EXBS: OMAN MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE FOR APRIL 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000393 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL MASS MNUC KNNP KSTC ETTC MU SUBJECT: EXBS: OMAN MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE FOR APRIL 2009 REF: 09 US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC 2031905 09 DOHA 203 BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS ¶1. (SBU) None. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶2. (SBU) See items 5-8 below. MEETINGS DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶3. (SBU) On March 17, the EXBS Advisor, EXBS Program Assistant, Pol-Econ Officer, and two representatives from the Department of Energy (DOE)-- Michael Bedke, Middle East Regional Manager for the Megaports Initiative, and Mario Pereira, Project Manager for International Security and Nonproliferation -- met with Lt. Colonel Naji al-Abri, Directorate of Investigation and Risk Assessment, Royal Oman Police (ROP)Customs, and Lt. Abdullah al-Raqmi, Directorate General of Civil Defence, ROP. Meeting participants discussed the emergency response protocol at the Port of Salalah, the preferred procedure for requests of duty-free release of equipment, and a proposed anti-money laundering training course. ¶4. (SBU) On April 20, the EXBS Advisor advised First Secretary Yaqub al-Ruqaishi, Director of the Disarmament & Arms Control Office, International Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, of the 10th Annual Export Control Conference scheduled to take place in Istanbul from July 25-27, 2009. TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶5. (SBU) The EXBS Advisor and EXBS Program Assistant attended the Regional Workshop on the Implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 which took place in Doha, Qatar from March 8-11 (ref B). ¶6. (SBU) The EXBS Advisor and EXBS Program Assistant accompanied a delegation of ROP Customs Officers to the International Border Interdiction Training (IBIT) which was conducted in McAllen, Texas during the week of March 23, 2009 (ref A). During one of the practical exercises at the Hidalgo Bridge crossing, one of the ROP Officers referred a vehicle for further inspection. The inspection revealed a significant load of marijuana (59 kilos) which had been concealed in the four tires of the vehicle. ¶7. (SBU) The EXBS Advisor had his mid-term consultation visit to Washington, DC from March 30-31, 2009. ¶8. (SBU) The EXBS Advisor and EXBS Program Assistant attended the first week of the Export Control Academy at the Center for International Trade and Security, University of Georgia, in Athens, GA from April 13-17. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶9. (SBU) None. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS REPORT ¶10. (SBU) Four ICS-4000 Radionuclide Identifiers have been shipped to Oman for ROP Customs. Once cleared and received, the equipment will be donated by EXBS to the Director General, ROP Customs at an appropriate ceremony. ¶11. (SBU) An invitation cable has been issued for Government of Yemen Border Control Officers to attend an International Seaport Interdiction Training (ISIT) in Charleston, SC from July 13-17. ¶12. (SBU) An invitation cable has been issued to the Government of Jordan (GOJ) for up to thirty Jordanian law enforcement officials to participate in a four day "Export Enforcement Investigations Seminar" in Amman, Jordan from June 8-11, 2009. ¶13. (SBU) The EXBS Advisor has proposed a three day Model Export Law Training Workshop to the Director of the Disarmament & Arms Control Office, International Affairs Department, Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The workshop would take place either in late July/early August or in October, 2009. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY ¶14. (SBU) Nothing to report. PORTAL MONITOR ALERTS MUSCAT 00000393 002 OF 002 ¶15. (SBU) Nothing to report. RED FLAG ISSUES ¶16. (SBU) Nothing to report. POINT OF CONTACT GRAPPO