PARAGUAY'S 2009 SECOND QUARTER INL REPORT

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000464

SIPDIS

FOR WHA/BSC MDASHBACH, INL/LP DHOOKER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR AFIN PREL KCRIM PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY'S 2009 SECOND 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 second quarter of 2009. Seizures of both cocaine
and marijuana increased during the second quarter while authorities
continued disrupting drug trafficking. INL continues to support
SENAD's active demand reduction program, and provides operational
support to the IPR 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:
During the months of April, May and June, SENAD's Prevention Program
provided a total of 213 workshops, reaching 7,341 students, teachers
and parents. It also coordinated activities for prevention of drug
use in 35 educational institutions and disseminated 1,957
informational pamphlets, 36 banners and 62 DVDs to teachers and
counselors to use during workshops.

SENAD's prevention unit continued working on its main objective to
reach hundreds of participants each month in the Central Department,
Fernando de la Mora and Villa Elisa. 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 seize drugs and enhance the overall
efforts of SENAD's drug interdiction program. This quarter, K-9
alerts led to the seizure of 54 kilos of cocaine and the arrests of
five suspects in Asuncion, Pedro Juan Caballero and Ciudad del Este
Airports.


C. Law Enforcement:
On April 3, SENAD seized 1.2 tons of marijuana and 30 kilograms of
marijuana seeds and destroyed three and a half hectares of marijuana
crops. No arrests were made in this operation that was conducted in
Amambay Department.
On April 29 a search warrant was executed in Amambay Department. In
this operation, SENAD seized 16.9 kilos of cocaine, three vehicles,
one motorcycle, four cell phones and one firearm in addition to
other items. Three Paraguayan citizens and one Brazilian citizen
were arrested.
On May 8, a search warrant was executed in Amambay Department. SENAD
seized 3.7 tons of marijuana, one power generator and five hydraulic
presses. One Paraguayan citizen and one Brazilian citizen were
arrested in this operation.
On May 28, SENAD seized 12 kilos of cocaine in Amambay Department
during a vehicle screening operation and arrested one Paraguayan
citizen.
On June 11, SENAD executed a search warrant in Canindeyu Department
based on intelligence information. In this operation, SENAD seized
4.8 kilos of cocaine, one firearm, one vehicle and one motorcycle.
One Paraguayan citizen and one Brazilian citizen were arrested.

On June 17, SENAD seized 961 kilos of marijuana and destroyed one
tent during a search warrant in Amambay Department. No arrests were
made during this operation.


D. Auto Theft:
National Police reported 1,306 vehicles (cars, pickups, SUVs and
motorcycles) stolen nationwide during the second quarter of 2009.


E. Border Control:
Border control continues 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 which is run by
the Woman's Secretariat. INL will disburse one last installment to
Woman's Secretariat to cover TIP Shelter rent for July, August and
September. The Woman's Secretariat will continue running the TIP
Shelter after INL's cooperation ends. On June 17, 2009, the U.S.
Embassy donated USD 280,000 in G/TIP funds to the International
Organization for Migration (OIM) which will be used to fight TIP in
the Tri Border Area (TBA) of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.


G. Intellectual Property Rights:
During the second quarter of 2009, the Specialized Technical Unit
(UTE) had an enormous success and seized pirated goods and assets
such as clothes, counterfeit electronic game consoles, and game
cartridges, disrupting contraband organizations by seizing equipment
and other consumer goods valued at USD 3,894,106. During the same
quarter, UTE received USD 4,632.75 in INL operational support.


H. Money Laundering and Financial Crimes:
INL funds will support an upgrade in financial crime software and
technical assistance for the Secretariat for Money Laundering
Prevention (SEPRELAD). SEPRELAD is hoping to have a law passed by
the Paraguayan National Congress during the month of July which will
make its Director a Minister reporting to the President, extend the
range of financial institutions under its surveillance, and provide
the necessary tools to investigate institutions under suspicion of
financing terrorism.

III. TRAINING:

A SENAD agent returned from a five day seminar in Salta, Argentina
which ran from April 27 to May 1. The Seminar was organized by DEA
Argentina and focused on "Drugs Information Center-CID" software use
to facilitate the sharing of information among anti-drug law
enforcement agencies. Total cost for the seminar was USD 1,900.

IV. MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES:
2009 Quarterly SENAD Statistics


1st 2nd Year to Date
Cocaine
Seized (Kg): 28 75 103

Cocaine
Precursors/acetone (Kg) 0 498 498

Marijuana
Seized (Tons): 9 32 41

Marijuana
Crops Destroyed (Has): 610 277 887

Marijuana Related (Kg): 1,800 321 2,121
(Wax, seeds and plants)

Total Arrests: 56 59 115


FITZPATRICK