EXBS: OMAN MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE FOR NOVEMBER 2009

UNCLAS MUSCAT 001138 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL MASS MNUC KNNP KSTC ETTC MU SUBJECT: EXBS: OMAN MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE FOR NOVEMBER 2009 BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS 1.(SBU) None. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD 2.(SBU) On November 3, the EXBS Advisor received from the Director General of Omani Customs, Brigadier General Issa Al-Kiyummi, a signed end-user form to permit the delivery of thermal imagers to Oman. MEETINGS DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 3.(SBU) From December 5-9, the EXBS Advisor and Program Assistant accompanied visiting EXBS Advisor Bob Hessler and CBP Officer Fred Eisler to meetings at the Directorate General of Customs, Muscat International Airport, The Port of Muscat, and Oman's land border crossing at Wyjaja on the northern border with the UAE . The team was in Oman to review the customs curriculum of the Royal Omani Police Customs Directorate, and to discuss Omani efforts to develop a risk assessment program. The group met with with the Director General of Customs, Brigadier General Issa Al-Kiyummi, Director of Investigations and Risk Assessment, Lt. Colonel Naji Al-Abri, Director of Training for customs, Captain Abdullah Al-Balushi, and with various other Omani Customs officials at Customs headquarters at the outset of their visit. They walked through the existing curriculum focusing on key areas for follow-up, and discussed the general theory of risk assessment and how we apply it in practice in the United States. During site visits at the various points of entry (airport, seaport, land border),the team was given an overview of Omani entry, inspection, clearance and risk assessment procedures. Omani officials explained their lack of a formal risk assessment process or system. They noted they would like training in this area and the eventual development of a nationwide computer network linking all Omani points of entry so that risk assessment data can be shared between various Omani agencies to target high risk cargo and individuals. (Note -During the meeting with the DG of Customs, EXBS Advisor Hessler and CBP Officer Eisler suggested that the DG and senior staff visit the United States to tour U.S. Customs operations, the Customs Academy, and the National Targeting Center. The DG replied that he would like to visit depending on timing. The DG mentioned that he had a trip to the United States planned in the recent past that was subsequently canceled due to a scheduling conflict - End Note). TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 4.(SBU) None. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 5.(SBU) None. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS REPORT 6.(SBU) The EXBS Advisor team is scheduling one week of Ground Sensor Tracker Training for Omani Customs and Border Security officers. The training is scheduled for January 23-27, 2010 in Sohar, Oman. 7.(SBU) The EXBS Advisor team is scheduling VACIS training for Omani Customs officers. Training will take place on VACIS mobile and stationary x-ray equipment previously purchased by the Government of Oman. The training will take place in February 2010 on a date to be determined. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY 8.(SBU) Nothing to report. PORTAL MONITOR ALERTS 9.(SBU) Nothing to report. RED FLAG ISSUES 10.(SBU) Nothing to report. Schmierer