EXBS: OMAN MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE FOR JULY 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000866 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM PREL MASS MNUC KNNP KSTC ETTC MU SUBJECT: EXBS: OMAN MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE FOR JULY 2009 BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS ¶1. (SBU) None. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶2. (SBU) See # 7 regarding IBIT II training workshop in Sohar. MEETINGS DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶3. (SBU) On July 6, the EXBS Advisor met with the new POL-ECON Chief to provide a briefing regarding the roles and responsibilities of EXBS Advisors. ¶4. (SBU) On July 7, the EXBS Advisor met with 1st Lt. Mussalam al-Awaid (strictly protect)who is with the Royal Oman Police (ROP) Customs. Al-Awaid disclosed a lack of operating Vehicle and Cargo Inspection Systems (VACIS) at several Omani border locations. Some of these systems are non-operational for weeks or months at a time because of maintenance problems. These systems were all purchased by ROP and not by the USG. ¶5. (SBU) On July 8, the EXBS Advisor met with the new U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Team Leader for the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI) in Salalah. The EXBS Advisor gave the Team Leader an overview of the operation and provided background on some of the issues with the SFI program. ¶6. (SBU) On July 13, the EXBS Advisor and EXBS Program Assistant met with Captain Abdullah al-Bulushi, ROP Customs to discuss the IBIT II training workshop in Sohar, Oman from July 24-29 in addition to other possible upcoming training opportunities through 2010. Captain al-Bulushi was given a list of possible training opportunities. Al-Bulushi prioritized the available training. Efforts are on-going to coordinate and schedule the training workshops. ¶7. (SBU) On July 19, the EXBS Advisor and POLE Officer met with Mr. Khalid Mahmood, Immigration Counselor, at the Pakistani Embassy in Muscat. Mr. Mahmood explained that it is the first such office that the government of Pakistan has opened in the world. The focus is on illegal immigration via Iran. If successful, the government of Pakistan will expand these types of offices to include anti-terrorism and money laundering. TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶8. (SBU) The EXBS Advisor and EXBS Program Assistant were in Sohar, Sultanate of Oman from July 24-29 for International Border Interdiction Training (IBIT). The participants consisted of eighteen ROP Customs Officers who are stationed at locations throughout Oman. The workshop covered cargo targeting, the use of tools and technology, vehicle examination procedures, document analysis, and included a one day trip to the Al Wajajah crossing located on the Oman/United Arab Emirates border. The trip to Al Wajajah revealed problems that the ROP has had with a lack of maintenance support and a lack of training and resultant familiarity with the Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System (VACIS.) This system was purchased with GOO funds, not USG funds. The ROP Officers indicated that the VACIS had not been operational for several weeks and had only been fixed a day before the visit. The system was repaired because of the visit. Approximately two hundred trucks pass through this crossing every day. The ROP Training Officer, at the end of the workshop, requested a full week workshop on VACIS training. This need had become evident throughout the workshop as some of the ROP Officers were completely unfamiliar with the VACIS operation. While the need for additional training is abundantly clear, the ROP should concurrently press the supplier for this training since a training requirement is included in the contract with the supplier. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶9. (SBU) None. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS REPORT ¶10. (SBU) Four ICS-4000 Radionuclide Identifiers have been received. This equipment will be donated by EXBS to the Director General, ROP Customs at a ceremony in August. ¶11. (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 is planned for October, 2009. MUSCAT 00000866 002 OF 002 SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY ¶12. (SBU) Nothing to report. PORTAL MONITOR ALERTS ¶13. (SBU) Nothing to report. RED FLAG ISSUES ¶14. (SBU) Nothing to report. POINT OF CONTACT HURTADO