VZCZCXYZ0014
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSN #2402/01 3472118
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 132118Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8720
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 6657
RHMCSUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY 0311
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 002402 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
WHA/CEN FOR HILLARY THOMPSON; WHA/FO FOR GIOVANNI SNIDLE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ES PINS PREL PTER SNAR EAID
SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR: UPDATED ASSESSMENT OF CENTRAL 
AMERICAN SECURITY REQUIREMENTS 
 
REF: A. SECSTATE 163495 
     ¶B. SAN SALVADOR 1555 
 
¶1. (U) As requested ref. A, post has reviewed the security 
assessment contained in San Salvador 1555 (ref. B).  We 
revalidate the original security needs identified in that 
cable as well as the priority focus areas for targeted U.S. 
law enforcement assistance and institution building in El 
Salvador. 
 
¶2. (U) Post met with appropriate Salvadoran government 
officials and compiled a prioritized list of immediate police 
equipment needs, as well as out year security requirements. 
The lead Salvadoran law enforcement organization, the 
National Civilian Police (PNC), identified a wide range of 
priority equipment needs for FY2008.  Post concurs in the PNC 
priority needs equipment list, and hopes that several of the 
top-tier items can be purchased with FY2008 Merida Initiative 
supplemental funding.  Provision of the equipment listed 
below will go a long way towards addressing equipment and 
technological shortcomings in Salvadoran law enforcement 
organizations. 
 
--------------------------- 
FY2008 Supplemental Funding 
--------------------------- 
 
¶3. (U) Begin prioritized non-lethal police equipment list. 
 
¶A. Ion scanners for detecting drugs and explosives.  Three 
units, with field deployable modules, total cost of USD 
450,000. 
 
¶B. Bullet-proof vests.  One hundred units, total cost USD 
50,000. 
 
¶C. A network of twenty-five state-of-the-art booking stations 
to gather and forward fingerprints, photographs, and DNA 
samples.  USD 750,000. 
 
¶D. Upgrade for existing IBIS ballistics system.  Two 
additional modules, total cost of USD 300,000. 
 
¶E. Police lights for undercover cars used in preventive 
patrolling system.  One hundred sets, total cost USD 100,000. 
 
¶F. Crime scene evidence kits.  Twenty kits, total cost USD 
40,000. 
 
¶G. Night vision goggles for Tactical Anti-Gang Unit (TAG) and 
Organized Crime Unit (DECO).  Twenty units, total cost USD 
20,000. 
 
¶H. Digital cameras with night vision capability for TAG. 
Five units, total cost USD 7,500. 
 
¶I. Technical surveillance kits with audio and photographic 
monitoring capability for TAG.  Three kits, total cost USD 
20,000. 
 
¶J. Field-deployable laptop computers with wireless capacity 
for TAG.  Ten units, total cost USD 15,000. 
 
¶K. Field-deployable cell phone jammers for TAG and 
Anti-Narcotics Division (DAN).  Two units, total cost USD 
6,000. 
 
¶L. Electron microscope for forensics lab.  One unit, total 
cost USD 250,000. 
 
¶M. Computer equipment for detecting counterfeit signatures. 
One unit, total cost USD 25,000. 
 
¶N. Tow trucks for stolen vehicle recovery unit.  Two 
vehicles, total cost USD 120,000. 
 
¶O. Chevrolet Suburban vehicles equipped for SWAT operations. 
Four units, total cost USD 280,000 
 
¶P. Digital Motorola Radios. 1000 units, total cost USD 400,000 
 
 
---------------------------- 
 
Out Year FY2009-FY2010 Needs 
---------------------------- 
 
¶4. (U) As directed in ref. A., post examined host country 
security requirements in light of the three pillar framework 
developed for the FY2008 supplemental request.  Close 
examination of Salvadoran security requirements through 
FY2010 yields five major priority areas of concern: criminal 
evidence analysis and handling; processing of criminal 
suspects and collection of associated information; maritime 
interception capability; prison management; and border 
security.  The following proposed equipment purchases, law 
enforcement training, and institution building efforts 
suggested for out years FY2009-2010 would help Salvadoran 
authorities to address shortcomings in the aforementioned 
areas of concern. 
 
¶5. (U) Pillar I: Counternarcotics and Border Security. El 
Salvador's border crossings are increasingly vulnerable to 
shipments of illicit narcotics, contraband, weapons, and bulk 
cash transiting over land.  Provision of state-of-the-art 
x-ray machines to scan vehicles and containerized cargo 
transiting the border installations at El Amatillo (adjacent 
to Honduras) and La Hachadura (adjacent to Guatemala) would 
significantly increase Salvadoran ability to interdict 
contraband transiting Central America.  The U.S.-funded 
border stations at El Amatillo and La Hachadura would be able 
to quickly make good use of USG-purchased x-ray equipment. 
Provision of two units would cost an estimated total of USD 
two million. 
 
¶6. (U) Pillar I: Counternarcotics and Border Security. 
Maritime interception capability: Narcotics trafficking on 
the Pacific littoral adjacent to El Salvador is a major 
security concern.  At present, the PNC has negligible ability 
to intercept suspect narcotics vessels, or prevent maritime 
smuggling of contraband, human beings, and weapons. 
Provision of three go-fast boats, equipped with 
state-of-the-art communications and satellite navigation 
gear, would enable the PNC to more aggressively react to a 
wide range of maritime smuggling activity in El Salvador's 
immediate coastline.  Three suitable go-fasts would cost 
roughly USD 600,000. 
 
¶7. (U) Pillar I: Counternarcotics and Border Security.  DoD 
and the Salvadoran Ministry of Defense (MOD) have discussed 
support of DoD/SOUTHCOM regional initiatives Enduring Freedom 
(EF) and Regional Aircraft Modernization Program (RAMP). 
Both initiatives focus on countering all forms of illicit 
trafficking by providing regional security forces with patrol 
craft, aircraft, and communications capabilities.  The GOES 
has repeatedly requested assistance in upgrading capabilities 
of the Salvadoran Navy and Air Force to support joint 
operations with the PNC to track and intercept traffickers. 
Embassy San Salvador strongly supports funding of at least a 
portion of the request: Four high-speed interceptor patrol 
craft and support packages; two Cessna Caravan aircraft 
outfitted with FLIR and support packages; Four refurbished 
Huey II helicopters with support package. 
 
¶8. (U) Pillar II: Public Security and Law Enforcement. 
Criminal evidence analysis and handling: USG purchase of a 
state-of-the-art DNA criminal laboratory would significantly 
enhance the ability of Salvadoran investigators to analyze 
and process criminal evidence.  This would in turn increase 
the effectiveness of investigations of activity ranging from 
common street crimes such as carjacking and violent assaults 
to more sophisticated crimes such as kidnappings and gangland 
killings.  The GOES is also actively discussing the 
establishment of an independent forensics institute in San 
Salvador, as recommended by the National Commission on Public 
Safety, as well as two smaller units in Santa Ana and San 
Miguel.  The cost to establish the DNA and forensics labs is 
estimated at USD 4 million. 
 
¶9. (U) Pillar II: Anti-Gang Prevention: Community crime 
prevention.  Continue support for a block grant program of 
grants for public-private programs for youth at risk of 
joining gangs, abuse of drugs, and other community-based 
initiatives.  Estimated USG contribution to expand program in 
El Salvador: USD 2 million/year.  (Comment: Post strongly 
encourages this be part of a larger region-wide program 
funded at USD 5-8 million per year.) 
 
 
¶10. (U) Pillar II: Rehabilitation/Crime Prevention. Youth in 
prisons are particularly vulnerable and are prime targets for 
gang recruitment both in prison and upon release.  To combat 
gang recruitment and recidivism among the intermediate prison 
population (prisoners who attained the age of majority while 
serving their sentences), fund a comprehensive education and 
vocational training program for this group which is currently 
housed in two separate, dedicated facilities.  Estimated cost 
USD one million. 
 
¶11. (U) Pillar II: Public Security and Law Enforcement/Pillar 
III: Community Policing. Support two full-time advisors for 
the National Civilian Police (PNC): one would focus on 
improving internal management and operations of the police 
force, including management of the local precincts (along the 
lines of INL Guatemala's model precinct program) and outreach 
to the private sector for cooperative projects, while the 
second would focus on strengthening the office of the 
inspector general.  This technical support, combined with a 
fund to provide incentives for service on special task forces 
as was so successful in the anti/kidnapping unit and "seed 
money" to accelerate changes at the operational level and 
customer service (e.g., small equipment purchases), would 
greatly enhance responsiveness and performance of the police, 
improving citizen confidence.  Total estimated cost: USD 3.5 
million. 
 
¶12. (U) Pillar III: Prison Management.  MS-13 and M-18 street 
gang activity within the Salvadoran prison system is a major 
nexus of public security threats.  Street gang members 
frequently use smuggled cell phones to orchestrate criminal 
activity in both El Salvador and the U.S., while the 
introduction of smuggled weapons and tools increases the 
possibility of successful escape attempts.  Provision of 
security equipment such as x-ray machines, surveillance 
cameras, body orifice scanning systems, state-of-the-art 
central control consoles, long-range search lights and cell 
phone jammers would enable prison authorities to more 
effectively control the violent criminal street gang activity 
radiating out from Salvadoran prisons, as well as decrease 
the possibility that dangerous MS-13 and M-18 convicts will 
escape into the community at-large.  An investment of roughly 
USD 500,000 would enable the Salvadoran prison system to 
install much-needed security equipment upgrades at two major 
prison facilities that house significant street gang 
populations. 
 
¶13. (U) Pillar III: Improving the Criminal Justice System. 
Salvadoran officials expect a new criminal procedures code, 
including rules of evidence, as well as other legislation 
such as asset forfeiture, to be passed early in the next 
calendar year.  To ensure rapid and effective implementation 
of the new criminal process, judges, court personnel, 
prosecutors, police and public defenders must be trained in 
new legislation, procedures, and importantly, rules of 
evidence.  Additionally, law schools must quickly adapt their 
curricula to reflect new procedures and laws and equip new 
attorneys with basic skills and understandings required to 
appropriately advise and enforce the new laws.  Technical 
assistance and financial support for the intensive training 
program will ensure high quality and rapid and broad 
delivery.  Estimated cost USD 5 million. 
 
¶14. (U) As discussed in ref. A., para. four, post categorizes 
El Salvador as strongly committed to the principals and goals 
of the Merida Initiative, and very strongly disposed towards 
coordinating aspects of regional security policy via SICA. 
 
¶15. (U) The GOES provided additional input on priorities for 
regional initiatives.  These include the establishment of a 
regional forensics training hub at the International Law 
Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Santa Tecla, El Salvador.  They 
also noted that as El Salvador assumes the SICA presidency 
they felt it was important to provide financial assistance to 
the SICA Secretariat to support security plan oversight on a 
regional level. 
 
¶16. (U) As requested in ref. A., para. five, post met with 
SICA Secretariat on December 6, and informed same that U.S. 
embassies in Central America would be making bilateral 
approaches to host-governments in advance of the December 
11-12 SICA meeting in Guatemala.  Post also encouraged SICA 
 
Secretariat to work with the current and incoming President 
 
SIPDIS 
pro tempore in advance of the pending handover.  The SICA 
Secretariat reacted positively to the above demarche, and 
 
SIPDIS 
offered assurances of cooperation. 
Glazer