VZCZCXRO8383
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHKG #1586/01 2971924
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241924Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5502
INFO RUEADAT/BUREAU OF ATF WASHINGTON DC
RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 001586 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL/LP NBozzolo, KBrown, WHA/CAR JTilghman 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR AFIN ASEC PARM SOCI PHUM TRSY JM XL
 
SUBJECT: JAMAICA: OPERATION KINGFISH'S THIRD ANNIVERSARY; 
INQUIRY re JOINT U.S.-CARICOM LIGHT ARMS INITIATIVE 
 
REF: State 49116 (131333Z Apr 07) 
 
Summary and Action Requested 
----------------------------- 
1.(SBU) Operation Kingfish, Jamaica's highly successful 
counter-narcotics and major crimes task force, marked its third 
anniversary at a ceremony attended by Ambassador Johnson and NAS 
Director on October 19.  The Minister of National Security warned 
all drug dealers and organized crime syndicates that Kingfish's 
operations will intensify.  During prepared remarks to the media, he 
also urged the U.S. to establish an Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm 
Liaison Office in Kingston.  In a side bar meeting after the 
ceremony, the NAS Director addressed the preliminary negotiations 
between the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the ATF office in Miami, 
and reminded the Ministry's Permanent Secretary, that CARICOM's 
continued stalling of the proposed Joint U.S.-CARICOM Light Arms 
Initiative (Reftel) could negatively impact negotiations for any 
future Kingston-based ATF office. 
 
¶2. Post would appreciate Department's guidance as to: 
 
(A) the current state of play regarding the Joint U.S.-CARICOM Light 
Arms Initiative; and 
(B) whether, as indicated in Reftel, Department will consider 
releasing the statement bilaterally and moving forward with 
bi-lateral anti-trafficking collaboration. End Summary and Action 
Requested 
 
Kingfish's 3rd Birthday 
----------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) Since January 2007, Kingfish has continued its track record 
of success recovering 55 firearms, and 3000+ plus rounds of 
ammunition.  Its officers also have arrested 130 suspects, 
apprehended 20 wanted individuals, and seized 10 boats, 15 pounds of 
cocaine, and 5,079 pounds of compressed marijuana.  Most 
importantly, Kingfish has set a standard for investigative 
excellence within the Jamaica Constabulary Force.  It has a 100% 
success rate, as all Kingfish cases brought to court have resulted 
in convictions. 
 
Kingfish will keep up the pressure 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) Both the Minister of National Security and the Kingfish 
Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Glenmore Hinds, warned 
Jamaica's remaining drug dons that Kingfish was not going to rest on 
its laurels, but  instead would intensify its efforts to break their 
organizations.  Minister Smith also charged Kingfish with taking on 
the extortion rings that have developed in most communities, which 
demand protection money from small, medium, and large enterprises, 
and which in his view are choking off commerce in Jamaica. 
 
Jamaica calling for assistance against light arms 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶5. (SBU) During his speech the Minister referenced current low-level 
discussions that have occurred between the Alcohol Tobacco and 
Firearms Miami office and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mark 
Shields.  Shields went to the U.S. in December 2006, to make the 
case in Tampa for the need to open up an ATF liaison office in 
Kingston. Shields confirmed on October 24, that the Tampa officials 
with whom he spoke are supportive of an expanded ATF role, and they 
have invited Shields to Washington to brief official there.  Shields 
intends to follow up with ATF-Tampa to arrange the briefing, likely 
in November.  If the details can be worked out, Post is in favor of 
having ATF in Jamaica. 
 
"Ganja for Guns" Trade 
---------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) There is a thriving "ganja for guns" trade between Jamaica 
and its neighbors, and there is more than anecdotal evidence that 
the weapons, not only coming into Jamaica via Haiti but also 
increasingly through containerized cargo, are of U.S. origin. In a 
side-bar meeting after the ceremony between the NAS Director and the 
Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of National Security, Gilbert 
Scott, the NAS Director took the opportunity to again raise 
CARICOM's failure to move forward on the Light Arms Initiative 
(Reftel) and suggested that such a move would send an appropriate 
signal regarding CARICOM's seriousness in trying to stem the flow of 
illegal weapons to the region and could be the basis to initiate any 
serious discussion of creation of new liaison relationships. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The Permanent Secretary indicated that the Initiative has 
stalled in CARICOM because some member states are refusing to 
 
KINGSTON 00001586  002 OF 002 
 
 
respond to CARICOM's repeated requests for consensus to issue the 
joint press release.  He reiterated Jamaica's desire to move forward 
bilaterally on implementation of a program against light arms 
trafficking.  Post would appreciate Department guidance as to: 
 
(A) the current state of play  regarding the Initiative; and 
(B) whether, as indicated Reftel, Department will consider releasing 
the statement bilaterally and moving forward with bi-lateral 
anti-trafficking collaboration.. 
 
 
Johnson