HAITI: APRIL 2009 NAS MONTHLY REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PORT AU PRINCE 000500 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR INL FOR MEAGAN MCBRIDE, KEVIN BROWN AND DIANNE GRAHAM S/CRS SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR INR/IAA WHA PLEASE PASS USOAS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL EAID KCRM KJUS HA SUBJECT: HAITI: APRIL 2009 NAS MONTHLY REPORT PORT AU PR 00000500 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. The following summarizes Post's INL/NAS and counternarcotics activities in April 2009. ¶2. Merida Initiative: - On April 30, Ambassador Sanderson and Minister of Justice Exume signed the Letter of Agreement for 2,159,000 USD to fund four projects under Merida: a communications network for the Haitian National Police (HNP),assistance to counternarcotics units, including a new Haitian Coast Guard base at Port de Paix, joint training fQfDQeform with advisors in 2006. All corrections advisors are French and Creole speakers. - Two contingent members suffered injuries or illness requiring hospitalization. One has since departed for the U.S. to undergo surgery. ¶5. NAS Project Status: - Construction of three new instructors barracks at the HNP Academy by PAE is progressing slowly, awaiting INL approval of modifications to add a third story to those buildings. Trailers currently occupied by the instructors have been determined to be beyond rehabilitation, thus necessitating the modification to the original construction plans. Road and drainage work on campus also continues but inappropriate sewage disposal from some of the cadet facilities and the Jordanian UN camp on the Academy grounds is negatively impacting the contractor's ability to finish canal work. NAS is working to propose a solution to the GOH and MINUSTAH. - DynCorp is finishing remaining items at the new Cite Soleil police station that was inaugurated in March, while awaiting approval of additional perimeter wall construction. Trainers continue to mentor the HNP on introduction of community oriented policing in the commune. ¶6. Corrections: - Corrections Advisor Eddie Pigg completed his contract on April 30 and departed post. He was instrumental in laying PORT AU PR 00000500 002.2 OF 003 the groundwork for construction of a new women's prison in Haiti. That project has been stalled for some months due to the initial selection by the GOH of an inappropriate site. At a meeting on April 27, the Director of Prisons indicated that a new site had been chosen and later accompanied NAS to visit the proposed site on the outskirts of Port au Prince. - Construction of an isolation ward in the Men's Penitentiary will be finished in 30 days. DynCorp, NAS and IOM met to discuss coordination of the next projects being undertaken in that facility: exterior wall reconstruction by IOM and the NAS-funded infirmary rehabilitation. These projects present particular challenges due to the complexities of working in a severely-overcrowded prison holding nearly 4000 detainees (400% capacity). ¶7. Counternarcotics: - On three occasions in April, DEA received information from JIATF-S regarding clandestine flights headed to Haiti. In each case, DEA and the HNP attempted to locate and interdict the offloads, with negative results in terms of drugs seized. However, on the third attempt, they did stop an SUV driven by an HNP officer that had been linked to at least seven other offloads. The HNP officer was arrested and his vehicle seized, which smelled of chemicals associated with bulk cocaine. A second SUV, suspected to be the load vehicle, spotted the roadblock and fled the scene. - On April 8, BLTS (HNP counternarcotics unit) and Haitian Customs responded to a DEA tip and searched three containers at the Port au Prince port. Four vehicles reported stolen in the greater Miami area were seized. - The BAFE (HNP financial crimes unit supported by NAS/OTA anti-money laundering program) seized two additional houses under forfeiture orders based on U.S. drug convictions. This brings the value of properties and assets seized to over 24 million USD. More such forfeitures are expected in the future. - Two separate deployments of HNP SWAT officers took place to Pestel, stronghold of wanted drug trafficker and disqualified Senate candidate Guy Philippe. The initial deployment of 15 HNP on April 7 was to ensure that the polling place, closed by Philippe following his disqualification, would open on April 19 for the Senate election as scheduled. In reality, it was also intended to establish a stronger HNP presence in Pestel to facilitate active efforts to arrest Philippe. 18 additional SWAT officers were deployed on April 18. HNP DG Andresol has vowed to keep them there until Philippe is arrested. - In a setback for interdiction efforts in Haiti, on April 17, a judge in St Marc, citing insufficient evidence, released nine defendents, inclduing two Colombians, two active duty HNP and two former HNP, who were held after being arrested in possession of illegal firearms and $689,000 USD. The release came in spite of the confession of one of the Colombians that he had been recruited in Colombia to coordinate cocaine deliveries n Haiti, that he had already receied two shipments of 500 kilos which he had deliverd to a Haitian in Cap Haitian and the cash seized was partial payment for the second load. His statement was corroborated by one of the Haitians and by GPS coordinates found in his SUV leading to a clandestine airstrip in the Central Plateau. ¶8. Other: - Secretary of State Clinton paid a one-day visit to Haiti. In her meetings with the President and with Embassy staff she noted the challenges faced by Haiti as a major transit country for drugs and the USG commitment to assisting in counternarcotics efforts. - The remaining 160 of 500 12-gauge shotguns purchased by the Interim Government of Haiti (IGOH) in 2005 were turned over the HNP to provide additional security for Senatorial elections that took place on April 19. NAS maintained physical possession of those weapons due to Congressional requirements established to allow the weapons to be purchased by the IGOH while the arms embargo was in place. NAS retains possession of some tear gas and M-14s under those same PORT AU PR 00000500 003.2 OF 003 restrictions until such time as all conditions for turnover are met by the HNP. SANDERSON