TAJIKISTAN: SUPPORT TO TAJIK DRUG LIAISON OFFICERS IN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000105 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR SCA/CEN (HUSHEK) INL/AAE FOR BUHLER JUSTICE FOR DUCOT DEFENSE FOR OSD/P E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR KCRM KJUS PGOV PREL RF TI SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: SUPPORT TO TAJIK DRUG LIAISON OFFICERS IN AFGHANISTAN ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: INL Dushanbe requests INL Washington to conclude an interagency agreement to provide $70,000 to the Drug Enforcement Administration to support the Tajik Drug Control Agency drug liaison officers in Afghanistan. Funding will be available upon signing of the next Amended Letter of Agreement with the Government of Tajikistan. End summary. BACKGROUND INFORMATION ¶2. (SBU) The Tajik Drug Liaison Office, a unit of the Tajik Drug Control Agency (the Agency),began operations in September of 2007 in the Takhar Province of Afghanistan. The liaison office consists of a team of four officers (Colonel, Lt. Colonel, and two lower ranking officers) based in the town of Taloqan. According to the Agency, this province is one of the most frequently utilized areas in northern Afghanistan by major Tajik and Afghan drug trafficking organizations responsible for shipping large quantities of Afghan opiates via the Northern Route to Russia and other European countries. ¶3. (SBU) Since commencing operations, the drug liaison office has successfully recruited sources which have provided actionable information that has led to seizures of heroin in Afghanistan. In addition to seizures, the sources have assisted the officers in: ¶A. identifying significant traffickers operating in the region and provided intelligence regarding the transportation methods and the smuggling routes used by drug trafficking organizations; ¶B. identifying the owners of processing laboratories in Takhar Province; ¶C. identifying corrupt Tajik public officials involved in trafficking Afghan opiates; ¶D. providing the Agency with information about individuals targeting U.S. military personnel in Afghanistan. ¶4. (SBU) Recently, the liaison officers developed a confidential source which they later passed to the Kabul office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Based upon the source's information and services, officers of the DEA Kabul office and Afghan counterparts subsequently initiated an investigation of a group of Afghan traffickers which resulted in the seizure of 20 kg of heroin and the arrest of two traffickers. DESCRIPTION OF LIAISON OFFICER SUPPORT OPERATION AND TIME FRAME ¶5. (U) Funding for this ongoing project should enable the Tajik liaison officers to continue operations through the end of FY 2009. The liaison office should be able to build upon past successes and enhance cultivation of sources. As the DEA Kabul office expands and DEA FAST (Foreign Deployed Advisory Support Teams) deployments increase in northern Afghanistan, the liaison office will become an even more valuable intelligence collection asset. In addition to the above DEA country offices, leads will also be sent to other applicable DEA foreign and domestic offices, as well as the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) and DEA's Special Operations Division (SOD). FUNDING REQUIREMENTS ¶6. (U) Below are funding requirements to support liaison office from January 1, 2009 through September 30, 2009. A spreadsheet has been emailed to INL/AAE. Funding for future support will be considered when Congress completes FY 2009 appropriations. Description Quarterly Last 9 months Annual QDescription Quarterly Last 9 months Annual of FY-2009 costs Tajik DLO Officers Salary & Bonus 11,100 33,300 44,400 Rent of House/Office 2,400 7,200 9,600 Fuel Expenses for vehicle & heat 700 2,100 2,800 Communication Expenses 300 900 1,200 DUSHANBE 00000105 002 OF 002 Security Expenses for House/Office 300 900 1,200 Afghan Visas Expense 240 720 960 Vehicle Repair/ Maintenance Expenses 300 900 1,200 Per Diem for DLO Officers (Traveling Away from DLO) 2,000 6,000 8,000 Total 17,340 52,020 69,360 JACOBSON