five kilos of ephedrine contained
in packages of tea hidden in a suitcase belonging to Mexican citizen
Leobardo Gaxiola Lopez at Asuncion's airport. The transport route
was Asuncion-Sao Paulo-Mexico. Authorities detained two additional
Mexican suspects at a hotel in Asuncion.
Between October 13 and 24, 2008, SENAD conducted marijuana
eradication operations at various locations in the Amambay and
Canindeyu Departments. Although authorities made no arrests in these
operations, SENAD cleared 125 hectares of planted marijuana and
destroyed 12,810 kilos of marijuana, 525 kilos of marijuana seeds,
six hydraulic presses and 42 tents.
On November 7, 2008, a search warrant executed at the DHL storage
facility at the Asuncion airport resulted in the seizure of two
packages with a total of one kilo of cocaine. The cocaine was
hidden in sewing kit spools of thread. The two packages had a final
destination of Lagos, Nigeria. Authorities made no arrests in this
operation.
On November 12, 2008, SENAD seized five kilos of cocaine from
Peruvian citizens Enrique Osmar Lazo Perez and Martin Hinostroza
Rivera at the Customs control post in Mariscal Estigarribia.
On December 5, 2008, SENAD arrested Brazilians Sergio De Souza AKA
Da Nemen Costeira, Danilo De Souza, Tiago Cordeiro AKA Calcinha, and
Rodrigo De Rosa Oliveira AKA Rata, all suspected of being members of
"COMANDO VERMELHO," one of the most powerful drug trafficking
operations in Brazil. The authorities caught the suspects driving a
Suzuki Swift car without a license plate. SENAD released the
suspects into Brazilian custody at the Friendship Bridge.
On December 17, 2008, SENAD agents seized 11 kilos of cocaine and
two vehicles in Fernando de la Mora, Central Department. SENAD
arrested Paraguayans Arlindo Villanueva Caceres and Marcelo Carballo
Gimenez and Brazilian Rony Freitas.
D. Auto theft:
News media reported an average of three auto thefts per day in
November, for an average of 90 cars per month or 1,080 cars per year
within the country.
E. Border control:
Border controls continue to be weak. Control posts coincide with
Paraguayan Customs offices at the main points of entry/exit of the
country, leaving long stretches of Paraguay's borders with
Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil unattended.
F. Domestic violence and trafficking in persons:
INL continues to support the anti-TIP program providing funds to
cover operational costs for a shelter in Asuncion run by the Woman's
Secretariat and funding the publication of pamphlets to be released
among TIP victims and the general population. The shelter's
operational costs for the months of August through November were USD
2,000.
G. Intellectual property rights:
During the last quarter of 2008, the Specialized Technical Unit
(UTE) made significant progress in investigating major traders of
counterfeit goods. UTE seized pirated goods and assets such as
hi-tech equipment, computer software, general electronics, and other
consumer goods valued at USD 3,948,746.
During the calendar year, UTE received USD 28,203 in operational
support and seized a total of USD 18,502,607 in counterfeit and
pirated goods mostly from intense enforcement efforts in and near
Ciudad Del Este. INL continues to provide UTE with funds for
operational support.
H. Money laundering and financial crimes:
INL funds will support an upgrade of SEPRELAD's existing financial
crime software currently in use, including technical assistance.
SEPRELAD is hoping to have banks linked to the financial crime
software by the first quarter of 2009.
III. TRAINING:
This past quarter INL Asuncion sent two SENAD canine handlers for a
ten-week training course at the Regional Counter-narcotics Training
Center in Laguna Pino, Guatemala from October 6 - December 12, 2008.
NAS Guatemala provided the training and INL Asuncion provided the
funding at a total cost of USD 9,346.
IV. MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES:
Annual 2008 SENAD statistics
Cocaine Seized (kg): 278
Marijuana Seized (kg): 172,460
Marijuana Crops Destroyed (Has): 1,725
Marijuana Related (kg): 701,800
(Wax, seeds and plants)
Total Arrests: 419
AYALDE