VZCZCXYZ0011
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0223/01 0302030
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 302030Z JAN 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3269

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000223 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA:  CY 2005 END USE MONITORING REPORT 
 
REF: STATE 238640 
 
¶1.  Vehicles and equipment provided to the GOA include: two 
fiberoptic scopes provided in 2005, one to the Aduanas' 
anti-narcotics unit in Mendoza and one to the DEA funded 
Northern Border Task Force (NBTF); one man-portable X-ray 
machine provided in 2005 to the NBTF; four vans provided in 
late 2005 to the NBTF; several computers provided in 2004 to 
the NBTF; 11 vehicles provided in late 2004 to the NBTF and 
the anti-narcotics units of Aduanas and Prefectura; and, a 
large list of older vehicles provided prior to 1999 to 
various federal and provincial law enforcement units. 
 
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Procedures Used to Verify End-Use 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶2.   The vast majority of the equipment is located in Salta, 
Jujuy and Mendoza Provinces.  Post's INL narcotics 
coordinator does not have PD&S funding and as such is unable 
to fund on-site inspections, or periodic spot checks, to 
verify end use monitoring in these remote locations.  The INL 
narcotics coordinator relies upon DEA Officers to assess 
appropriate usage of INL-funded equipment.  Also, trusted 
Argentine law enforcement officials provide us with periodic 
updates on equipment usage when requested to do so.  Short of 
receiving PD&S funding to enable the INL narcotics 
coordinator to personally conduct end use monitoring, this 
system of overlapping verification methods, while not ideal, 
is the best possible end use appraisal system currently 
available. 
 
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Status 
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¶3.  The majority of the equipment and vehicles provided are 
located in the northern provinces of Salta and Jujuy, with 
some computer and communication equipment located with the 
successor unit for a defunct airport task force in Buenos 
Aires.  All indications are that all provided equipment is 
being used for the intended purposes, no single case of 
inappropriate or unauthorized use has been reported in 2005. 
A large number of the items listed on the current end use 
monitoring list are old or aging computers, vehicles and 
radio equipment, much of which is near or well past its 
"useful life."  A major priority for the INL narcotics 
coordinator in 2005 was the total overhaul of the end use 
monitoring system to eliminate items that have exceeded their 
"useful life."  For example, Post's end use monitoring list 
contains vehicles purchased in 1989, and while DEA and GOA 
officials attest that all the vehicles are accounted for, a 
great many of them are inoperable.  Unfortunately, Post 
received $0 PD&S funding so the end use monitoring system was 
not revised.  Post has again requested PD&S funding in FY2006 
and hopes to update and revise the end use monitoring system 
before the end of 2006.  In general, the equipment provided 
through INL funding continues to be used, but with problems 
coming from advancing age and hard use. For example, radio 
transmitters provided to the Northern Border Task Force 
(NBTF) require routine maintenance and repair.  We will also 
have to repair or replace numerous hand-held radios provided 
to federal and provincial police throughout Argentina because 
of wear and tear resulting from routine use under harsh 
operational and climatic conditions. 
 
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Problems 
-------- 
 
¶4.  A lack of PD&S resources limits the INL narcotics 
coordinator's effectiveness in managing Post's INL account. 
With recent political changes in neighboring Bolivia, a 
growing cocaine trafficking problem in Argentina and the 
GOA's increasing willingness to work with Post on CN issues 
Post has an opportunity to greatly improve the GOA's ability 
to combat drug trafficking, but a lack of funding hampers 
Post's efforts in this area.  The INL narcotics coordinator 
has requested PD&S funding to conduct a comprehensive 
evaluation of provided equipment in order to consolidate the 
listing of equipment needing to be monitored, and to 
re-employ an EFN employee hired to conduct the end use 
monitoring program. 
 
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Impact of INL Program 
--------------------- 
 
¶5.    While the INL-funded equipment program in Argentina has 
been a small one, it continues to have a positive impact, 
especially on the perennially under-funded anti-drug units 
operating in the northern provinces.  Argentine law 
enforcement agencies have reported large year-on-year 
increases in cocaine seizures several years in a row.  Post, 
led by the DEA, has actively assisted local law enforcement 
in their CN efforts.  Overall, our program gives us a 
valuable tool with which to pursue our joint 
counter-narcotics agenda with the GOA.  The GOA is currently 
very focused on its security and narcotics problems, and they 
have turned to Post for advice and assistance in creating a 
national security plan.  In coming years the INL program 
could continue to assist the GOA's efforts both to combat its 
growing narcotics trafficking problem and establish better 
control over its border areas. 
GUTIERREZ