VZCZCXYZ0020
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #0654/01 1951502
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 141502Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5207
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000654 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
WHA/BSC - CCROFT, INL/LP DHOOKER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL AFIN KCRIM SNAR CI
SUBJECT: CHILE'S SEMI-ANNUAL INL UPDATE 
 
REF: SANTIAGO 521 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The Government of Chile demonstrated its 
commitment to anti-narcotics efforts in the first half of 
2009, but several high-profile seizures revealed the 
difficult challenges facing Chilean law enforcement agencies. 
 Chile's National Drug Control Commission (CONACE) assumed a 
leadership position at the OAS as president of the 
Inter-American Drug Control Commission (CICAD), hosted an 
international conference on drug courts, and prepared the 
upcoming release of the 2009 national drug strategy report. 
Chilean law enforcement authorities seized more than 1100 kgs 
of ephedrine linked to Mexico (reftel) and detected increased 
smuggling at the international airport in Arica, near the 
border with Peru.  Post's INL activities included support for 
the drug court conference, an anti-money laundering seminar, 
and participation in several ILEA courses. END SUMMARY. 
 
INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND COOPERATION 
----------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) During the first six months of 2009, Chile assumed 
leadership roles in the international anti-narcotics 
community, serving as the president of OAS Inter-American 
Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) and hosting a 
conference on EU-Latin American anti-narcotics cooperation. 
Working closely with the United States, which holds the vice 
presidency, Chile successfully led the 45th Regular Session 
of CICAD held in Washington in May.  Chile hosted a March 
conference on anti-drug cooperation efforts with Europe that 
highlighted the use of drug courts as alternative treatments. 
 Chile also hosted INTERPOL's 20th Regional Conference of the 
Americas in Vina del Mar in April. 
 
REGULATION, TREATMENT, DEMAND REDUCTION 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) On May 23, the GOC classified "spice", a mixture of 
herbs and synthetic cannabinoid compounds, as a prohibited 
drug.  "Spice" has effects similar to marijuana and had been 
sold in stores in Chile as incense.  The classification 
allows the GOC to penalize the importation, sale, or 
distribution of the substance. 
 
¶4. (SBU) The GOC continued to support U.S.-style drug courts. 
In March, CONACE held a seminar to review the results of 
programs that combine judicial supervision and drug 
rehabilitation to treat drug offenders.  The courts started 
in Santiago in 2007 and have treated more than 211 people. 
CONACE announced the courts will be extended nationwide 
within two years. In June, two Chilean judges traveled to the 
United States to participate in the 15th annual drug courts 
conference. 
 
¶5. (SBU) In June, CONACE and the Public Prosecutor's office 
signed an agreement to organize anti-drug community outreach 
programs in high-risk areas.  CONACE also released its 
bi-annual report on drug use that showed a stabilization of 
the rate of consumption by Chileans between the ages of 
12-65.  The study also showed an increase in the use of 
marijuana and a decrease in the price of cocaine.  According 
to the study, the perception of risk associated with drug use 
increased.  CONACE will release its new national drug control 
strategy in the second half of 2009. 
 
 
LAW ENFORCEMENT 
-------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Chile's law enforcement agencies recorded several 
high-profile seizures in the first half of 2009.  Embassy 
contacts, however, report an increase in drug trafficking in 
the north, and law enforcement agencies admit they do not 
have the resources to adequately confront the threat.  In an 
April 2009 interview, the National Prosecutor's Drug Unit 
chief Manuel Guerra acknowledged that Chile is an attractive 
route for narco-traffickers.  Law enforcement agencies are 
challenged by an increased drug supply from Bolivia, poor 
interagency cooperation, a lack of resources, and a harsh 
environment characterized by rugged terrain and long porous 
borders with Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. 
 
Notable seizures over the past six months include: 
 
-- Between January 29 and February 26, police arrested six 
individuals in the northern city of Arica for trafficking 
cocaine in the international airport.  The traffickers 
included three Spanish nationals and officials reported the 
drugs were destined for Madrid, Amsterdam, and London. 
(NOTE: Arica regained its status as an international airport 
in 2008, making it an attractive destination for traffickers. 
END NOTE) 
 
-- On March 12, Santiago police arrested three Mexican 
nationals for trafficking 100 kgs of ephedrine to Mexico 
City.  Later in March, police seized an additional 1100 kgs 
of ephedrine destined for Mexico City (reftel). 
 
-- On May 15, police seized 243 kgs of cocaine valued at $243 
million near Antofagasta in northern Chile.  The seizure took 
place using aerial surveillance and resulted in six arrests. 
The same day, in an unrelated case, police seized 804 kgs of 
marijuana from Paraguay in Los Andes, a town located in 
central Chile close to the border with Argentina. 
 
--  On June 2, airport police in Santiago arrested an 
Argentine national for drug trafficking using suitcases that 
were made from cocaine.  The drugs were highly compressed and 
molded into the shape of suitcases. 
 
USG ASSISTANCE 
-------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Anti-money laundering:  In March, Embassy Santiago 
organized a two-day program for government and private sector 
officials on anti-money laundering regulations.  Alex Bustos, 
an expert in financial controls based in the U.K., spoke to 
more than twenty members of the Carabineros, Investigative 
Police, and Public Prosecutor's office.  He also spoke about 
internal controls to more than 25 compliance officers from 
international banks.  The Embassy also arranged for two 
Chilean officials to participate in the June 2009 APEC 
seminar on bulk cash smuggling, held in Sydney, Australia. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Intellectual Property Rights:  Embassy Santiago and 
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office organized seminars in 
Iquique and Valparaiso for more than 200 members of the 
police, public prosecutor's office, and customs service.  The 
seminars, held at the end of March, focused on Chilean IPR 
regulations, FTA obligations, and product identification. 
Within two weeks of the seminar, police had seized more than 
2000 fake Apple products. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Anti-narcotics: Embassy Santiago coordinated Chilean 
participation in several ILEA courses.  Seven members of  the 
Carabineros and Investigative Police attended the ILEA Drug 
Unit Commanders Course and four Chilean officials 
participated in the ILEA Risk Management Course in January 
¶2009.  Embassy Santiago sponsored the participation of two 
U.S. experts in the Drug Courts Symposium held in Santiago in 
March 2009.  The experts offered presentations on U.S.-style 
drug courts to more than 500 participants.  Embassy Santiago 
planned equipment purchases and training seminars using INL 
funds that will take place in the second half of 2009. 
URBAN