WHILE STEALING COCAINE, POLICE CONFRONTED BY AG'S

S E C R E T GUATEMALA 000756

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2019
TAGS: SNAR KCRM MOPS PINR GT
SUBJECT: WHILE STEALING COCAINE, POLICE CONFRONTED BY AG'S
OFFICE AND ARMY

Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Drew Blakeney for reasons 1.4 (b&d).


1. (U) This is a spot report based on late-breaking, initial
information that is subject to confirmation.


2. (U) Guatemalan press reported that on August 6
authorities captured 830 (according to DEA sources, 800-830)
kilos of cocaine hidden in a semi-trailer truck in a northern
part of Guatemala City. PNC (National Civilian Police)
officers stopped the truck at a roadblock at approximately
0730 hours. Investigators from the Attorney General's Office
(Public Ministry) who should have been alerted right away did
not learn of the incident until late afternoon. AG's Office
investigators then arrived on the scene supported by army
units. (Minister of Defense Abraham Valenzuela later arrived
on the scene, and National PNC Commissioner Porfirio Perez
Paniagua was also present.) The police initially denied the
investigators access to the truck. Suspecting the police
might have stolen some of the captured cocaine,
investigators, supported by soldiers, searched the police
vehicles and reportedly arrested one officer.


3. (S) The Attorney General's Office became aware of
Precinct 12 police's intention to steal a load of cocaine
through telephone conversations intercepted by the AG's
Special Methods Unit (the USG-supported wire tapping unit),
which was targeting police telephones. Intercepted
conversations implicate PNC Commissioner Perez Paniagua, many
senior Guatemala City police officers, and also cast doubt on
the role played SAIA Director Baltazar, who at a minimum
appears to have acquiesced to the robbery. In all, between
30 and 90 police officers are implicated.


4. (S) Suspecting police wrongdoing, the AG's Office
informed the DEA-supported Sensitive Investigations Unit
(SIU),which sent officers from another elite unit to
investigate. Precinct 12 officers briefly detained the
investigating police officer. Via the Minister of
Government, the Attorney General requested army support for
his investigators and prosecutors heading to the scene. DAO
sources confirmed that 80-100 soldiers from the Mariscal
Zavala and Special Forces brigades responded to the request,
and arrived on the scene with armored combat vehicles. The
police, apparently including the National PNC Commissioner,
retreated with the seized truck behind a fence, and denied
the investigators and army access to the truck. Eventually,
however, the police stood down. Investigators found between
800 to 830 kilos of cocaine. According to DEA sources, there
was another 280 kilos in the truck which Precinct 12 police
had already removed in the morning (the total amount of
cocaine originally on the truck is believed to have been
approximately 1100 kilos). Embassy does not know to which
organization the cocaine belonged.


5. (S) Comment: This operation constitutes a substantial
success for the USG-supported wire tap unit at the AG's
Office. The army's quick support to civilian authorities
reflects well on that institution. The consequences for the
senior leadership of the police are not yet clear, but we
anticipate they will be major.
McFarland