VZCZCXYZ0010
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPE #1257/01 0901755
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 311755Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY LIMA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9524
INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 3186
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 6624
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ MAR QUITO 0183
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF STATE AIR WING PATRICK AFB FL
RHEHOND/DIRONDCP WASHDC
RHMFIUU/COGARD INTELCOORDCEN WASHINGTON DC
RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//G-CI/G-M/G-OLE//
RUCOWCA/COMLANTAREA COGARD PORTSMOUTH VA
RUWDQAA/COMPACAREA COGARD ALAMEDA CA

UNCLAS LIMA 001257 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL/LP 
STATE FOR WHA/PPC 
ONDCP FOR D. GEDDINGS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR KCRM ASEC PREL PE
SUBJECT: MARCH 2006 MONTHLY CABLE 
 
REF: A. LIMA 01232 
     ¶B. LIMA 00584 
 
--------- 
SUMMARY 
--------- 
¶1.  (SBU) Here are the key developments in March 2006: 
 
--  In March, CORAH eradicated 1,593 hectares of coca in the 
Polvora/Pizana region of the Huallaga Valley.  Thirteen 
hectares of opium poppy were also eradicated by the Police. 
 
--  DIRANDRO also destroyed 47 cocaine base labs and 
neutralized over 3,000 kg of precursor chemicals. 
 
--  INL/DAS Christy McCampbell and INL/LP Director Tony Arias 
visited Peru from March 19-23. 
 
--  The Maritime/Ports section received new ion-scanners that 
boost air cargo and container inspection significantly. 
 
--  Community Anti-Drug Coalition evaluation shows strong 
support and participation from communities and lagging 
performance of some NGO coalition teams.  End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
ERADICATORS FINISHING UP IN POLVORA-PIZANA AREA 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
¶2.  (U) As of March 28, CORAH has eradicated a total of 1,593 
hectares, eliminated 3,762 square meters of seedbeds (the 
equivalent of 251 hectares if planted), and witnessed the 
destruction of 29 cocaine-base laboratories.  Of the total 
eradicated, 249 hectares had been replanted coca. 
Eradication operations are slated to end in the 
Polvora-Pizana area at the end of March. 
 
¶3.  (U) NAS and CADA continue to coordinate with the UNODC in 
Lima on the UN coca survey.  We are working with USAID to 
develop a cost-sharing agreement for CADA services.  USAID's 
Alternative Development Program uses CADA to locate coca 
cultivation and replanting. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) In early April, NAS will do an aerial 
reconnaissance over an area 20-30 km west of Santa Lucia to 
look for and eradicate opium poppy fields.  CADA personnel 
will participate, so they can get a spectral signature of the 
poppies.  NAS and DEA are working with DEVIDA on controlling 
precursor chemicals.  The focus is currently on acetone, the 
solvent of choice for Peruvian cocaine processors.  Acetone 
is being imported by only a few companies, so it may be one 
of the chemicals most easily controlled. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
INL DAS MCCAMPBELL AND INL/LP ARIAS VISIT PERU 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
¶5.  (SBU) On their March 19-23 visit to Peru, INL/DAS Christy 
McCampbell and INL/LP Director Tony Arias were briefed on the 
Mission's counter-narcotics efforts (Ref A).  They met with 
Peruvian government officials and non-governmental 
interlocutors.  McCampbell and Arias met with customs, 
police, and port officials involved in port security 
programs.  DAS McCampbell visited a demand reduction program 
for at-risk youth in a barrio of Lima.  Arias inspected the 
proposed Regional Training Center associated with ILEA. 
 
¶6.  (U) The INL visitors traveled to two of the main drug 
source zones--the Huallaga and the Apurimac/Ene River Valleys 
(VRAE)--where they inspected the NAS-sponsored police bases 
and academies at Santa Lucia and Mazamari.  They also visited 
current eradication operations and a cocaine-base laboratory, 
where they observed the first production stage of cocaine 
base.  The group also visited Palma Pampa to see the 
NAS-constructed police base in the VRAE. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
POLICE: SUPPORTING ERADICATION, BUSTING COCAINE LABS 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
¶7.  (U) The DIRANDRO Special Operations Division maintains a 
security perimeter for the eradications.  DIRANDRO also 
destroyed 47 cocaine base laboratories and neutralized over 
3,000 kg of precursor chemicals.  On March 13, DIRANDRO 
eradicated 13 hectares of opium poppy in Celendin in 
Cajamarca. 
 
¶8.  (U) DIRANDRO personnel based in Santa Lucia destroyed 15 
cocaine-base laboratories. The DIRANDRO Road Interdiction 
Group is operating out of a base in Huanuco and has already 
intercepted 45 kg of solvent, 65 kg of calcium oxide, and 
arrested 3 people.  The Group also eradicated one hectare of 
opium poppy and received intelligence on other plantings in 
the area.  Despite bad weather in Palma Pampa, DIRANDRO 
troops destroyed 14 cocaine-base laboratories and neutralized 
tons of precursor chemicals. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
INSPECTING HELICOPTERS AND REPAIRING A C-130 
--------------------------------------------- 
¶9.  (U) On March 7-11, an aviation maintenance assistance 
group from INL/A, U.S. Helicopter, Honeywell Engines, and 
McTurbine visited Pucallpa.  DynCorp, the maintenance 
contractor, had reported that the UH-2s delivered in January 
and February 2006 had engine problems.  Air Wing was 
concerned the warranty may have been voided, because of 
unauthorized maintenance procedures.  The team instructed 
DynCorp on the correct maintenance procedures. The warranty 
on the new UH-2s had not been voided. 
 
¶10.  (U) With more CN Police graduating from the three 
academies east of the Andes, there is some concern about 
insufficient air lift support.  Therefore, NAS will fund an 
inspection of the Peruvian Air Force C-130s that the FAP 
could make available to the CN effort.  NAS is waiting for 
the final report, but the team said the C-130 fleet was in 
better shape than reported.  Only one C-130 out of five is 
flyable, but there are sufficient spare parts to repair two 
more. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) NAS Guardians/Security Specialists have received 
intelligence reports from several sources claiming our 
helicopters may be targeted during the upcoming election 
period that runs until the end of May.  Precautions are being 
taken and flight crews briefed. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
PORTS: ION-SCANNERS SHARPLY IMPROVE CARGO INSPECTION 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
¶12. (U) Two ion-scan machines, used to detect trace amounts 
of chemicals, are now in operation at Port of Callao and Lima 
Airport.  With one ion-scanner, 31 containers were inspected 
in one day with an average inspection rate of 15-20 
containers daily.  Without the scanner, Peruvian Customs was 
inspecting an average of 4 per day.  The ion-scanner at Lima 
Airport should show a similar increase in air cargo and 
luggage inspection.  GOP personnel are now being trained.  A 
mobile, van-mounted x-ray machine is scheduled to arrive in 
Peru in April and will be used primarily at the airport, but 
it will also be available for inspections at terminals and 
warehouses. 
 
¶13. (U) Two leased container scanners should arrive in Peru 
by the end of May.  One will be used to inspect every 
container being exported through the northern port of Paita. 
Infrastructure improvement projects are underway in Paita to 
support additional personnel and operations in the port which 
previously did not inspect outbound cargo at all.  The second 
scanner will be in Callao.  NAS is working with Peruvian 
Customs to operate the scanner 24/7, which will be a first 
for Peruvian Customs. 
 
¶14. (U) On March 30, Embassy officials met with 
representatives from the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the 
Peruvian Coast Guard to discuss procedures for future 
incidents like the boarding of the Peruvian-registered 
fishing vessel Linda Rocio by U.S. forces on February 7 (Ref 
B). 
-------------------------------------------- 
ANTI-DRUG COALITIONS GETTING STRONG SUPPORT 
-------------------------------------------- 
¶15.  (U) On March 21-25, Eduardo Hernandez, a representative 
from the U.S.-based NGO Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of 
America (CADCA), provided technical assistance to our six 
Community Anti-Drug Coalition (CAC) teams.  Hernandez and NAS 
staff observed CAC activities and meetings to evaluate their 
progress and offer recommendations.  Preliminary results show 
that two CACs are progressing as planned with active 
participation and decision making by the community.  Two 
others still need to have the CAC members complete their 
Logic Models and Strategic Plans.  The last two CACs lack not 
only the Logic Models and Strategic Plans, but have not 
properly integrated the community into the CAC--members are 
still passive participants.  All CAC teams were given 
specific recommendations with deadlines for completion. 
Despite some initial skepticism by the NGOs, people have 
responded enthusiastically to the CAC concept, expressing a 
desire to halt drug abuse in their communities and a will to 
provide their own resources for worthwhile projects.  CADCA 
will provide a detailed report to INL/C/CJ. 
STRUBLE