VZCZCXRO6792
OO RUEHGR
DE RUEHPO #0576/01 3061720
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 021720Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9777
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 0525
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 1497
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1631
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 1609
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 1180
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PARAMARIBO 000576 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL/LP, WHA/CAR - JROSHOLT, KWILLIAMS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR NS
SUBJECT: SURINAME: 2007-2008 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS 
CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT (INCSR) PART I, DRUGS AND CHEMICAL 
CONTROL 
 
REF: STATE 136787 
 
PARAMARIBO 00000576  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1. Post presents its 2008 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS 
CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT (INCSR), Part I, Drugs and Chemical 
Control. 
 
Suriname 
¶I. Summary 
Suriname is a transit point for South American cocaine en route to 
Europe, Africa, and, to a lesser extent, the United States.  The 
Government of Suriname's (GOS) inability to control its borders, 
inadequate resources, limited training for law enforcement, lack of 
a law enforcement presence in the interior, and lack of aircraft or 
patrol boats allow traffickers to move drug shipments via sea, 
river, and air with little resistance.  Unlike 2006, there were no 
major drug seizures in Suriname.  In 2007, the GOS continued its 
efforts to eliminate major local narcotics organizations.  The GOS 
continued forging cooperation agreements with other countries, 
regionally and internationally, in order to reduce the import and 
export of narcotics.  Suriname is a party to the 1988 United Nations 
Drug Convention but has not implemented legislation to bring itself 
into full conformity with the Convention. 
II. Status of Country 
Suriname is a transshipment point for cocaine destined primarily for 
Europe, Africa, and, to a lesser extent, the United States.  The GOS 
is unable to detect the diversion of precursor chemicals for drug 
production, as it has no legislation controlling precursor chemicals 
and hence no tracking system to monitor them.  The lack of 
resources; limited law enforcement capabilities; inadequate 
legislation; drug-related corruption of the police, courts and 
military; a complicated and time-consuming bureaucracy; and 
overburdened and under-resourced courts inhibit GOS's ability to 
identify, apprehend, and prosecute narcotic traffickers.  In 
addition, Suriname's sparsely populated coastal region and isolated 
jungle interior, together with weak border controls and 
infrastructure, make narcotics detection and interdiction efforts 
difficult.  Intelligence analysis has indicated a movement of drug 
traffickers utilizing very remote locations for delivery and 
securing of narcotics. 
III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 2007 
Policy Initiatives. Suriname's National Drugs Master Plan 
(2006-2010) was approved in January 2006.  The plan covers both 
supply and demand reduction and includes calls for new legislation 
to control precursor chemicals. 
The National Anti-Drug Council and its Executive Office coordinate 
implementation of the plan.  In 2007, national support was broadened 
by involving NGOs and civil society in the implementation of the 
plan.  The participatory approach was institutionalized by 
incorporating NGOs and civil society - the Business Association, 
religious groups, treatment centers - in the National Anti-Drug 
Council. 
Accomplishments. In 2007, the Ministry of Justice and Police and law 
enforcement institutions in Suriname continued targeting large 
trafficking rings and working with international partners.  Through 
June 2007, (Post will update statistics in December) the GOS seized 
106 kilograms (kg) of cocaine and 70 kg of cannabis.  Two hundred 
thirty-four people were arrested for drug-related offenses.  Law 
enforcement sources attribute this to the GOS' continued focus on 
targeting major narcotics traffickers -- within the past five years 
GOS law enforcement has rounded up eight of the ten known major 
criminal organizations operating in the country.  The decrease is 
also attributed to the establishment of the Airport Narcotics Team 
as well as anti-narcotics training provided for customs and police 
officers, both of which have forced narcotics traffickers to seek 
out new trafficking routes. 
Law Enforcement Efforts. Through June, GOS law enforcement agencies 
arrested 53 drug couriers who ingested cocaine in their stomachs. 
Many who evaded detection in Suriname were arrested at the airport 
in Amsterdam, which since 2004 has implemented a 100 percent 
inspection of all passengers and baggage arriving on all inbound 
flights from Suriname.  Law enforcement officials noted a decrease 
in the number of drug mules and an increase in the mailing of 
packages containing narcotics abroad via the postal service.  These 
packages usually contain household items or foodstuff (ginger roots, 
noodles and bananas) laced with or containing cocaine. 
In March, a special airport narcotics detection team (JAP team) was 
set up consisting of officers from the police, military police, 
customs and the Airport Authority.  This team was trained by Dutch 
law enforcement experts in detecting narcotics and weapons, 
identifying fraudulent passports and searching aircrafts, and was 
tasked with decreasing the import and export of narcotics through 
the Johan Adolf Pengel International airport. 
 
PARAMARIBO 00000576  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
In May, a judge convicted one of the suspects associated with the 
2006 Shaheed "Roger" Khan case and sentenced him to 3 years 
imprisonment for participation in a criminal organization and 
sale/transport of 235 kilograms (kg) cocaine.  (Shaheed "Roger" 
Khan, a Guyanese national, was arrested by Surinamese police in 2006 
and transported to the United States for trial.)  Three men arrested 
in the August 2006 seizure of 130 kg of cocaine were also sentenced 
in May 2007 to two, five and seven years imprisonment. 
 
Corruption. As a matter of policy, no senior GOS official, nor the 
GOS, encourages or facilitates the production, processing, or 
shipment of narcotic and psychotropic drugs or other controlled 
substances, and does not discourage the investigation or prosecution 
of such acts.  Public corruption is believed to have played some 
role in reducing the number of seizures that could have taken place, 
as it is believed that the narcotics traffickers' influence and 
infiltration in the military and police affected the cooperation of 
the sparsely populated communities nearby the clandestine airstrips, 
thereby stymieing law enforcement interdiction efforts.  The GOS has 
demonstrated some willingness to undertake law enforcement and legal 
measures to prevent, investigate, prosecute, and punish public 
corruption.  Through September (Post will update in December), 
several police officers suspected of narcotics trafficking and 
membership in criminal organizations were investigated.  Public 
corruption is considered a problem in Suriname and there are 
continued reports of drug use and drug sales in prisons. Reports of 
money laundering, drug trafficking, and associated criminal activity 
involving current and former government and military officials 
continue to circulate. 
Agreements and Treaties. Suriname is party to the 1961 United 
Nations Single Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol, and the 
1971 U.N. Convention on Psychotropic Substances.  Suriname is also a 
party to the 1988 U.N. Drug Convention and has accordingly passed 
legislation that conforms to a majority of the convention's 
articles, but it has failed to pass legislation complying with 
precursor chemical control provisions.  In March, Suriname ratified 
the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. 
 The GOS has not ratified the Inter-American Convention on Mutual 
Assistance in Criminal Matters or the Optional Protocol thereto. 
Since 1976, the GOS has been sharing narcotics information with the 
Netherlands pursuant to a Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement.  The 
two countries intensified their cooperation to fight drug 
trafficking with agreements between their police forces and their 
offices of the Attorney General.  In August 1999, a comprehensive 
six-part, bilateral, maritime counter-narcotics enforcement 
agreement was entered into with the U.S.  The U.S.-Netherlands 
Extradition Treaty of 1904 is applicable to Suriname, but Suriname's 
Constitution prohibits the extradition of its nationals.  In January 
2006, Suriname, the Netherlands Antilles, and Aruba signed a Mutual 
Legal Assistance Agreement allowing for direct law enforcement and 
judicial cooperation between the countries, thereby no longer 
requiring the process to be first routed through The Hague. Parties 
met in March and agreed to share intelligence regarding 
transnational crime and financial crimes.  Suriname has also signed 
bilateral agreements to combat drug trafficking with neighboring 
countries Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela and Colombia. Suriname is an 
active member of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission of 
the Organization of American States (OAS/CICAD), to which it reports 
regularly.  Suriname has signed agreements with the United States, 
Netherlands and France that allow for police attachs to work with 
local police. 
Cultivation and Production. Suriname is not a producer of cocaine or 
opium poppy.  While cannabis is cultivated in Suriname, there is 
little specific data on the amount under cultivation, or evidence 
that it is exported in significant quantities. 
Drug Flow/Transit. Much of the cocaine entering Suriname is 
delivered by small aircraft, which land on clandestine airstrips 
that are cut into the dense jungle interior and sparsely populated 
coastal districts.  The border between Suriname and Guyana is an 
open border and, according to law enforcement officials, traffickers 
increasingly use this border to traffic cocaine and cannabis to 
Suriname.  The lack of resources, infrastructure, law enforcement 
personnel, and equipment makes detection and interdiction difficult. 
 Drugs are transported along interior roads to and from the 
clandestine airstrips.  Drugs are also shipped to seaports via 
numerous river routes or overland for onward shipment to Caribbean 
islands, Europe, Africa and the United States.  Sea-drops are also 
used. Drugs exit Suriname via commercial air flights (by drug 
couriers or concealed in planes) and by commercial sea cargo. 
European-produced MDMA is transported via commercial airline flights 
from the Netherlands to Suriname (three to six flights per week, 
varying seasonally). 
 
PARAMARIBO 00000576  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
Domestic Programs.  In 2007 the Drug Demand Reduction (DDR) Program 
continued its drug awareness and drug prevention activities with 
funding from the European Commission.  These awareness activities 
had nationwide coverage.  One of the highlights of this 
decentralized strategy was a widely attended march through Nickerie, 
the country's most western district, to celebrate the international 
day against drugs. The program resulted in increased capacity in the 
prevention of drug use, counseling at early detection of drug use 
and treatment of drug dependents.  In 2007, all six drug treatment 
centers in the country adopted minimum standards for treatment that 
were endorsed by the Ministry of Health.  The Psychiatric Hospital 
opened the first detoxification center in the country, expanding the 
treatment capabilities for drug dependents.  With the support of the 
Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD), a national 
survey was conducted to assess the magnitude of drug consumption in 
the country.  A total of 4,000 persons from all geographic regions 
of the country were interviewed on drug consumption, age of first 
use and perception of risks.  The results will be available in early 
2008 and will be used to support national policy. In the area of 
supply reduction, the drug supply reduction network was 
strengthened, linking key players such as the Narcotics Squad, 
Office of the Attorney General and Customs in an automated system. 
IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs 
U.S. Policy Initiatives. The United States provides training and 
equipment to strengthen the GOS law enforcement and judicial 
institutions and their capabilities to detect, interdict, and 
prosecute narcotics trafficking activities.  In 2006, Suriname 
hosted an anti-narcotics conference attended by many regional and 
international players, including the United States. The "Paramaribo 
Declaration," which was endorsed in principle by the participants at 
the end of the conference, provides a framework to establish an 
intelligence-sharing network, coordinate and execute sting 
operations, and tackle money laundering. 
Bilateral Cooperation. A high level of cooperation exists between 
U.S. and GOS law enforcement officials.  In 2007, the United States 
once again provided both training and material support to several 
elements of the national police to strengthen their counternarcotics 
capabilities and promote greater bilateral cooperation.  In July 
2007, the U.S. government funded leadership training for elements of 
the police force at the International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) 
in El Salvador.  The DEA intensified its cooperation with Surinamese 
law enforcement in 2007 after having established an office in 
Suriname the previous year.  In February 2007, DEA trainers provided 
a two-week Basic International Narcotics Course for police, military 
police, and customs officials in Suriname. 
The Road Ahead. The United States will continue to encourage the GOS 
to pursue large narcotics traffickers and to dismantle their 
organizations.  The Ministry of Justice and Police has highlighted 
this goal to the news media, and the Khan arrest bears out its 
seriousness and commitment.  The United States will continue to urge 
the GOS to continue its efforts to strengthen its focus on port 
security, specifically seaports, which are seen as the primary 
conduits for large shipments of narcotics exiting Suriname.  The 
United States will continue to provide equipment, training, and 
technical support to the GOS to strengthen its counternarcotics 
efforts. 
WEBB