Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LIMA1498
2009-10-06 19:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Lima
Cable title:  

LIMA NAS MONTHLY REPORT - SEPTEMBER

Tags:  SNAR KCRM ASEC PREL PE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ2844
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPE #1498/01 2791933
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 061933Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY LIMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1329
INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 0027
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 8562
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ OCT 5315
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 0041
C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 001498 

NOFORN

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INL/LP AND WHA/PPC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2019
TAGS: SNAR KCRM ASEC PREL PE
SUBJECT: LIMA NAS MONTHLY REPORT - SEPTEMBER

REF: A. LIMA 1299

B. LIMA 01454

Classified By: NAS Director Aberlado A. Arias for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 001498

NOFORN

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INL/LP AND WHA/PPC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2019
TAGS: SNAR KCRM ASEC PREL PE
SUBJECT: LIMA NAS MONTHLY REPORT - SEPTEMBER

REF: A. LIMA 1299

B. LIMA 01454

Classified By: NAS Director Aberlado A. Arias for reasons 1.4 (b) and
(d).

1.(C) Summary:
- New Book Maps Drug Trafficking in Peru
- Shining Path Shoots Down Helicopter in the VRAE
- Eradication Operations Move to Tingo Maria - meet some resistance
- NAS Deputy Meets with DEVIDA
- Aviation Report
- Police Program Report
- Ports/Maritime Program Report
- Eradication Report
- Anti-Money Laundering Update
- Peru Increases Reward for Information on Terrorists
- GOP Narrows Kerosene Law Ban to just VRAE


New Book Maps Drug Trafficking in Peru

2.(U) The recently released book entitled "A Map of Drug
Trafficking in Peru" published by the Institute for
International Studies at the Catholic University has drawn
significant attention to the pervasiveness of illicit
cultivation of coca in Peru. The findings about the
predominance of coca in the agricultural economy of the
Department of Hu nuco, for example, have helped make clear
the links with drug trafficking and weakened pro-coca
arguments. It has also spurred a debate among experts and
policy makers with its assertion that Peru is now the number
one cocaine exporter in the world, surpassing Colombia.
According to the report, Peru exported more cocaine than
Colombia in 2008, though Colombia produced more cocaine.
According to their calculations, in 2008, Colombia produced
430 metric tons (mt) of cocaine and Peru produced 302mt.
However, Colombian authorities seized 198 mt while Peruvian
authorities only seized 20 mt. Thus Colombia had 232 mt
available for export while Peru had 282 mt available for
export.

Shining Path Shoots Down Helicopter in the VRAE

3.(C) On September 2, presumed Shining Path (Sendero
Luminoso, SL) forces downed a Peruvian air force (FAP) MI-17
helicopter killing the pilot and co-pilot. The MI-17 was on a
mission to recover three wounded Peruvian military personnel.
Initial reporting suggested the aircraft was brought down by
a rocket propelled grenade but this was later found to be
false. NAS UH-2's were requested to assist in the recovery
mission but NAS denied the request due to the weather

conditions, altitude, the danger of being shot down, and the
fact that the GOP had its own assets available. (REF A)

Eradication Operations Move to Tingo Maria - meet some
resistance


4. (SBU) After many years of operations from the Peruvian
National Police (PNP) base at Santa Lucia, San Martin
department, NAS officially moved all operations 59 miles
south to Tingo Maria beginning September 19. During the move
of 700 personnel and 64,000 pounds of cargo over a seven-day
period, the Peruvian coca eradication agency (CORAH)
continued operations, first on the east side of the Huallaga
River then on September 22 into the coca-rich stronghold
referred to as "Bolson Cuchara" 14 miles northwest of Tingo
Maria. Coca growers responded over the past week with
repeated demonstrations and violence. Police have
effectively repulsed the demonstrations. On one occasion
police wounded five some protesters, one of whom later died.
Three days later, police shot and killed a person protecting
a maceration pit after the person wounded eradicator with a
shotgun blast. Several cocalero organizations met on
September 27 and agreed to call for a general indefinite
strike beginning October 5. (REF B)

NAS Deputy Meets with DEVIDA

5.(C) NAS Deputy Director met with Jorge Valencia, supply
side director in the National Commission for Development and
Life without Drugs (DEVIDA) September 18. Valencia
complained that he felt the annual letter of agreement
between the USG and GOP on counter-narcotics assistance was
not the result of a consultative process but "more of a
dictation to the Peruvian government". NAS Deputy explained
that the USG has no interest in dictating the terms of USG
assistance and has always been interested in full partnership
with the GOP in fighting drug trafficking. He reminded
Valencia that NAS was currently discussing a new agreement
with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and now is the
perfect time for all interested GOP agencies to make their
desires and concerns known to the MFA who has the lead on
this issue. Valencia also complained that various GOP agency
requests for NAS assistance are not funneled through DEVIDA.
He hinted that NAS should insist that requests only come from
DEVIDA. NAS Deputy responded that this was really an
internal GOP issue. Much like other GOP counterparts,
Valencia took the opportunity to lament the decline in USG
counter-narcotics assistance, especially in the area of
alternative development. Asked about the GOP's eradication
strategy and goals for the coming years, Valencia admitted
that the GOP has not developed a long-term strategy or goal
for eradication. He also bemoaned the lack of appropriated
funding in 2009 from the GOP for DEVIDA's pet project known
as the "Rapid Impact Plan" aimed at assisting rural, coca
growing areas, though he is confident it will change in 2010.

Aviation


6. U) The FAP C-26 equipped with FLIR participated in the
DEA sponsored yearly exercise "All Inclusive" on the northern
coast of Peru by conducting reconnaissance missions for the
exercise. This experience was a successful experiment in
coordination and integration of the FLIR with other GOP
assets.

Police Bases Support


7. (U) NAS Director and Deputy visited Mazamari and
Palmapampa September 30 with DIRANDRO General Teddy Bartra
and DIRAVPOL General Tomas Guibert to review base
infrastructure needs. Because of infrastructure problems at
the PNP base at Palmapampa, most recently with the water and
sewage systems, the five helicopters and personnel were moved
to Mazamari. NAS efforts to have the PNP assume greater
responsibility for the base, such as linking it to the town's
electrical grid and water system, have brought operational
deficiencies to the surface. NAS therefore has asked CORAH
engineers to perform a facilities assessment on Palmapampa
and other bases, each looking at both immediate and long term
needs. Our intention is to establish a baseline to be used
in discussions with the GOP for its takeover of the bases
that NAS supports by 2011, in line with IL nationalization
goals.

Police Programs Report

8.(U) Nearly sixty percent of all the students coming out of
the NAS-sponsored police pre-academies in 2009 have been
accepted into the PNP Anti-Drug (DIRANDRO) police academies
in Ayacucho, Santa Lucia and Mazamari. This is an
improvement from last year's results where only thirty
percent of the graduates were passing the entrance exams to
enter the police academies. The improvement is due largely
to a restructuring of the pre-academy academic curriculum.

9.(U) PNP seizure results for the month of September: one
metric ton of chemical precursors; 15.5 kilograms of cocaine
paste; 27 rustic laboratories (25 in the VRAE and two in the
Huallaga); 25 weapons, ammunition, and destroyed four
hectares of marijuana.

Ports/Maritime Program Report

10.(U) Peruvian Coast Guard Director, Rear Admiral Carlos
Weston met with the NAS Director and Deputy September 16 to
request assistance in the establishment of a maritime
intelligence center based in Lima. Weston explained the
purpose of the center would be to collect, analyze, and store
data on ships entering and departing Peruvian waters as a
means to detect maritime shipments of illegal narcotics -
currently the preferred method of export for most Peruvian
drug traffickers. Lima DEA subsequently agreed to fund USD
100,000 of the proposed USD 129,000 cost of the center. NAS
is waiting for a written proposal of the remaining costs for
the unit, but is inclined to support.

11.(U) Peruvian customs (SUNAT) counterdrug interdiction
units seized the following during the month of September: 4.3
metric tons of cocaine HCL at the Callao seaport; 92.3 kilos
of cocaine HCL at Jorge Chavez International Airport; 23
kilos of HCL at the Port of Paita; 11.2 kilos of HCL at the
International Post Office (SERPOST); and provided two
international alerts resulting in the seizure of 145.7 kilos
of HCL.

12.(U) SUNAT demonstrated its growing capacity for
international cooperation through two significant cases this
month. The first involved five Mexican citizen internal
carriers who were transiting Lima from Bolivia and who were
arrested upon arrival in Mexico City due to a Peruvian alert,
resulting in the seizure of 3.74 kilos of cocaine. In the
second case, SUNAT alerted Canadian authorities to the
presence of cocaine inside two sea-going containers carrying
wood to Canada resulting in the seizure of 142 kilos of
cocaine HCL.

13.(U) Other cases of note for the month of September include
the following: the detection by SUNAT canine units of 23
kilos of cocaine HCL bricks inside the door panels of an
Ecuadorian truck in the vicinity of the Port of Paita; the
SUNAT Special Operations Brigade seized 4.3 metric tons of
liquid cocaine hidden in 83,520 artichoke cans discovered by
the NAS trained canine units and NAS provided ion-scan;
SERPOST seized three 8,000 counterfeit USD destined for the
US and 4,900 counterfeit USD headed for Costa Rica; and the
arrest of 18 internal carriers at Jorge Chavez International
Airport.

Eradication Report

14.(U) CORAH eradicated 662.03 hectares of illegal coca in
the Hu nuco Region bringing the yearly total to 7,022.09
hectares. The PNP uncovered and destroyed 14 maceration pits
and one cocaine lab while protecting CORAH eradication
workers.

15.(U) On September 1, CORAH completed a seven-day operation
in the Yanajanca region where there is a large and persistent
presence of organized drug trafficking elements. The
successful and uneventful completion of eradication in this
area is significant because it marks a dramatic change from
the last eradication effort in this area in 2007 where an
eradicator was killed and five PNP wounded by enemy gunfire.

Anti-Money Laundering Update


16. (U) On September 9, DEVIDA publicly released a
NAS-sponsored report on Money Laundering in Peru. (Details
of report SEPTEL) In addition to making recommendations as
to how to improve the anti-money laundering structure in
Peru, the report highlighted the mass sums of money, both
foreign and domestic, being laundered through the Peruvian
financial sector and the fact that no entity knows the exact
amount. The report generated national and international
press as it was the first of its kind to be publicly released
in recent memory.

Peru Increases Reward for Information on Terrorists


17. (U) On September 10, the Prime Minister's Office (PCM)
issued Supreme Decree 057-2009-PCM increasing the reward for
information leading to the capture of a terrorist to 500
soles and a million soles for the capture of a terrorist
leader.

GOP Narrows Kerosene Law Ban to just VRAE

18.(U) The PCM issued a modified version of its Supreme
Decree prohibiting the sale of Kerosene and Diesel 1. Under
the modified decree, the ban on Kerosene and Diesel 1 has
been narrowed from a nationwide ban to one that applies only
in the VRAE zone.
MCKINLEY