VZCZCXYZ0028
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0873/01 1241403
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 041403Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8046
INFO RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA 0223
RUEHVL/AMEMBASSY VILNIUS 0058

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000873 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR INL/LP - JIM HIDES 
GUATEMALA FOR ALEX FEATHERSTONE 
VILNIUS FOR THOMAS P. KELLY 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: SNAR AFIN AR
 
SUBJECT:  2006 END USE MONITORING REPORT 
 
 
1) Embassy Buenos Aires' CY-2006 End Use Monitoring Report follows 
below: 
 
2) PROCEDURES 
 
Post's Narcotics Coordinator does not have PD&S funding and as such 
is unable to fund on-site inspections or periodic spot checks to 
perform End Use Monitoring.  The Coordinator relies on DEA officers 
to assess appropriate usages of INL-funded equipment.  Argentine law 
enforcement officials provide post with periodic updates on 
equipment.  This system of overlapping verification methods is the 
best possible end use appraisal system available. 
 
3) STATUS 
 
The majority of equipment is located in the northern provinces of 
Salta and Jujuy.  All indications are that all provided equipment is 
being used for the intended purposes.  No single case of 
inappropriate or unauthorized use was reported in 2006.  In general, 
the equipment provided through INL funding continues to be used but 
with problems coming from advancing age and hard use.  Many 
computers, vehicles, and radio equipment are near or well past their 
useful lives. 
 
4) DOGS 
 
The two dogs provided to the Northern Border Task Forces (NBTF) in 
1988 are healthy, but are ten years old and nearing the end of their 
useful lives. The Government of Argentina bred six additional dogs 
for the program.  The total force of eight dogs allows the handlers 
to maintain a rotation schedule that ensures the safe and efficient 
use of the animals. 
 
5) MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT 
 
One gas tank fiberscope and 20 digital cameras were purchased in 
2006; the fiberscope was provided to the NBTF; of the 20 cameras, 
two were provided to the Argentine Federal Police, one to the Border 
Patrol in Bariloche, two to Customs, one to the Mendoza Provincial 
Police, one to the Coast Guard, two to the NBTF, two to the Condor 
Group, and nine are still to be distributed by DEA..  Post continues 
to observe that both National and Provincial Police Forces make good 
use of the miscellaneous equipment (handcuffs, vests, flashlights, 
cameras, etc.) provided to them in previous years. 
 
6) COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT 
 
Communications equipment has not been donated in the last few years. 
 Radio transmitters provided to the NBTF require routine maintenance 
and repair.  Many hand-held radios provided to Federal and 
Provincial Police throughout Argentina need to be repaired or 
replaced because of wear and tear resulting from routine use under 
harsh operational conditions. 
 
7) COMPUTER EQUIPMENT 
 
Two lab tops with networking system and 18 desktops were provided in 
2006 to the Northern Border Task Force (NBTF).  A large number of 
old and aging computers are nearing the end of their useful lives. 
 
8) VEHICLES 
 
One Chevrolet double cabin pickup was provided to the NBTF in 2006 
with INCLE funds; and one Ford cargo van and one sedan was purchased 
in May 2006 with Andean Initiative funds.  The van has been 
delivered to the Mendoza provincial police.  There was a delay in 
the delivery of the sedan to the Embassy, delaying delivery to the 
police.  That vehicle will be delivered shortly.  Vehicles provided 
in previous years (1993-1997) already have over 200,000 kilometers 
on them and require fairly extensive routine maintenance on 
suspension and brakes.  A few vehicles purchased in 1989 have 
reached the end of their useful lives. 
 
9) PROBLEMS 
 
Post lost its Narcotics Coordinator position in June 2006.  These 
additional duties were assumed by the PolMil Officer.  A lack of 
PD&S resources limits the Narcotics Coordinator's effectiveness in 
managing post's INL account.  The ongoing political instability in 
neighboring Bolivia coincides with growing cocaine transit through 
and trafficking in Argentina.  However, the GOA's increasing 
willingness to work with post on counter narcotics issues provides 
us an opportunity to greatly improve the GOA's ability to combat 
drug trafficking.  However, a lack of funding and dedicated 
personnel hampers post's effort in this area.  The Narcotics 
Coordinator has requested PD&S funding to conduct a comprehensive 
evaluation of provided equipment to consolidate the listing of 
equipment needing to be monitored, and to re-employ an employee 
hired to conduct the End Use Monitoring program. 
 
10) IMPACT 
 
While the INL-funded program in Argentina is small, it continues to 
have a positive impact working in coordination with DEA's country 
programs, especially on the perennially under-funded Provincial 
Police Anti-Drug Units operating in the Northern provinces.  DEA and 
Narcotics Coordinator are working to establish an NBTF-like 
operation in the Misiones Province, near the Tri-Border Area with 
Brazil and Paraguay.  Argentina law enforcement agencies have 
reported an increasing trend in large increases in cocaine seizures 
over the past several years.  Post, lead by DEA, has actively 
assisted local law enforcement in their counter-narcotics efforts. 
 
 
11) Overall, the growing program gives Post a valuable tool with 
which to pursue its joint counter-narcotics agenda with the GOA. 
The GOA is very focused on its security and narcotics problems and 
has turned to Post for advice and assistance in creating a national 
security plan.  In the coming years, the INL program will be 
essential to the GOA's efforts both to combat its growing narcotics 
trafficking problem and to establish better control over its border 
areas. 
 
WAYNE