INL-FUNDED ASSISTANCE IN ARGENTINA: 2008 END-USE

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000406 SIPDIS DEPT FOR INL/LP - DEBORAH HOOKER E.O. 12958:N/A TAGS: SNAR AFIN AR SUBJECT: INL-FUNDED ASSISTANCE IN ARGENTINA: 2008 END-USE MONITORING REPORT ¶1. Embassy Buenos Aires' CY-2008 End-Use Monitoring Report follows below: ¶2. Inventory Management EUM Program Coordinator: Theodore J. Craig, Phone number 54-11-5777-4858, email address: craigtj@state.gov Post's Narcotics Program has to date not utilized PD&S funding and has been unable to fund on-site inspections or periodic spot checks to perform End-Use Monitoring. The Narcotics Program Coordinator has relied on DEA officers to assess appropriate usages and verification of the condition of INL-funded resources and equipment. Argentine law enforcement officials provide post with periodic updates on equipment. While this system of overlapping verification methods was deemed in the past the best possible end-use appraisal system available given Post's resources, Post is currently planning for the use of PD&S resources in FY 2009-2010 to fund both site visits and a part-time EFM position to perform end-use monitoring. ¶3. Counterpart Agencies Recipients: Argentine Federal Police (PFA) Argentine Border Patrol (GNA) Argentine Coast Guard (PNA) Provincial Police Forces (Buenos Aires, Salta, Misiones, Mendoza) Receipt: The provision of items and services provided to the above-mentioned agencies is done through MOUs, diplomatic notes, official letters, and donation ceremonies. ¶4. On-site inspections of INL-funded resources are carried out by DEA agents when performing their other duties. ¶A. STATUS-COMMODITIES The majority of INL-funded equipment is located in the northern provinces of Salta and Jujuy. All indications are that all provided equipment is being used for the intended purposes. No single case of inappropriate or unauthorized use was reported in 2008. In general, the equipment provided through INL funding continues to be used but with problems coming from advancing age and hard use. Many computers, vehicles, and radio equipment are near or well past their useful lives. ¶B. VEHICLES Currently, the NBTF has 17 donated vehicles. However, only 12 are operational; the others have been damaged to such an extent that they are not cost effective to repair. The unusable vehicles by recipient follow: NBTF - Salta Provincial Police Jeep Cherokee 4x4 Blue, no plates - Motor No. VM59BO6544 - Body No. 14FJ68M6W1194729 - Model 1998 Jeep Cherokee 4x4 Blue, no plates - Motor No. VM59B06541 - Body FJ68M2WL194727 NBTF - GNA Clio, Bordo, plate EWA283 - Motor No. K9KA700D069185 - Body No. 8A1BB07055L546003 Clio, Red, Plate EWA281 - Motor No. K9KA700D074134 - Body No. 8A1LB07055L578817 Clio, Grey, Plate EWA282 - Motor No. K9KA700D065610 - Body No. 8A1BB07054L528485 It is Post's recommendation that, when replacing vehicles, models better suited to rough/rural terrain should be selected to alleviate the continuing need for repair. One Chevrolet double-cabin pickup was provided to the NBTF in 2006 with INCLE funds. It was delivered and is currently in use by the NBTF. One Ford cargo van and one sedan were purchased in May 2006 with Andean Initiative funds. Both vehicles were delivered to and are being used by the Mendoza provincial police counternarcotics unit. Vehicles provided in previous years (1993-1997) already have over 200,000 kilometers on them and require fairly extensive routine maintenance on suspension, brakes and engine parts. In 2007 Post initiated the purchase of six sedan vehicles that are to be distributed between the NBTF, EBTF, and Federal Police. Final payment to the dealer was made in 2008. The PFA has two donated vehicles the other four were donated to the NBTF and EBTF. All cars are in working order. ¶C. MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT One gas tank fiberscope and 20 digital cameras were purchased in 2006; the fiberscope was provided to the NBTF; out of the 20 cameras, sixteen were provided to Argentine counterparts and four are still to be distributed by DEA. Post continues to observe that both National and Provincial Police Forces make good use of the miscellaneous equipment (handcuffs, vests, flashlights, cameras, etc.) provided to them in previous years. In 2008, the NBTF was provided with emergency medical kits (stethoscopes, tourniquets, bandages, automatic defibrillator, airway nasopharyngeal, and IVs) and with defensive tactical gears. Also, in June 2008, the GNA, the Salta provincial police, and the Jujuy provincial police received the donation of uniforms for use at the NBTF. ¶D. COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT Communications equipment has not been donated in the last few years. Radio transmitters provided to the NBTF require routine maintenance and repair. Many hand-held radios provided to Federal and Provincial Police throughout Argentina need to be repaired or replaced because of wear and tear resulting from routine use under harsh operational conditions. ¶E. COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE Two laptops with networking system and 18 desktops were purchased in 2006 for use by the Northern Border Task Force (NBTF) and other GOA counternarcotics agencies. Delays in receiving the computers and mislabeling at the Embassy warehouse delayed distribution. Post distributed the computers to the target agencies in April 2008 and they are working. In addition, I2 chart-making software that was provided to federal and provincial law enforcement forces in FY 2008 is being utilized to assist in investigations. DEA officers have seen useful Argentine-developed products using this software. ¶F. TRAINING February 2008: Firearms and Tactical Training in Salta (Andean Initiative Funds) February 25-March 1, 2008: Firearms and Tactical Training in Buenos Aires (Andean Initiative Funds) April 2008: Firearms and Tactical Training in Mendoza (INCLE Funds) May 2008: Firearms and Tactical Training in Misiones (INCLE Funds) June 2008: DEA/MILGRP sponsored Medical Casualty Assistance Course in Salta (First Phase)-(Andean Initiative Funds) June 2008: Firearms and Tactical Training in Buenos Aires) (Andean Initiative Funds) July 2008: Firearms and Tactical Training in La Plata for the Buenos Aries provincial police (INCLE Funds) July 21-November 30, 2008: Colombia Jungla International Course (INCLE Funds) for two GNA and two PNA officers September 2008: Firearms and Tactical Training in Mendoza (INCLE Funds) December 2008: Female Defensive Tactics training for the Buenos Aires provincial police.(INCLE Funds) January 2009: DEA/MILGRP sponsored Medical Casualty Assistance Course in Salta (Second Phase)-(Andean Initiative Funds) CHALLENGES ¶5. Post lost its Narcotics Coordinator position in June 2006. These additional duties were assumed by the PolMil Officer, but lack of PD&S funds to date limited direct oversight and monitoring activities. The changing counter-narcotics policies in neighboring Bolivia coincide with growing cocaine trafficking through Argentina and increasing requests by GOA authorities for assistance. GOA Law Enforcement Agencies provide exceptional cooperation to Post agencies on counternarcotics issues, providing an opportunity to greatly improve the GOA's ability to combat drug trafficking. The Narcotics Coordinator has requested PD&S funding to conduct a comprehensive review of donated equipment, establish an effective end-use monitoring system and, ideally, fund an Eligible Family Member or Locally Employed position to help manage this important program. IMPACT ¶6. While the INL-funded program in Argentina is small, it continues to have a positive impact working in coordination with DEA's country programs, especially on the perennially under-funded Provincial Police Anti-Drug Units operating in the Northern provinces. In 2007, DEA established a NBTF-like operation in the Misiones Province (the Eastern Border Task Force - EBTF),near the Tri-Border Area with Brazil and Paraguay. INCLE funds will be used to support training and equipment for this operation, as it has with the successful NBTF (Northern Border Task Force). Argentine law enforcement agencies continue to report increased cocaine seizures over the past several years and GNA seizures for the first two months of 2009 were well ahead of 2008 numbers. Post, led by DEA, has actively assisted local law enforcement in their counter-narcotics efforts. Drug seizures by GOA law enforcement agencies are up, including those resulting from complex investigations, indicating increased capacity on the part of these agencies. ¶7. Posts INL program is a valuable tool in implementing and advancing our counter-narcotics/transnational crime agenda with the GOA. GOA law enforcement agencies remain focused on this agenda and look to Post agencies for advice and assistance in implementing their national drug plan. In the coming years, the INL program will be increasingly important in meeting USG counternarcotics objectives in Argentina and the region. WAYNE