ARRESTS MADE IN PIRACY OF U.S. MILTARY SATELLITE IN

UNCLAS BRASILIA 000368 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR EEB/CIP/SP, WHA/BSC DOD FOR USSTRATCOM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ECPS MARR PINR BR SUBJECT: ARRESTS MADE IN PIRACY OF U.S. MILTARY SATELLITE IN BRAZIL SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED REF: A) 08 STATE 29253 B) 08 BRASILIA 0843 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Brazilian Federal Police (DPF) executed 20 search and seizure warrants on March 18, 2009, concluding a 3 year investigation related to the piracy of U.S. military satellite frequencies. The operation's success was supported by U.S. Department of Defense-provided satellite imagery and frequency recordings that Brazil's telecommunications regulator, ANATEL, used to identify signal theft sites, resulting in concrete leads for the DPF to pursue. The DPF confirmed these locations as sites of criminal satellite piracy, and obtained the relevant warrants. End Summary DOD INFORMATION PROVES CRITICAL -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The piracy investigation, which involved mobile satellite operators illegally hacking into DOD satellite frequencies, had suffered delays due to a lack of concrete evidence needed to bring the DPF into the process. Through the work of the EEB/CIP office, post received the DOD satellite imagery and recordings and shared this with ANATEL's satellite technicians, who, three weeks later, produced a 50 page report highlighting the findings of their investigations. This report was delivered to the DPF, who was now fully engaged in the operation. Once the case was registered with the DPF, Post's legal attach provided assistance to their DPF contacts in support of the investigation. INTER AGENCY COLLABORATION -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Post would like to recognize the excellent collaborative efforts of EEB/CIP, DOD/USSTRATCOM and the FBI in bringing this 3 year effort to a successful conclusion. Post has sent a letter from Ambassador Sobel to ANATEL's president Ambassador Ronaldo Mota Sardenberg and to Brazil's Federal Police Commissioner Romulo Fisch de Berredo Menezes recognizing their constructive role in the investigation process and hopes to use this success in pursuing other strategic initiatives. ¶4. (SBU) Comment: Post notes resolution of this case is an important demonstration of excellent cooperation between policy, regulatory and enforcement authorities in the United States and Brazil. The importance of concrete information was key to the successful resolution of this long-standing case. We appreciate Washington's engagement in providing the details that permitted GOB to take decisive action on this case. End Comment. SOBEL