REQUEST FOR SOURCE/ORIGIN WAIVER: PROCUREMENT OF VEHICLE FOR

UNCLAS QUITO 000992 SIPDIS FOR INL/RM (TIM BARRY, TIM HENDERSON) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR SMIG AMGT KCRM SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR SOURCE/ORIGIN WAIVER: PROCUREMENT OF VEHICLE FOR DINAPEN POLICE UNIT ¶1. Issue: Post requests a source origin waiver from geographic code 000 (United States only) to geographic code 935 (special free world) to permit the procurement of one vehicle in the host country local market for operational use by the National Police's DINAPEN unit, an anti-trafficking and human smuggling police unit. Cooperating Country: Ecuador Authorizing document: LOA dated September 28, 2007. Project: G-TIP Program Nature of funding: FY-07 G-TIP Program Description of commodity: Foreign-manufactured vehicles Quantity: 1 - 8 passenger van, manual transmission, with power steering Approximate total value: USD $28,000.00 Origin: Special Free World Source: Ecuador Contracting agent: RPSO ¶2. Discussion: This vehicle will be used by the Ecuadorian national police's DINAPEN unit, Ecuador's primary trafficking in persons and human smuggling police unit, for victim rescue and victim transportation. The DHS/ICE office cooperates and collaborates closely with the DINAPEN police unit. INL provided funding for trafficking in persons in 2007 based on post's request to equip and support a vastly under-equipped Ecuadorian police unit. This vehicle was included on this request and is part of a larger equipment purchase to increase the Ecuadorian government's capabilities to fight trafficking in persons and human smuggling organizations in Ecuador. ¶3. Recommendation: We recommend approval of this request for a source/origin waiver to permit acquisition of this project vehicle in Ecuador. ¶4. Please expedite reply. Thank you. ¶5. Signed: Drew Schufletowski, NAS Director, Narcotics Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy, Quito, Ecuador. HODGES HODGES