VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1054/01 2131409
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 311409Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1658
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001054 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL KJUS SNAR DCRM AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA:  JUSTICE MINISTER COMMITS TO ENHANCED 
MONITORING OF PRECURSOR CHEMICALS 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary: Ambassador Wayne met with GOA Minister of 
Justice and Security Anibal Fernandez at the latter's request 
July 30 to discuss the monitoring and control of 
methamphetamine and heroin precursor drugs produced and 
imported to Argentina.  With leaders of the key police 
agencies present, Minister Fernandez expressed his desire to 
move new legislation controlling chemical precursors rapidly 
and outlined three key aspects of the monitoring plan: 1) a 
beginning-to-end system that includes control of the 
chemicals from production (or import) to final distribution; 
2) a dual perspective on execution of the new law with both 
Federal Police and technical industrial oversight by INTI; 
and 3) a computer-based on-line system to provide constant 
monitoring and complete compliance with the new regulations. 
Ambassador also raised the issue of an outstanding payment 
dispute between the Ministry and Unisys.  The Minister 
indicated a desire to resolve the problem.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) Just following the discovery of a ephedrine drug 
lab run by Mexicans in a Buenos Aires suburb, Minister 
Fernandez called the Ambassador to arrange a meeting to talk 
about better control of precursor chemicals.  The Ambassador 
agreed heartily, noting that the DEA had detected substantial 
growth in precursor chemical discoveries in Argentina and we 
had helped to work with the GoA to improve its system for 
controlling the key substances.  A July 30 meeting was set. 
Clearly, the Minister intended this meeting to launch with 
public knowledge a substantial effort against precursor 
chemicals.  Fernandez, who typically meets solo with the 
Ambassador, was accompanied this time by Federal Police Chief 
Nestor Valleca, Gendarmeria Commandante General Hector 
Scherone, Prefectura Chief of Narcotics Marcelo Valentini, 
Federal Police Sub-Commissioner Cesar Eymuller, National 
Prefecture Enrique Julio, and Gendarmeria Commandante Mayor 
Sergio Segato.  He also had substantial media coverage at the 
start of the meeting.  Mission DEA Chief and notetaker 
accompanied the Ambassador. 
 
A ) Z Monitoring System 
----------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  The Minister started by discussing the need for 
substantial improvements to upcoming drug legislation.  The 
Ambassador noted that Mexican drug cartels are actively 
seeking alternative ephedrine production locations as a 
result of the stronger anti-precursor drug laws in Mexico. 
Minister Fernandez agreed and stressed the importance of 
monitoring the production of the precursor chemicals from 
beginning to end.  Under the new system of oversight, all 
precursor chemical producers or importers would be required 
to provide up-to-date information on all stages of 
production.  In order to create an effective system of 
control, the Minister indicated that every stage from initial 
production, importation, distribution, and final delivery 
needed to be monitored.  This would include a registration 
system required by any producer or importer of ephedrine and 
other chemicals as well as punishing any violators of the new 
regulations with a loss of their business license.  He also 
implied that his preferred version of the law would include 
hard penalties and even jail time.  He added that without 
complete control of the entire supply chain, the new law 
would not produce the desired results.  He noted that a bad 
version of a new precursor law had been voted out of the 
Senate, but this must be replaced soonest by a better 
GoA-drafted bill. 
 
Police and Industrial Oversight 
------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The Minister indicated that the control and 
execution of the new drug law with regards to precursor 
chemicals would not be limited to law enforcement.  He stated 
that due to the technical nature of production of these 
chemicals, law enforcement needed to work hand in hand with 
the GOA's National Institute of Industrial Technology, the 
agency that monitors and oversees quality control within 
Argentine businesses.  According to the Minister, this dual 
point of view would enable the law to be an effective tool in 
combating illicit production of ephedrine. 
 
On-line Monitoring System 
------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The Minister also stressed the need for an on-line 
monitoring system to effectively oversee production.  A 
 
 
National Police official stated that currently there were 
over 2,000 chemical distributors in Argentina.  According to 
the Minister, such a number of companies could not be 
monitored without a robust computer-based monitoring system 
that provides up-to-date details about each company and each 
aspect of production and distribution.  Previous efforts to 
monitor precursor chemicals through administrative measures 
fell far short of the intended goal of stopping discoveries 
for illicit uses.  Police officials indicated that in the 
past, physical inspections of chemical production facilities 
revealed discrepancies between reported amounts of chemical 
inventory and the actual amounts on site. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Minister Fernandez ordered the top security 
officials present to begin acting to put a better system in 
place right away and with similar speed to prepare for 
submission to Congress appropriate legislation.  He said the 
government should enact by decree whatever it can to improve 
the system while legislation is pending. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) DEA Chief stated that there were some concerns 
regarding the status of marijuana in the upcoming drug law, 
and asked specifically what amounts of marijuana would be 
considered illegal.  The impression was that marijuana was 
effectively decriminalized under the proposed bill.  The 
Minister responded that there would be no legal amount of 
marijuana and that possession of the drug is and will remain 
illegal.  However, the judges in each case are the ones that 
will determine the sentencing. 
 
Other items: Unisys, Air Marshals 
--------------------------------- 
¶8.  (SBU) After the other officials left, Ambassador raised 
the outstanding payment dispute between Unisys and Argentine 
Judiciary. (Secretary of Justice Marcela Losardo, who reports 
directly to Minister Fernandez, is the MOJ representative to 
the Magistrates' council that is considering Unisys' claim.) 
The Minister responded that he would look into the situation 
right away and indicated that he wished to resolve the issue. 
 Ambassador also conveyed requests to the Minister for an 
improved approval system from the Minister regarding U.S. 
Federal Air Marshal visits to Ezeiza International Airport 
outside Buenos Aires.  The Minister responded that he was 
unaware of the most recent request and gave immediate 
approval to the Air Marshal team that was awaiting approval. 
Finally, the Ambassador mentioned the Embassy's recent 
support of the local NGO "Mothers Against Paco," which is 
dedicated to assisting youth addicted to "paco," a local 
cocaine by-product akin to crack.  Ambassador also offered 
congratulations for the Ministry's recent work on combatting 
trafficking in persons, which was met with appreciation. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) The Minister's focus on improving the monitoring of 
production of precursor chemicals is a positive indicator 
that the new drug legislation will be a better tool in 
combating precursor chemical production.  It's also 
encouraging that he (uncharacteristically) brought along 
Argentina's law enforcement leadership to the meeting, both 
as a way to demonstrate the GOA's seriousness and to remind 
his own team of the importance he places on the precursor 
issue.  The Embassy had made improved contracts of precursor 
chemicals one of our Mission priorities for this year and had 
raised the issue on a number of occasions previously with the 
Minister and others.  We will continue to push for more 
stringent punishments as part of the new law. 
WAYNE