JAMAICA: Mid-year report card for the 2010 Major's List

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 000462 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR WHA/CAR (DHOFFMAN) (VDEPIRRO) INL (KBROWN) Reftel: State 28306, Kingston 355 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL SNAR ASEC ELAB PGOV ECON JM XL SUBJECT: JAMAICA: Mid-year report card for the 2010 Major's List Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) continues to make progress in combating the significant flow of illicit drugs, fighting public corruption, and assisting in the extradition of wanted fugitives from U.S. Justice. Although the GOJ expresses a desire to combat criminal activities and continues to cooperate with the Government of the United States (USG) on a wide range of law enforcement issues including: money laundering; anti-narcotics activities; community policing; and, internal criminal investigations, the results have been lagging. Endemic corruption, lack of effective internal communication, and a shortage of resources have let to less than optimal results. Post recommends that Jamaica be kept on the Majors List as multi-ton shipments of marijuana continue to enter the United States; and, because Jamaica has more than the statutory minimum of 5000 hectares under cultivation. However, there is no compelling evidence or reason to find that Jamaica has failed demonstrably to meet its international commitments to combat international crime, and thus it should not/not be decertified. End Summary. Counternarcotics -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Jamaican Security Forces have continued to work alongside U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Agents to track and intercept shipments of cocaine transiting Jamaica for delivery in the United States. Jamaican maritime assets were deployed on the U.S. Operation Riptide. Year to date, security forces have seized more than 145 kilograms of cocaine at Jamaica's airports. Anecdotal evidence indicates that there is a potential trend to see a return to multi-hundred kilo loads of cocaine through Jamaica as Mexican, Central American, and Dominican routes are pinched off because of an increased presence of U.S. law enforcement. Since the start of the year, more than 6,000 kilos of compressed marijuana have been seized. Extradition - Fugitive Arrests -------------- ¶3. (SBU) The GOJ has continued to cooperate with the USG to apprehend wanted fugitives and extradite them to the United States. In 2009, for the first time, Jamaica was a full participant in the U.S. Marshals international fugitive round up. Year to date, the U.S. Marshals Service and Jamaican security forces have apprehended 16, closed 126 cases, and extradited/deported 14 fugitives back to the United States. Anti-Corruption -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The GOJ has failed to pass its Anti-Corruption Special Prosecutor legislation during the 2008-2009 Parliamentary session. However, in 2008-2009 it made strides towards the prosecution of corrupt public officials with the arrest and initiation of trials against Superintendant Harry Daley, a senior police officer and Kern Spencer, a Member of Parliament and former Junior Minister. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Paula Llewelyn remains confident that when these two trials resume in late June, they will both result in convictions. In 2009, the Anti-Corruption Branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force launched its 1-800-Corrupt crime-stoppers hotline to increase the avenue for public complaints against corrupt police and customs' officers. Money Laundering/Financial Crimes -------------- ¶5. (SBU) In 2009, the GOJ failed to pass the Financial Investigative Division (FID) Act, and it has not conducted the recommended top-to-bottom review and vetting of FID personal. The GOJ has moved forward to develop a government-wide vetting policy. All the cabinet agencies have approved the new policy, but it is awaiting the Prime Minister's signature before it can be implemented. The Jamaican Operations Linked to Telemarketing (JOLT) began in 2009; it is a joint Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) - GOJ task force to target lottery scams that have already bilked U.S. victims of more than USD 30 million. Proceeds from this scam have fueled weapons smuggling and drug trafficking in Jamaica. Police Reform -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The GOJ has made slow but steady progress in implementing the 100 plus recommendations of its Police Strategic Review. The GOJ has prepared a detailed five-year action plan with a budget, and it has allocated a significant amount of its own resources to augment the donor support for this project. USAID will provide KINGSTON 00000462 002 OF 002 technical advisors to the police strategic implementation team. In mid-2009, the Government of Canada (GOC) will provide an Advisor to the Commissioner to help spearhead the review process. In 2009, the Commissioner of Police reassigned more than 280 members of the 9,000 man force to gain management efficiencies, and provide new leadership to troubled police districts. Operation Kingfish -------------- ¶7. (SBU) In 2008, in an effort to streamline operations and return Operation Kingfish to its primary mandate to target senior members of criminal organizations, the Commissioner reorganized Kingfish by combining it with the National Intelligence Bureau and Special Branch. Kingfish has been working in collaboration with U.S., UK and Canadian law enforcement to develop its anti-gang strategy which targets the leadership of organized crime gangs in Jamaica. Conclusion -------------- ¶8. (U) The GOJ faces challenges, including a crushing debt burden (114 percent of GDP) and civil service payroll that, when combined with debt servicing, absorbs USD .78 cents of every dollar of revenue collected. To the extent it is able, the GOJ continues to be a cooperative partner with the USG. There is no evidence that Jamaica has failed demonstrably to meet its international commitments to combat international crime, and it therefore should not be decertified. Over the next year, post expects to see an increase in the amount of laundered money seized by the GOJ. Post Point of Contact for this update is Andrea Lewis, NAS Director LewisAM@state.gov HEG