VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGT #1311/01 2961445
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 221445Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6294
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF STATE AIRWING PATRICK AFB FL

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001311 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP, DAS CHRISTY MCCAMPBELL AND AIMEE 
MARTIN 
DEPARTMENT FOR INL/RM, JAMES WALSH 
EMBASSIES FOR NAS 
PAFB FOR SHARON NELL 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR KCRM ASEC PREL GT
SUBJECT:  BI-WEEKLY REPORTING CABLE FOR PERIOD ENDING 
10/10/08 ? NARCOTICS AFFAIRS SECTION 
 
(U) 1. SUMMARY: This cable provides a summary of NAS 
activities in Guatemala covering the period ending 
October 10, 2008.  End Summary. 
 
------------------------ 
¶2. NARCOTICS 
------------------------ 
 
BRIEFING FOR NEW DRUG POLICE CHIEF: A working group 
luncheon was held at a local restaurant to welcome the 
new narcotics police (SAIA) chief to the unit. In 
attendance at the luncheon for the GOG were the Chief of 
the Drug Unit of the Attorney General' office (MP); the 
newly appointed head of the Police (PNC) Criminal 
Investigation Division, the deputy chief of the narcotics 
police, and DEA Country Attache.  Numerous topics related 
to future drug operations in Guatemala were addressed, 
ranging from the vetting process to the inauguration of 
the future investigative support group - GAPI.  One of 
the most important items addressed was the Ministry of 
Government (MOG) plan to merge the Port Police (DIPA) 
under SAIA operation and supervision. 
 
MONEY SEIZURE: DIPA airport unit seized $450,000 from 
two Colombian nationals traveling from Guatemala to 
Medellin Colombia via Panama. The funds were concealed 
in false bottoms of the suitcases. 
 
ERADICATION PLAN: As the result of the intelligence 
collected from a recon flight in the San Marcos 
Department, a poppy eradication meeting was held to 
develop the strategy for the next poppy eradication 
operation, scheduled to begin on October 15. 
 
------------------------ 
¶3. RULE OF LAW 
------------------------ 
 
 
WORK PLAN FOR THE PUBLIC MINISTRY:  The Guatemalan 
Attorney General, Amilcar Velasquez presented the Public 
Ministry?s Work Plan 2008-2010 to donors and other 
ministries.  The main strategic goal of the plan is the 
fight against impunity and organized crime. The actions 
to be performed focus on effective case management, 
better investigation/prosecution of cases, witness 
protection, performance evaluation for personnel and 
community outreach.  All areas presented in the plan have 
a direct correlation with various NAS projects. 
 
SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE:  NAS met with the newly 
appointed SCJ Magistrate Vladimir Aguilar.  During the 
courtesy meeting, Magistrate Aguilar said that he 
considered necessary, for the strengthening of the rule 
of law, for the SCJ to share seized assets among law 
enforcement agencies and the Public Ministry. He 
commented that this topic was one of the first of his 
agenda during his appointment as magistrate. 
 
CONGRESS:  One ongoing management issue for the Embassy 
and NAS has been the requirement to file diplomatic tax 
exemptions for all NAS imports. Further adding to the 
issue is that while the GOG follows the LOAs and does not 
tax NAS, recipient ministries have to pay taxes on 
donated equipment. This has led to number of management 
issues, one of which is all donated vehicles were 
registered to NAS although used by various ministries. 
NAS approached the Attorney General and the Minister of 
Government on this matter during a regular quarterly 
meeting. The result is that the Guatemalan Congress 
approved a decree that provides tax exemption to all 
imports and donations given to the GOG through the LOAs 
signed with NAS.  Decree No. 61-2008 was approved in 
final reading on October 1, 2008. The law has a duration 
of five years, during which time, all NAS imports and 
donations will be cleared of customs duty-free and exempt 
Qdonations will be cleared of customs duty-free and exempt 
from donation tax without use of diplomatic exemption. 
 
------------------------ 
¶4. POLICE 
----------------------- 
 
 
GRADUATION: 29 PNC officers graduated from the Basic 
 
Criminal Investigation Course sponsored by NAS.  The 29 
officers were fully vetted (to NAS standards) and will be 
assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division (DINC). 
There will be new courses starting every two weeks (or 
when there are enough vetted officers to fill a class) to 
provide fully vetted investigators to the DINC and Office 
of Professional Regulation (OPR). 
 
VILLA NUEVA:  A briefing and tour of the Villa Nueva 
Model Precinct was presented to the Ambassador, Minister 
of Government, Chief of Police, and the Mayor of Villa 
Nueva.  Numerous members of the community were present 
including representatives from the schools, markets, 
transportation, and neighborhoods.  The MOG is moving 
forward with a study of the model precinct and where the 
additional models should be located.  The Media coverage 
of the event was very favorable. 
 
An additional presentation of the model precinct was made 
for Amanda Martin, Human Rights Commission of Guatemala 
and Esperanza Castro from Colombia as requested by MOG 
Jimenez to support a regional gang study that is 
underway. 
 
ANTI GANG PROGRAM:  On Oct. 3, NAS representatives met 
with members of the FBI in El Salvador to observe the 
Anti Gang Units in El Salvador.  NAS and the FBI are 
working closely to facilitate the implementation of a 
Transnational Anti Gang (TAG) unit in Guatemala. 
 
NAS coordinated a meeting with PNC Director in which 
LEGATT Salvador and the National Gang Supervisor from the 
FBI  discussed the implementation of the TAG in 
Guatemala.  Director General Blanco was impressed with 
the proposal and offered office space for the unit to 
initiate their work.  Blanco will present the proposal to 
MOG when he returns from Mexico. 
 
CRADIC:  Helen Mack of the Myrna Mack Foundation 
requested a briefing and tour of the Police intelligence, 
analysis and dissemination center (CRADIC).  Mack was 
briefed on the mission of the unit, the relationship with 
the investigative process and the importance of the 
statistics gathered by the unit.  While impressed, Mack 
asked ?if the police have such a powerful tool at their 
disposal why haven?t investigation improved??  The 
director of CRADIC advised her that there is a lack of 
supervision within the PNC, there is extensive corruption 
and there is a lack of training that inhibits the 
investigative process. He also pointed out that the 
reason that the Model Precinct in Villa Nueva has been 
successful is that these areas were addressed and 
improved. 
 
------------------------ 
¶5. DEMAND REDUCTION 
------------------------ 
 
SPENDING PLAN: NAS worked with Demand Reduction Agency 
(SECCATID) to develop their first detailed spending plan. 
NAS met with SECCATID and an office in the Ministry of 
Education (DIGEF) to encourage DIGEF support of the Villa 
Nueva Police Athletic League. 
 
------------------------ 
¶6. AVIATION SUPPORT (ASP) 
------------------------ 
 
 
TRAINING: The Anti-terrorist portion of the Joint Task 
Force (FIATT) practiced aircraft take down procedures and 
air assault maneuvers. 
 
POPPY RECON: NAS flew a mission to the Guatemalan western 
highlands in the Department of San Marcos with the 
purpose of locating targets for an upcoming eradication 
operation.  The team of Eradication Program personnel and 
ASP crews found approximately 50 target fields for 
eradication. 
 
TRAINNG: NAS was able to complete mountain training on 
QTRAINNG: NAS was able to complete mountain training on 
the last of their six aviators which brings to a close 
the special mission task training phase. 
 
 
SUPPORT FLIGHT: NAS flew a mission with a three person 
staff delegation from the Senate Intelligence Committee 
lead by Caroline Tess.  The destination was the 
Guatemalan border with Mexico at Tecun Uman, San Marcos. 
The mission included additional training for the pilots 
in poppy recon methods. 
 
------------------------ 
¶7. OTHER ISSUES 
------------------------ 
 
ADMIN: In response to Management Assistance Visit 
recommendation 27, LES administrative staff developed a 
proposal for the assignment of duties and 
responsibilities among the LES staff.  The proposal is 
currently beginning management review. 
 
MCFARLAND