COLOMBIA: NARCOTICS MAJOR 2010 REQUEST FOR REPORT CARD

UNCLAS BOGOTA 001750 SIPDIS DEPT FOR INL/LP DEPT FOR WHA/AND E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO SUBJECT: COLOMBIA: NARCOTICS MAJOR 2010 REQUEST FOR REPORT CARD REFS: A) STATE 0832222, B) BOGOTA 1595 ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Though Colombia remains a major producer and trafficker of illicit narcotics, the Government of Colombia (GOC) continues as an unwavering ally in the fight against both narcotics production and trafficking. Our core bilateral counternarcotics eradication and interdiction programs in Colombia are producing record results. Extraditions, desertions, and justice programs also contribute to the success of counternarcotics programs and operations. U.S. assistance to Colombia continues to be a success story and the Embassy recommends full narcotics cooperation certification for Colombia in 2009. END SUMMARY. -------------- Eradication -------------- ¶2. (U) Total eradication numbers for coca in Colombia in 2008 was a record 229,227 hectares, an increase of 10,335 hectares from 2007, a new record. -- In 2008, the Colombian National Police aerially eradicated 133,496 hectares, exceeding the goal of 130,000 hectares, but 15% lower than the 2007 spray total of 153,134 hectares. Due to reduced USG funds for eradication, in late 2008 the aerial eradication program moved from three to two forward operating spray bases and the 2009 spray goal has been adjusted to 100,000 hectares to reflect reduced funding for aerial eradication. -- Manual eradication of coca in 2008 totaled 95,731 hectares, a new record but just short of the GOC's goal of 100,000 hectares. Manual eradication in 2007 was 65,587 hectares. In 2008, 26 eradicators and security personnel died and dozens were injured during manual eradication operations -- a stark reminder that manual eradication is necessary, but dangerous work. Landmines caused most of the deaths and injuries, along with IEDs planted in coca fields and sniper fire. There have been 120 deaths since 2005. -- The GOC continues to conduct monitoring and verification missions to ensure the aerial eradication program is conducted without undue risk to human health and the environment, as required under Colombian and U.S. law. The Environmental Management Plan for aerial eradication requires verification on a semi-annual basis, and the Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) has increased the monitoring using a gyroscopic camera that is operated by Colombian police personnel. The recent addition of aviation platforms equipped with high resolution cameras will increase the GOC's ability to conduct more frequent coca monitoring and verification missions. -- In the last year numerous studies and field reports have been released touting the success of eradication in reducing the amount of cocaine produced, the funding available to narcoterrorists, the amount of coca leaf available and the amount of coca under cultivation (see REF B). In September 2008, the Office of National Drug Control Policy reported that sustained aerial and manual eradication reduced Colombia's maximum potential production of pure cocaine by 24 percent since its high point in 2001. The recently released results of the United Nation's 2008 coca cultivation study, citing heavy eradication pressure during 2008, found that coca cultivation in 2008 is down by an estimated 18 percent compared to ¶2007. This reduction verifies reports from USG program managers and spray pilots who are reporting difficulties in finding coca. When found it is less healthy, less dense, and in smaller fields. -- In 2008 the CNP deployed judicial police to accompany manual eradication operations to gather evidence and develop asset forfeiture investigations against property owners who use their land for the cultivation or processing of illegal crops. Despite legal, procedural, and security obstacles, this asset seizure initiative is a crucial step toward real deterrence of cultivation and replanting after eradication. In 2009, the GOC will continue to conduct asset forfeiture cases jointly with manual eradication operations with the goal of 380 seized properties and 1,000 arrests of coca growers. -------------- Interdiction -------------- ¶3. (U) Interdiction makes record seizures in 2008. --The Colombian Public Forces set new records for seizures of cocaine (including cocaine base),marijuana, and drug labs in 2008. Colombian Public Forces seized 245 metric tons of cocaine and base, 258 metric tons (MTs) of marijuana, and 695 kilos of heroin this past year. They also destroyed 3,667 drug labs. A variety of factors contributed to these unprecedented results, including aggressive senior police and military leadership, an expanded CNP Antinarcotics Directorate and greater coordination between interdiction and eradication. -- The Colombian Army Counter-Drug (CD) Brigade provided security for the aerial and manual eradication, and conducted interdiction and high value target operations against members from the FARC, ELN and organized crime organizations. During 2008 the CD Brigade seized over three metric tons of cocaine, 667 kilos of coca paste, 10,077 gallons of liquid coca, and 126,054 gallons of liquid precursors. The brigade also destroyed 28 HCL cocaine laboratories, 134 coca base laboratories and two clandestine precursor refineries (one sulfuric acid). -------------- Extradition and High Value Targets (HVT) -------------- ¶4. (U) There were a record number of extraditions and HVT missions in 2008 and 2009 is on track to be another record year. -- The USG has no better international partner in the area of extradition than the Colombian government. In 2008, the GOC extradited 208 people to the United States, including 15 former top paramilitary chiefs -- many of whom continue to participate in the Justice and Peace Process through live transmissions from the United States. From January to April 2009, another 93 individuals have been extradited. Furthermore, Colombia is actively investigating and prosecuting cases against major drug traffickers and cooperating with U.S. judicial authorities to provide evidence and witnesses for prosecutions of extradited Colombian nationals facing trial in the United States. Colombia has extradited 880 individuals to the United States between the beginning of President Uribe's administration in August of 2002 and the end of April 2009. -- In 2008, three members of the FARC Secretariat died, including the numbers one and two as well as one Secretariat member who was killed by his own bodyguard. The GOC killed or captured numerous other high-ranking FARC leaders, including alias "Cesar" and alias "Gafas," who were taken into custody during the daring military rescue of the three US contractors held hostage from 2002-2008. In 2009, GOC operations against FARC HVTs continue to keep the Secretariat -- including new Supreme Leader Alfonso Cano -- on the move and unable to conduct major attacks. In 2009, the GOC in 2009 captured leading emerging criminal band (BACRIM) leader Daniel Rendon Herrera, alias "Don Mario." -------------- Rule of Law, Peace, and Justice -------------- ¶5. Colombia continues to expand state presence and the government is now able to provide justice and other services due to the improved security situation in many areas. -- Colombia has made major progress in strengthening the Colombian state and weakening criminal and terrorist groups. Colombia maintains a police presence in every municipality and Mobile Carabineros Squadrons continue to actively patrol rural Colombia. Increased law enforcement and expansion of government control into previously hard-to-govern areas is a dramatic success story. Homicides are at their lowest level in more than twenty years. Since Uribe took office, Colombia has seen a decrease in homicides by 37 percent, kidnappings by 78 percent, terrorist attacks by 63 percent and attacks on the country's infrastructure by 60 percent. -- The adoption of new tactics by narcotraffickers, including shifting coca cultivation and cocaine production to new areas and exploiting the lack of a sustained Colombian government presence in many rural areas, has enabled them to continue to produce and export substantial amounts of cocaine to the United States and Europe. In response, Colombia has adjusted its approach to focus on establishing a sustainable government presence and integrated rural development in major coca growing and FARC-controlled regions. Colombia's first consolidation program in the Macarena region of central Colombia has been successful in reducing coca cultivation there. The United Nations recently reported that coca cultivation in the Macarena consolidation zone reduced by 73 percent in 2008 compared to 2007. Consolidation programs based on the Macarena model are currently in the planning stages for other priority regions in Colombia. -- In 2008, the GOC completed the final phase of its implementation of a new criminal procedure code and a transition to an efficient and transparent oral accusatory justice system. The initial indicators of the transition are very positive, with the time to resolve criminal cases reduced by more than 75 percent and an increase in prosecutions in criminal cases from three percent to over 60 percent. By year end 2008, Colombia had trained, with USG support, more than 42,000 judges, investigators, public prosecutors, forensic experts and defenders in the new system. To help implement the new system, the USG has also assisted in constructing or remodeling 45 new courtrooms suitable for oral trials and 15 new public defender offices across Colombia. -- The Uribe administration continued its proactive peace efforts in ¶2009. To date, over 19,000 individual members of the FARC, ELN, AUC, and other illegal armed groups have deserted their organizations, and more than 31,000 AUC demobilized collectively through negotiations with the GOC. -------------- A Great Partner and a Success Story -------------- ¶7. (U) The GOC is a great partner and has met or exceeded all of its identified narcotics cooperation certification criteria set forth in section 481(h)(2)(A) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 for eligibility for United States assistance. The GOC is firmly committed to fighting the production and trade in illicit drugs and remains a key USG ally in the fight against narcoterrorism. President Uribe has repeatedly emphasized in public that the narcotics threat is the single biggest enemy of democracy in Colombia and security forces have responded accordingly. U.S. assistance to Colombia continues to be a success story and the Embassy recommends full narcotics cooperation certification for Colombia again in 2009. Brownfield