LIMA NAS APRIL END OF MONTH REPORT

UNCLAS LIMA 000695 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR INL/LP AND WHA/PPC ONDCP FOR LTCOL RONALD GARMEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR KCRM ASEC PREL PE SUBJECT: LIMA NAS APRIL END OF MONTH REPORT . (U) Summary: -- Maritime/Ports Program Report -- Eradication Report -- SL Threat Against PNP Base at Palmapampa Averted -- Plan VRAE Gets a Make Over -- National Secretary of Large Cocalero Confederation Detained -- Police Program Report -- New Supreme Decree Outlaws Kerosene -------------- Maritime/Ports Program Report -------------- ¶2. (U) During the month of April 2009, The Peruvian National Police (PNP) and Peruvian Customs (SUNAT) sized 61,000USD, 632 kilos of cocaine and detained 13 internal body carriers. The PNP Chemical Investigation Unit seized 4,570 kilos of hydrochloric acid and 2,500 kilos of kerosene. In one case, the Peruvian Task Force alerted Spanish Authorities of a container which depart from the Port of Callao prior to SUNAT inspection. Spanish Customs seized 414 kilos of cocaine in the case. -------------- Eradication -------------- ¶3. (U) CORAH closed out April with the eradication of 1,110 Hectares, bringing the yearly total to 2,337 hectares. Minor improvements to the Tingo Maria airport for NAS/PNP helicopters, flight crews, and maintenance personnel were completed in preparation for the move of operations further south in the Huallaga Valley. -------------- SL Threat Against PNP Base at Palmapampa -------------- ¶4. (SBU) On 24 April, Peruvian Armed Forces obtained information that two armed SL groups were near the Palmapampa PNP base awaiting orders to attack. (In addition, there was information that female guerrillas dressed as civilians were positioned on the road near Pichari Army Base with orders to draw personnel off base for ambush.) PNP crews conducted night flights with NVGs to detect movements and pinpoint the location of the SL forces. Helicopter crews reported lots of flashlight activity near the town and river area and believe the SL groups were signaling each other because the lights were quickly extinguished when the helicopter came closer. It is believe these night flights deterred the attack. -------------- Plan VRAE Gets a Makeover -------------- ¶5. (U) In the aftermath of the 9 April ambush of Peruvian soldiers in which 15 died, Prime Minister Simon announced the need for a complete overhaul of the GOP's Plan VRAE and has convened a multisectorial group to rewrite the plan. On 23 April, Ambassador McKinley and senior staff met with the MOD and Armed Forces commanders for a GOP briefing on Plan VRAE. The use of NAS/PNP was among the agenda items. Embassy team briefed the Peruvians on aircraft use restrictions per U.S. legislation and urged the GOP to seek appropriate resources for the mission. -------------- -------------- National Secretary of Large Cocalero Confederation Detained -------------- -------------- ¶6. (U) Hector Garcia Lujerio, national secretary of mobilization, defense and control for one of the coca growers, groups in Peru - Confederation de Productores Agropecuarios de las Cuencas Cocaleras del Peru (CONPACCP) - was detained for carrying chemical precursors on a road into the Monzon valley. -------------- Police Program Report -------------- ¶7. (U) In the departments of Cuzco and Ayacucho, DIRANDRO personnel destroyed 88 rustic laboratories and seized 15,652 kilos of chemical precursors. In Huanuco, DIRANDRO personnel destroyed 16 hectares of cannabis, 250 kilos of marihuana and 1,000 kilos of chemical precursors. -------------- -------------- New Supreme Decree outlaws Kerosene as a Precursor Chemical -------------- -------------- ¶8. (U) Prime Minister Simon issued a Supreme Decree prohibiting the sale and importation of kerosene, Diesel 1, Acyclic hydrocarbon Saturated (HAS),Light Aliphatic Hydrocarbon (HAL) by local vendors and local distributors. At this time, only licensed manufacturers and processing plants will be allowed to sell and distribute. The new decree also creates a Substitution program to replace the use of domestic Kerosene with Liquid Petroleum Gas. Though the restriction is nationwide, the Decree allows for the consumption and commercialization of Kerosene in zones awaiting the Substitution Program. MCKINLEY