U.S. PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS ILLICIT TRAFFICKING IN

UNCLAS STATE 008063 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ARM MASS EAIR ETTC PREL OAS PE SUBJECT: U.S. PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS ILLICIT TRAFFICKING IN ARMS IN THE AMERICAS ¶1. (SBU) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 5 and 6. ¶2. (SBU) The illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons is a major obstacle to economic development and security in the Americas. Throughout the hemisphere, terrorist groups, insurgents and drug traffickers acquire arms primarily through illegal diversion, theft and smuggling, and use these arms to perpetrate violent acts. The United States is committed to addressing this threat and has participated actively in international and regional measures, including the UN Program of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons, the CIFTA Convention, the CARICOM-U.S. Initiative on Combating the Illicit Trafficking in Small Arms and Light Weapons (Dec 2007) and the U.S.-SICA Final Declaration on Security (July 2007 and December 2008). As follow-up to these commitments, the U.S. would like to reiterate our willingness to cooperate with the states in the hemisphere to combat illicit trafficking by offering several financial and technical programs dedicated to the control, security, management and destruction of small arms and light weapons. ¶3. (SBU) The Department of State and the Department of Defense provide technical and financial assistance regarding the control, destruction and stockpile management of small arms and light weapons which may be of interest to host governments. The Department of State provides assistance in the destruction of surplus and illicit stocks of small arms and light weapons. Destruction can generally be accomplished using local infrastructure and personnel. This program may also provide technical and financial assistance to support modest security infrastructure improvements. The Department of State also has a robust export control program to assist states in meeting international and legal nonproliferation norms and standards. ¶4. (SBU) The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) provides technical assistance to governments in the form of on-site Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM) assessments and seminars. U.S. experts visit host nation facilities to assess a state's procedures and infrastructure at the operational level and then orient stockpile managers to international best practices, allowing them to develop their own effective procedures. This three-to-five-day program is conducted within a host country and is specifically tailored to meet that state's security needs. ¶5. (SBU) Action request: Department requests Post to begin initial discussions with the host government regarding U.S. assistance programs to combat illicit trafficking in arms. Post may draw on the background information in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 when demarching. Please slug all responses to State/WHA, State/ISN, State/PM, DTRA and ATF. ¶6. Additional Action request for all CARICOM and SICA Posts: The Department solicits requests from countries desiring U.S. assistance in regard to disposition of excess weapons or weapons confiscated as part of host government crime prevention programs or customs enforcement. The US Conventional Weapons Destruction (CWD) Program can tailor assistance to meet countries' needs by providing appropriate equipment for weapons destruction. Host governments receiving U.S. weapons destruction assistance are also eligible to receive U.S. assistance in regard to modest security upgrades of existing weapons storage facilities. Examples of assistance that the U.S. CWD Program can offer include weapons cutting shears and assistance to improve lights, locks, doors, fencing and alarms of existing weapons storage facilities. If host government is interested, post should send a cable to PM/WRA and make such a request. ¶7. English Text of nonpaper to leave behind with Host Government. Begin text. U.S. Assistance Programs to Combat Illicit Trafficking in Small Arms STOCKPILE DESTRUCTION The Department of State provides technical and financial assistance in the destruction of surplus, obsolete, and illicit stocks of small arms and light weapons. Destruction can generally be accomplished using local infrastructure. This program may also provide technical and financial assistance to support modest security infrastructure improvements. Contact: U.S. Department of State (PM/WRA): Mark Adams, AdamsMW@state.gov, 202-663-0111. PHYSICAL SECURITY AND STOCKPILE MANAGEMENT The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) provides technical assistance to governments in the form of on-site Physical Security and Stockpile Management assessments and seminars. U.S. experts visit host nation facilities to assess a state's procedures and infrastructure at the operational level and then orient stockpile managers to international best practices, allowing them to develop their own effective procedures. This three-to-five-day program is conducted within a host country and is specifically tailored to meet that state's security needs. Contact: Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA): Brett Wise, brett.wise@dtra.mil, 703-767-2755 TRACING REQUESTS The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' (ATF) National Tracing Center (NTC) eTrace system enables law enforcement agencies to trace U.S. origin firearms that have been used in or suspected to have been used in criminal activities. The eTrace system enables law enforcement agencies to send trace requests directly to the NTC and receive the trace results back by Internet. Contact: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF): Charles Houser, charles.houser@atf.gov, 304-260-1510; Ed Stely, edward.stely@atf.gov, 304-260-1515. EXPORT CONTROL AND RELATED BORDER SECURITY ASSISTANCE The Export Control and Related Border Security Assistance (EXBS) program is managed by the Department of State to help prevent proliferation of certain weapons systems and related items, by assisting foreign governments to establish and implement effective export control systems that meet international practices. Contact: U.S. Department of State, Office of Export Control Cooperation (ISN/ECC): Nils Johanson, JohansonNP@state.gov; 202-647-3526. END-USER CHECKS Through the "Blue Lantern" Program, the Department of State conducts pre-license and post-shipment checks on the end-user(s) and end-use(s) of small arms and light weapons exported from the U.S. via commercial channels. Such inquiries and site visits help ensure the security and integrity of defense trade between U.S. and overseas partners, while preventing illicit diversions. Contact: U.S. Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (PM/DTC),Ed Peartree, PeartreeCE@state.gov, 202-663-2829. LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING Through International Law Enforcement Academies (ILEAs), training courses are offered on classification, identification, ballistics, tracing of seized weapons and investigative techniques. Courses are designed to build the capacity of law enforcement officials to identify illicit small arms trafficking and strengthen their interdiction skills. Contact: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF): Alfredo Phoenix, alfredo.phoenix@atf.gov; 202-648-8334. REGISTRATION OR IMPORTATION OF FIREARMS INTO THE UNITED STATES The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regulates the firearms industry and controls the importation of all firearms, ammunition and defense articles into the United States. ATF also registers firearms classified under the National Firearms Act (machine guns, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and silencers). ATF provides assistance and information regarding the importation of firearms into the United States. Contact: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF): William F. Kullman, William.Kullman@atf.gov 202-423-0020. End English text. ¶8. Spanish Text of nonpaper to leave behind for Host Government. (Comment: Given that Cable Express does not permit inclusion of Spanish-language accents, Post may either insert appropriate diacritical marks or contact the WHA Bureau POC listed in paragraph 9 for an e-mail copy of the original Spanish translation. End comment.) Begin text. Programas de Asistencia Estadounidense Contra el Trafico Ilicito de Armas DESTRUCCION DE LAS EXISTENCIAS El Departamento de Estado facilita asistencia tecnica y financiera para la destruccion de existencias ilicitas, obsoletas y excedentarias de armas pequenas y ligeras. Normalmente, la destruccion se lleva a cabo con ayuda de la infraestructura local. Este programa tambien puede proporcionar asistencia tecnica y financiera para ayudar en la realizacion de mejores leves a la infraestructura de seguridad. Contacto: U.S. Department of State (PM/WRA): Mark Adams, AdamsMW@state.gov, 202-663-0111. SEGURIDAD FISICA Y GESTION DE LAS EXISTENCIAS La Agencia para la Reduccion de las Amenazas a la Defensa (DTRA) proporciona asistencia tecnica a los gobiernos para evaluaciones in situ de la seguridad fisica y de la gestion de las existencias de armas. Un grupo de especialistas tecnicos estadounidenses visita las instalaciones del pais anfitrion para evaluar los procedimientos y la infraestructura a nivel operativo y luego informar a los administradores sobre las existencias de armas y mejores practicas internacionales, las cuales les permitiran elaborar sus propios procedimientos eficaces. Este programa, que dura de tres a cinco dias, se realiza en un pais anfitrion y esta adaptado concretamente a las necesidades de seguridad de ese pais. Contacto: Defense Threat Reduction agency (DTRA): Brett Wise, brett.wise@dtra.mil, 703-767-2755. SOLICITUDES DE RASTREO El Centro Nacional de Rastreo (NTC, National Tracing Center), adscrito a la Direccion de Alcohol, Tabaco, Armas de Fuego y Explosivos (ATF, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) ha establecido el sistema electronico eTrace, por medio del cual los organismos coercitivos de otros paises pueden rastrear las armas de fuego de origen estadounidense que se hayan o puedan haberse usado en la comision de delitos. Esos organismos envian por eTrace sus solicitudes de rastreo directamente al NTC y reciben por internet los resultados del rastreo. Contacto: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF): Charles Houser, charles.houser@atf.gov, 304-260-1510; Ed Stely, edward.stely@atf.gov, 304-260-1515. CONTROL DE LAS EXPORTACIONES Y ASISTENCIA AFIN PARA LA SEGURIDAD FRONTERIZA El Departamento de Estado administra el Programa de Control de las Exportaciones y Asistencia Afin para la Seguridad Fronteriza (EXBS),que ayuda a evitar la proliferacion de ciertos sistemas de armamentos y articulos conexos; para ello asiste a los gobiernos extranjeros a establecer y aplicar unos sistemas eficaces de control de las exportaciones que se adhieren a las normas internacionales. Contacto: U.S. Department of State, Office of Export Control Cooperation (ISN/ECC): Nils Johanson, JohansonNP@state.gov; 202-647-3526. VERIFICACION DEL USUARIO FINAL Por medio del programa "Blue Lantern" (Farol azul),el Departamento de Estado lleva a cabo verificaciones relativas a los usuarios finales y a los usos finales, previas a la concesion de licencias y con posterioridad a los envios de armas pequenas y ligeras exportadas de los Estados Unidos por vias comerciales. Esas verificaciones y las visitas in situ ayudan a garantizar la seguridad y la integridad del comercio de materiales de defensa entre los Estados Unidos y sus contrapartes internacionales, al mismo tiempo que impiden desvios ilicitos. Contacto: U.S. Department of State, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (PM/DTC),Edward Peartree, PeartreeCE@state.gov, 202-663-2829. CAPACITACION SOBRE APLICACION DE LA LEY En las Academias Internacionales para la Aplicacion de la Ley (ILEA) se dictan cursos de capacitacion sobre clasificacion, identificacion, balistica y rastreo de armas incautadas, y tecnicas de investigacion. Su objetivo consiste en capacitar mejor a los funcionarios del orden en el reconocimiento del trafico ilicito de armas pequenas y fortalecer sus aptitudes de interdiccion. Contacto: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF): Alfredo Phoenix, alfredo.phoenix@atf.gov; 202-648-8334. REGISTRO O IMPORTACION DE ARMAS DE FUEGO EN LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS La Direccion de Alcohol, Tabaco, Armas de Fuego y Explosivos (ATF, por sus siglas en ingles) reglamenta la industria de armas de fuego y controla la importacion a los Estados Unidos de todas las armas de fuego, municiones y articulos de defensa. Tambien registra las armas de fuego clasificadas en virtud de la Ley Nacional de Armas de Fuego (ametralladoras, rifles cortos, escopetas y silenciadores). La ATF proporciona asistencia e informacion sobre la importacion de armas de fuego a los Estados Unidos. Contacto: Direccion de Alcohol, Tabaco, Armas de Fuego y Explosivos (ATF): William F. Kullman, William.Kullman@atf.gov, Tel. 202-423-0020. End of Spanish Text. ¶9. (SBU) POC in the Department is WHA/FO Giovanni Snidle, who is in the global address book. CLINTON