VZCZCXRO0439
RR RUEHCHI
DE RUEHBK #5436/01 2891012
ZNY EEEEE ZZH
R 161012Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0203
INFO RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 3494
RUEHKL/AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR 6637
RUEHPF/AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH 2433
RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 4477
RUEHVN/AMEMBASSY VIENTIANE 4260
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 4265
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI
RUWGTCH/JIATF WEST

UNCLAS E F T O SECTION 01 OF 03 BANGKOK 005436 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NOFORN 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR INL/AAE AND INL/C/CJ 
VIENTIANE FOR NAS 
USDOJ FOR ICITAP 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2017 
TAGS: SNAR MOPS TH LA KCRM
SUBJECT: EMBASSY BANGKOK REQUEST FOR FY08 JIATF WEST SUPPORT 
 
¶1. (SBU/NF) This is a request for U.S. DoD operational 
support under section 1004, National Defense Authorization 
Act of 1991 as amended, for FY 2008 JIATF West training and 
construction support to Thai counterdrug law enforcement 
agencies (LEAs) and Thai military units with counterdrug 
roles. 
 
¶2. (SBU/NF) Background 
Thailand is primarily a drug transshipment country but also a 
user of illicit amphetamine-type substance (ATS) drugs.  The 
country has not been a major illicit drug source for the past 
five years despite formerly being a major "Golden Triangle" 
opium and heroin source country. A relatively large number of 
drug abusers and addicts (conservatively estimated at over 
350,000) has alarmed the Royal Thai Government (RTG) which 
continues to take proactive measures to create and expand 
awareness of the dangers of illicit drugs as well as promote 
treatment programs to break the cycle and reduce demand. 
Methamphetamine (Meth) and other ATS drugs continue to be the 
contraband of choice because of their compact size, ease of 
manufacture, low production costs and continuing demand. The 
Thai have not historically been consumers of the crystalline 
form of methamphetamine ("Ice" or "Crystal Meth"), which can 
either be smoked or used intravenously.  However, the Royal 
Thai Police (RTP) also report increased "Ice" trafficking and 
use.  There were no "Ice" seizures in 2000 but over 320 
kilograms were reportedly seized in Thailand in 2005. 
Trafficking and use of "Ice" is gradually increasing at the 
same time as Thai use of the pill form of methamphetamine 
remains stable (depending upon the region of the country). 
"Ice" and ecstasy are used by some affluent Thai and 
foreigners and is also trafficked out of Thailand via the 
Malaysian border and Bangkok's international airport after 
entering Thailand across the Burma and Laos borders. 
Methamphetamine pills, usually a combination of Meth and 
caffeine, have historically been preferred in Thailand and 
are either smoked or swallowed. The majority of tablet-form 
methamphetamine trafficked through Thailand originates in 
Burma, especially from United Wa state army-controlled 
regions in eastern Burma, and is increasingly smuggled via 
southern Laos and Cambodia into eastern Thai border towns. 
 
¶3. (SBU/NF) Training Programs 
 
¶A. (SBU/NF) Baker Program Centralized Training for Multiple 
Agencies.  Embassy Bangkok continues to support development 
of a centralized training concept for Thai LEAs as an 
effective means for JIATF West to conduct programs aimed at 
enhancing RTG counterdrug capabilities.  Mission understands 
that this concept is designed to bring together regional 
Border Patrol Police (BPP) graduates of JIATF West-sponsored 
Baker Instructor Training Courses (ITC) and other RTG 
agencies as appropriate in order to provide instruction on 
basic and advanced urban-oriented policing skills with 
attention given to regional BPP requirements. This concept 
will promote standardization of skill sets across RTG LEA 
forces as a whole, encourage interagency cooperation among 
RTG LEA forces, economize USG training resources and foster 
future training self-sustainment of BPP units.  Mission 
concurs that other RTG security forces in addition to BPP be 
invited to attend centralized training, as appropriate. 
Mission understands that operational concerns for JIATF West 
sponsored trainers continues to be an issue and that 
availability of forces is limited. Therefore, mission 
requests JIATF West consider the centralized training concept 
as the main effort with continued support to DEA requirements 
within Regions II, III, IV as forces become available. 
 
¶B. (SBU/NF) Fusion Program Marine Police Training.  Mission 
appreciates JIATF West's FY07 fusion training programs for 
Royal Thai Marine Police in the Udon Thani and Phang Nga 
regions.  This training supported a Thai LEA that operates on 
the Mekong River in a very challenging environment with 
limited resources.  Mission requests JIATF West continue to 
provide riverine training, while utilizing law enforcement 
working group guidance and requirements, to Thai LEAs or Thai 
military units that operate in the same or similar areas. 
 
BANGKOK 00005436  002 OF 003 
 
 
This training will be directed at countering growing 
drug-trafficking activities across international borders. 
Mission understands that operational concerns for JIATF West 
sponsored trainers continue to be an issue and that 
availability of forces is limited. Mission requests JIATF 
West continue support riverine training as forces become 
available. 
 
¶C. (SBU/NF) Joint Programs with ILEA. Mission requests JIATF 
West provide instruction to International Law Enforcement 
Academy (ILEA) Bangkok students with coordination and 
concurrence of ILEA management.  Mission believes that 
instruction in areas of information planning and analysis 
given to Thai and other Southeast Asia LEA personnel will 
build capacity to manage intelligence/information as well as 
assist Thai LEAs to improve the conduct of their own 
operations and activities.  Mission requests that JIATF West 
coordinate with ILEA to determine appropriate instruction 
materials and dates for course presentations. 
 
¶D. (SBU/NF) Check Point Training. Upon conclusion of 
upgrades, modifications, assessments and establishment of an 
additional checkpoint south of Bangkok in the vicinity of 
Chumphon province to augment existing checkpoints, Mission 
requests that JIATF West provide training assistance for RTP 
personnel who will operate these checkpoints. 
 
¶E. (SBU/NF) IIFC Training.  Due to the complex and diverse 
nature of information and the operations of the interagency 
organizations that are members of the interagency 
intelligence fusion center (IIFC), Mission believes that 
frequent and relevant information sharing, analytical and 
operations training should occur for all personnel assigned 
to the IIFC program. Therefore, Mission requests JIATF West, 
in coordination with DEA and LEGATT, provide information 
sharing, analytical and operations training to assigned 
members of the IIFC program. Mission further requests that 
this training be cyclic, allowing syllabus to move from basic 
to advance skills, which post believes will provide IIFC 
personnel with the necessary capability to conduct efficient 
casework and well coordinated interagency operations.  This 
training would also boost the IIFC's ability to coordinate 
interagency operations, an area of particular need. 
¶F. (SBU) Small Craft Maintenance Training Team (SCMTT).  Post 
is aware that JIATF West has the organic capability to 
provide instruction in the repair and preventive maintenance 
of small watercraft. Post believes this type of training 
would be highly beneficial and this support will have the 
following effects: foster a culture of maintenance within 
Thai maritime law enforcement and Thai naval riverine units, 
build Thai interagency relationships and build the capability 
of maritime units with riverine and coastal interdiction 
responsibilities.   Therefore, post requests JIATF West 
provide small craft maintenance training to selected units of 
the Royal Thai Marine Police, and possibly Royal Thai Navy 
riverine detachments. Locations and Thai participation should 
be coordinated with mission sponsor. 
 
¶4. (SBU/NF) Infrastructure Support. 
 
¶A. (SBU/NF) Checkpoint Program.  Mission appreciates the 
continued support of JIATF West for the Royal Thai Police 
Narcotics Suppression Bureau's (NSB) checkpoint program, 
aimed at supporting interdiction and policing operations and 
building interagency cooperation among Thai LEAs.  Due to 
operational limitations, mission requests that JIATF West 
provide additional assistance in FY08 through construction 
modifications to the Chumphon checkpoint facility. 
 
¶5. (SBU/NF) Information Sharing 
 
¶A. (SBU) Airport Interdiction Capacity-Building. 
 
(1) Mission requests JIATF West assess the capacity for an 
airport enforcement program at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi 
Airport, with the cooperation and participation of relevant 
embassy law enforcement working group members and RTG 
 
BANGKOK 00005436  003 OF 003 
 
 
agencies that currently operate airport interdiction units. 
Mission recognizes that a well-designed and equipped 
interdiction system that is bolstered by RTG interagency 
cooperation will provide a much-needed initial defense 
against illegal trafficking through this airport. Once an 
assessment has been completed and coordinated with U.S. and 
Thai LEAs, mission requests that the results be used by JIATF 
West to develop an effective enforcement program in 
cooperation with RTG agencies and all relevant U.S. mission 
elements. 
 
(2) Chiang Mai International Airport has also experienced 
increased commercial operations and evidence indicates that 
drug trafficking takes place through this facility. Mission 
requests JIATF West assess Chiang Mai International Airport, 
in coordination with Thai and U.S. mission LEAs, in order to 
determine support requirements for the establishment of an 
airport enforcement facility and subsequent training at 
Chiang Mai International Airport. 
 
¶B. (SBU/NF) Criminal Records Database.  The development of a 
criminal records database for Thailand would greatly benefit 
the Thai/US/Allied law enforcement communities while 
contributing to the overall global war on terror and U.S. 
national security strategies. Mission appreciates JIATF 
West's FY07 support to Legal Attach (LEGATT) Bangkok in 
conducting an assessment of Thai LEAS requirements for the 
establishment of a National Criminal Information Center 
(NCIC). Mission requests JIATF West's continued support to 
LEGATT Bangkok in the establishment of an effective national 
database which supports integration with similar projects by 
other regional partners. 
 
¶6. (SBU/NF) Analytical Support.  Mission requests JIATF West 
intelligence analysts continue providing support to U.S. LEAs 
assigned to Embassy Bangkok. This support has been an 
important asset that has directly and positively impacted 
drug trafficking cases and has indirectly helped U.S. LEAs 
identify other transnational threats such as immigration and 
passport fraud, asylum fraud, international money laundering, 
and human trafficking.  Post further requests JIATF West 
assign a minimum of one counterdrug intelligence analyst to 
work in the IIFC to facilitate information sharing and 
analysis on counternarcoterrorist issues. 
 
¶7. (U) Embassy Bangkok appreciates JIATF West's continued 
cooperation and activities in support of mission law 
enforcement requirements and programs. 
BOYCE