AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: JUNE 2009 PROGRAM UPDATE

UNCLAS BOGOTA 002493 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PREL MOPS MASS PGOV CO SUBJECT: AIR BRIDGE DENIAL: JUNE 2009 PROGRAM UPDATE REF: 2003 STATE 265910 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY. This is the monthly Air Bridge Denial (ABD) activity report for July, 2009, as required by Reftel. The Government of Colombia (GOC) sorted 3,041 tracks during December. There were no Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS). A Law Enforcement End game based on intelligence information ended in an aircraft impounded with 784 kilos of cocaine. END SUMMARY. -------------- Tracks -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In July, 2009, there were 3041 air tracks over Colombia with none declared Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS). There were two suspect aircraft in the Caribbean Sea outside Colombian airspace. Colombian Air Force proceeded to do Visual identification and passed the information to Central American and Caribbean Law Enforcement Agencies. Honduran authorities searched the area where one landed and located a vehicle with 500 kilos of cocaine and a portable runway lighting system. Two persons were arrested. ¶4. (SBU) The Colombian Air Force received information on a Piper-31 aircraft departing June 25, 2009 on a legal flight plan from Bogota to Quito, Ecuador. The aircraft diverted from its flight plan and landed illegally in Popayan, Cauca Department. Colombian National Police were notified and they impounded the aircraft with 784 kilos of cocaine, 6,000 dollars and arrested two persons that were hiding inside the aircraft and are suspected to be the pilots. -------------- Flight Operations -------------- ¶5. (SBU) In July, 2009, the Citations flew 191 hours in 82 sorties with a 94% OR rate. Of the 82 sorties, 43 were for GOC ABD intelligence gathering and patrolling; 14 for training; 13 were for maritime patrolling, 2 were in reaction to GOC-provided information, and ten for operational support. The SR-26 aircraft 5741 flew 42 hours in 15 sorties. Twelve SR-26 sorties were in support of ABD, of which six were maritime missions. Three SR-26 sorties were for non-ABD purposes. -------------- Nationalization -------------- ¶4. As of June 2009, maintenance training has reached the 75% completion target. Logistics and maintenance for the SR-26 was turned over to the GOC effective January 1, 2009. The next phase will be the turning over logistics and maintenance to the GOC for the SR-560 January 1, 2010. Training of GOC personnel to assume these duties is on target. BROWNFIELD