VZCZCXYZ0020
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0147/01 0192041
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 192041Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3157
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 5304
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 1272
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 5072
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JAN LIMA 1747
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 5269
RUEHSN/AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR 0073
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 4894
RUEHNA/DEA WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000147 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/BSC, INL FOR AL MATANO 
JUSTICE FOR OIA/AFMILS, AND NDDS 
TREASURY FOR FINCEN 
DEA FOR OILS AND OFFICE OF DIVERSION CONTROL 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR PREL PGOV AR
SUBJECT: STAFFDEL MACKEY EXAMINES ARGENTINE NARCOTICS 
SITUATION 
 
¶1. (U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified, and not for 
Internet distribution. 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) House Committee on International Relations (HIRC) 
Senior Counsel John Mackey and HIRC Democratic Deputy Chief 
Counsel Paul Oostburg Sanz traveled to Argentina January 
10-13 to investigate the flow of narcotics out of the Andean 
region, through Argentina, to the U.S. and Europe.  The 
Staffdel concluded that the drug problem in Argentina is 
going to get worse before it gets better, especially 
considering the possibility of a weakening Bolivian 
commitment to combating cocaine production and shipment.  The 
Staffdel also concluded that Europe needs to be more involved 
in fighting the drug war on this side of the Atlantic, and 
that Argentine law enforcement officials should be sent as 
students to the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) 
in El Salvador.  End Summary. 
 
------------------ 
Who, When, and Why 
------------------ 
 
¶3. (SBU) House Committee on International Relations Senior 
Counsel John Mackey and HIRC Democratic Deputy Chief Counsel 
Paul Oostburg Sanz traveled to Argentina January 10-13 to 
investigate the flow of narcotics out of the Andean region, 
through Argentina, to the U.S. and Europe.  The Staffdel met 
with high-ranking officials from the MFA and the Argentine 
Gendarmeria, and received extensive Embassy briefings. 
(Note: The Staffdel also focused on the status of the current 
investigation into the 1994 Jewish Community Center (AMIA) 
terrorist bombing.  That element of the trip is reported 
septel.) 
 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
Gendarmeria's Anti-Drug Chief Paints Worrisome Picture 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) The Staffdel discussed the regional narcotics 
situation during a January 11 meeting with Gendarmeria 
anti-narcotics chief General Eduardo Maiztegui and his staff. 
 The Gendarmeria is the federal force tasked with securing 
Argentina's land borders, and as such has major anti-drug 
responsibilities.  Despite continuing budget limitations that 
have hampered investment in training and equipment, the 
Argentine Gendarmeria's cooperation with the USG on 
anti-narcotics initiatives has been excellent. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Maiztegui began by extolling the relationship his 
agency has developed with the Embassy, and Mackey responded 
by asking whether the Gendarmeria enjoyed similar cooperation 
with the European nations to which almost all the cocaine 
transiting Argentina is destined.  Maiztegui described 
limited cooperation with Italy and France, but said it was 
not close to the scale or effectiveness of the Gendarmeria's 
work with U.S. agencies.  With cocaine seizures in Argentina 
at a ten-year high, indicating a significant increase in 
volume heading to Europe, Maiztegui said that he would 
appreciate greater European involvement in anti-narcotics 
work in Argentina. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Argentina is not a major drug-producing country, 
Maiztegui said, and most of the narcotics found in the 
country come from Bolivia.  Maiztegui expressed concern that 
political developments in Bolivia could translate into a 
larger drug transit problem for Argentina.  Mackey cautioned 
Maiztegui that transit countries quickly develop into user 
countries, and Maiztegui admitted that he believes Argentine 
consumption of narcotics has risen, especially in the 
interior of the country in what were previously drug-free 
areas, but there are no national statistics to confirm his 
 
suspicions.  Maiztegui said that smugglers who take illegal 
drugs through Argentina used to be paid in cash, but are now 
being paid in product with greater frequency, a change that 
inevitably results in greater local usage.  The Gendarmeria 
are also capturing many more Colombian nationals than ever 
before, and those Colombians are generally connected to the 
heroin trade in the U.S., according to Maiztegui. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Responding to Staffdel's query regarding the type of 
assistance that would be most helpful to his forces in their 
drug-fighting role, Maiztegui cited communications problems 
on the Bolivian border that could be ameliorated with better 
equipment.  He also said that the training Gendarmeria most 
needs at the moment is for intelligence analysts.  Mackey 
pointed out that such training was likely available at the 
International Law Enforcement Academy in El Salvador, and 
Maiztegui indicated a strong desire for assistance in sending 
personnel for training there. 
 
----------------------- 
MFA Sanguine on Bolivia 
----------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) The Staffdel met January 10 with MFA Undersecretary 
for Foreign Policy Ambassador Luis Cappagli and members of 
his staff.  Mackey asked Cappagli for his views on 
Argentina's anti-drug cooperation with Bolivia, and Cappagli 
said that president-elect Morales' position on the issue was 
clear: he will tolerate the cultivation of the coca plant for 
traditional uses only, not to produce cocaine.  Mackey 
pointed out that traditional uses are not what our countries 
have to worry about, but Office of Counterterrorism and Other 
Crimes Director Minister Marcelo Colombo Murua responded by 
saying those who produce cocaine are not Morales' people. 
The Staffdel mentioned the importance of keeping a careful 
watch on the number of cocaine labs being constructed in 
Argentina: an increase would spell trouble.  Colombo Murua 
responded by saying that Argentina and Brazil will attempt to 
coordinate closely with Bolivia on counternarcotics. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Argentine law enforcement appears more sensitive 
than the MFA to the threat posed by increasing amounts of 
narcotics transiting Argentina.  All indications are that the 
drug problem in Argentina is going to get worse before it 
gets better, and it will likely require a more active 
European involvement as well as continued U.S.-Argentina 
cooperation to effect a positive change. 
 
----------------------- 
Staffdel Recommendation 
----------------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) The Staffdel encourages the active and continuing 
participation of Argentine law enforcement personnel in the 
ILEA in El Salvador.  Mackey further recommends that the ILEA 
build intelligence analysis training into its curriculum. 
 
GUTIERREZ