Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BUENOSAIRES295
2009-03-16 21:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:  

ARGENTINE GENDARMERIE COMMANDING GENERAL WELCOMES

Tags:  PREL SNAR MARR MASS KTIP ASEC AR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0295/01 0752138
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 162138Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3290
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000295 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2019
TAGS: PREL SNAR MARR MASS KTIP ASEC AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINE GENDARMERIE COMMANDING GENERAL WELCOMES
ENHANCED COLLABORATION WITH USG

Classified By: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne for

reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).



C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000295

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/16/2019
TAGS: PREL SNAR MARR MASS KTIP ASEC AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINE GENDARMERIE COMMANDING GENERAL WELCOMES
ENHANCED COLLABORATION WITH USG

Classified By: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne for

reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).




1. (C) Summary: Argentine Gendarmeria (Border Patrol)

Commanding General Hector Schenone called on the Ambassador

March 4 at his request to introduce a new staff officer and

to review cooperation with the USG on key issues. Schenone

described the Gendarmeria's efforts to address increasing

pressure from drug traffickers and to enhance the

Gendarmeria's capacity to fight international crime. He

shared his interest in obtaining a number of military

transport helicopters to assist GOA efforts to interdict drug

traffickers in remote northern parts of the country and

requested USG help in establishing an inter-agency

counter-drug training center outside Buenos Aires and/or

supporting construction of a permanent home for the Northern

Border Task Force (NBTF) in Salta. Ambassador described USG

interest in supporting regional efforts to improve public

security and commended the Gendarmeria for recent actions

against drug and human trafficking. End Summary.




2. (U) Long-serving Gendarmeria Commanding General Hector

Bernabe Schenone called March 4 on the Ambassador, ostensibly

to introduce Principal Commander Claudio Larraburu, whom

Schenone has entrusted with managing relations with the U.S.

Embassy in counter drug affairs. Ambassador was accompanied

by Military Group Commander, DEA Special Agent, and Pol-Mil

Officer (notetaker).




3. (U) Ambassador voiced appreciation for recent successful

operations by the Gendarmeria against drug traffickers and

trafficking in persons (TIP) and noted the deep and

successful training relationship between the DEA and Embassy

Military Group and Gendarmeria counterparts. The Ambassador

observed that public security is a sub-theme at the upcoming

Summit of the Americas and an issue that the USG perceives as

important for the region. He described the Merida Initiative


with Mexico and underscored our recognition that countries in

the region needed assistance in responding to drug

trafficking and other manifestations of international crime.




4. (U) The Ambassador also noted that, although Argentina's

challenges on its northern and eastern borders were of a

different nature and scale than those faced by Mexico, some

aspects were similar, particularly the need for regional

cooperation and coordination. In that regard, the Ambassador

shared our appreciation that the Gendarmeria's sister law

enforcement agency, the Federal Police (PFA),had agreed to

take over from Bolivia management of the regional Centers for

Drug Information (CDI) network, supported by DEA. Ambassador

mentioned an April 27-May 1 conference in Salta on the CDI

and encouraged the Gendarmeria to be represented. (Note: the

conference is supported by DEA and State INCLE funds.)



Request for Helos, a Building in Salta, and Training

-------------- --------------




5. (C) Schenone thanked the Ambassador for his recognition of

the Gendarmeria's work and of the challenges Argentina faced.

He said his forces had seized over 800 kilos of cocaine in

February alone; Argentina clearly was facing new pressure by

traffickers operating through Bolivia. He noted that the

Gendarmeria continued to have two officers present in La Paz

and that on the professional level the organization was still

working well with Bolivian counterparts. Still, Schenone

said that Argentina considered Bolivia a cocaine producing

country, not just a trafficking country as the Government

there would contend.




6. (SBU) General Schenone said that the U.S. ""military""

training received by the Gendarmeria was highly valuable to

the missions it was performing and included in this recent

visits by Gendarmeria officers to the Jungle Training Course

in Colombia. He said that his civilian boss, Minister of

Justice and Security Anibal Fernandez, was fully supportive

of enhanced collaboration with the USG.




7. (C) Schenone added that the Gendarmeria perceived a strong

need to obtain air mobility in its fight against drug

traffickers crossing the northern frontiers from Bolivia and

Paraguay and landing at remote sites in Santa Fe, Santiago

del Estero, and Chaco provinces. He had in mind Bell UH1Hs,

which would give his forces the capacity to put men on the

ground at landing sites detected by radar or fixed wing

aircraft. He said that Minister Fernandez fully supported

the proposal (without going into details about a procurement

process or funding). Schenone said his forces had six

Eurocopters (Cougar) (and several smaller ""Pumas"") but not

the versatility and capacity that Hueys could provide.




8. (C) Schenone said that the Eastern Border Task Force

(EBTF) in Misiones Province needed a new effort by the

government to ramp up its program and interdiction efforts.

He also described a need to build a dedicated counter-drug

trafficking training center outside of Buenos Aires. He said

that U.S. support for such an effort would be welcomed. In

addition, he said, the Gendarmeria had land available in

Salta that could support a permanent GOA-owned headquarters

for the Northern Border Task Force (NBTF) if the USG could

provide assistance.




9. (SBU) Comment: Hueys would give the Gendarmeria an ability

it does not presently have to insert itself on the ground

more quickly at remote, clandestine landing strips. Given

the complex coordination (and additional radar coverage)

needed to make such operations successful, this capacity

might have limited real benefits, but it would change

somewhat the calculation of risks that traffickers would need

to consider. If coordinated effectively with ground

operations, it might lead to some seizures and arrests.

Embassy will continue to gather details on how Gendarmeria

might utilize such assets.




10. (SBU) Embassy sees utility in contributing on a

cost-sharing basis towards construction of a permanent home

for the NBTF. Currently the task force is housed in rented

property funded by INCLE.



WAYNE


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