P 291601Z JAN 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY
INFO DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 0000
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 0000

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