NAS SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITY REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009

C O N F I D E N T I A L NASSAU 000715 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/13 TAGS: SNAR SMIG PGOV PREL TK BF SUBJECT: NAS SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITY REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009 REF: 09 NASSAU 647; 09 NASSAU 681 CLASSIFIED BY: Timothy Zuniga-Brown, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Nassau; REASON: 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (U) This cable summarizes significant NAS and USG counternarcotics activities in The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands during the period of September/October 2009. -------------- OPBAT -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF),the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police (RTCIP),and U.S. law enforcement agencies continued to conduct joint counternarcotics missions under Operation Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT). Overall, FY 2009 saw a twofold increase in cocaine seizures compared with FY 2008. A majority of the cocaine seized was found in containers transiting the Freeport Container Port on Grand Bahama. The total seizures for FY 2009 and September/October 2009 were: Fiscal Year 2009: Cocaine 2,700 kg Marijuana 23,688 lbs Currency USD 4,091,102 September 2009: Cocaine 0 Marijuana 4,360 lbs Currency 0 October 2009: Cocaine 74 kg Marijuana 2,591 lbs Currency 0 -------------- -------------- NAS Law Enforcement and Demand Reduction Programs -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) RBPF Interceptor Boat Upgrade: In October, Embassy Nassau's Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) completed much needed safety and navigational upgrades on the RBPF's Avenger interceptor boat in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Donated by the USG in 2001, the 40 ft. Avenger is the RBPF's only "go fast" interceptor based on the island of Grand Bahama. The new upgrades will enable the Avenger to operate safely at night and in rough seas in support of OPBAT. ¶4. (SBU) TCI Boarding Officer Training: October 18-22, NAS and U.S. Coast Guard District 7 Tactical Law Enforcement Team (D-7 TACLET) conducted a Boarding Officer Workshop with the RTCIP in Providenciales. The D-7 TACLET team provided training in the most up-to-date boarding tactics and the TCI participants left with the skills and knowledge to conduct maritime law enforcement operations safely in support of OPBAT. ¶5. (U) Demand Reduction Workshop for Teachers: October 22-24, NAS sponsored a Drug Abuse Recognition and Education Workshop for elementary school teachers in Nassau. Part of the GCOB's "Drug Free Schools" program, the workshop provided its participants with training as well as lesson plans on drug prevention and education. -------------- GCOB Activities -------------- ¶6. (C) RBPF Acquires New Aircraft: The RBPF revived its defunct air wing on October 30 with the commissioning of a new Cessna-208 "Caravan." According to press reports, the turboprop can be configured to carry up to 14 passengers and crew or up to 4,000 lbs. of cargo. The $2.2 million aircraft was purchased with monies from the GCOB's Confiscated Asset Fund (CAF). This is the GCOB's third major aircraft acquisition of the year. In May, the Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) commissioned a similar Cessna Caravan and a twin turboprop Vulcanair P-68 "Observer." COMMENT: The GCOB has stated plans to use these aircraft as surveillance platforms in support of anti-drug and anti-migrant smuggling operations. However, given the RBPF's and RBDF's lack of experience with such missions and their inability to conduct operations at night, it is more likely these aircraft will be used to move personnel, prisoners, equipment and, of course, VIPs, between Nassau and The Bahamas other major islands. AVANT