NAS LIMA MONTHLY REPORT FOR JULY

UNCLAS LIMA 001174 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR INL/LP AND WHA/PPC ONDCP FOR LT COL RONALD GARNER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR KCRM ASEC PREL PE SUBJECT: NAS LIMA MONTHLY REPORT FOR JULY REF: A. LIMA 810 ¶B. LIMA 1002 ¶1. (U) Summary: - New Minister of Interior and PNP Director - Eradication Update - Police Programs Update - Ports Programs Update - Aviation Update New Minister of Interior and PNP Director ¶2. (U) Following the events in Bagua (Ref A),the GOP experienced yet another Cabinet shake up (Ref B). The changes include the appointment of a new Minister of Interior - Oscar Salazar, retired Peruvian National Police (PNP) General. Salazar replaced Mercedes Cabanillas, who had been Minister since February. Salazar has appointed General Miguel Hidalgo, formerly head of the Peruvian Anti-Narcotics Police (DIRANDRO), to the position of PNP Director General. Eradication Update ¶3. (U) Eradication continued in July, with the exception of a three day suspension following the July 25 protests in La Oroya over the dispute with the Doe Run mining company. The Ministry of Interior pulled 200 DIRANDRO personnel from their counter-narcotics duties in Santa Lucia, Mazamari, and Ayacucho in support of riot control efforts. Police Programs Update ¶4. (U) During the month of July, DIRANDRO reports the seizure of 223.88 metric tons of precursor chemicals and 9.4 metric tons of illegal drugs and the destruction of 1607 rustic labs and eight HCL labs in the source zone areas. One case of note is the discovery of an HCL laboratory in the eradication area of Los Jazmines resulting in the seizure of HCL, permanganate acid and other precursor chemicals, however, no arrests were made. DIRANDRO continues its push into previously unpatrolled areas of the VRAE through the use of air and off-road interdiction missions. These new incursions resulted in the seizure of cocaine paste, chemical precursors, weapons, grenades, ammunition and 15 arrests. Ports Programs Update ¶5. (U) Peruvian Customs at the Jorge Chavez International Airport (JCIA),International Post Office (SERPOST) and the Port of Callao in Lima seized 328.04 kg of cocaine HCL and inspected 445 export containers for narcotics and contraband. ¶6. (SBU) The Peruvian Counter-drug District Attorney's office (Fiscal) recently purchased additional equipment for customs inspections. In July, the Fiscal purchased one stationary ionscan and three portable ionscans. Prior to this purchase, all functioning ionscans were bought by NAS. The Fiscal also purchased narcotics field test kits and Customs completed a new site for the Body X-ray Scanner for the Santa Rosa Station on the border with Chile. Aviation Update ¶7. (U) On July 24 the Acting NAS Director and Deputy Aviation Advisor met with the Mayors of Palma Pampa and surrounding areas to discuss the repair of the Palma Pampa runway. The Peruvian Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) plans to remove the runway from its official list of Peruvian runways if the runway is not brought up to standards. Up to now, these mayors have been reluctant to support any improvements o the runway due to resistance by the local population and the local narcotrafficking presence. The rnway is critical in the support for PNP activities in the VRAE and is a priority for NAS due to the fact that the next closest useable runway to the VRAE is more than one hour flight time by helicopter. NAS will send an engineer to survey the runway to assess viability of DGAC requirements. MCKINLEY