VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGT #1339/01 3022028
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 282028Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6326
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF STATE AIRWING PATRICK AFB FL

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001339 
 
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 
10/24/08 ? NARCOTICS AFFAIRS SECTION 
 
(U) 1. SUMMARY: This cable provides a summary of NAS 
activities in Guatemala covering the period ending 
October 24, 2008.  End Summary. 
 
------------------------ 
¶2. NARCOTICS 
------------------------ 
 
On October 15 NAS officers met with senior GOG officials 
at the Attorney General?s Office to discuss recent 
incidents involving the importation of large quantities 
of pseudoephedrine into Guatemala.  Of particular concern 
was a case where the Ports Police (DIPA) has seized a 
large shipment of pseudoephedrine and a  judge had 
ordered that the shipment be returned to the Guatemalan 
importer.  The purpose of the meeting was for the AG as 
well as the Minister of Government and the Minister of 
Health to become more knowledgeable of these cases and 
make the appropriate policy decisions that will support 
the seizure of this substance.  The ultimate goal is for 
Guatemala to ban the importation of substances that 
contain more than the normal acceptable medical level 
of pseudoephedrine. 
 
Beginning October 15 thru October 17 poppy eradication 
was conducted in the Tajumulco, San Marcos area of 
Guatemala. A total of 181 hectares of poppy were 
eradicated by 450 law enforcement personnel. 
 
On this same date, the DIPA airport unit intercepted an 
Australian and a Guatemalan national who were traveling 
aboard a Copa flight to Holland via Panama. They were in 
possession of approximately $160,000 in undeclared U.S 
currency and other foreign currency totaling in excess of 
$190,000. 
 
 
On October 17, DIPA Puerto Quetzal seized 57-kilograms of 
cocaine from a container that arrived from Callao, Peru. 
A cable was submitted to INL reporting this seizure. 
 
On October 22, during the late evening, DIPA airport 
agents intercepted a Nicaraguan who arrived in Guatemala 
from Ecuador via Panama aboard a Copa flight. During the 
passenger screening it was determined that the Nicaraguan 
was a drug courier who had ingested a kilogram of heroin. 
He subsequently passed 100 pellets of 10 grams each that 
contained heroin. 
 
------------------------ 
¶3. RULE OF LAW 
------------------------ 
 
ANTI-ORGANIZED CRIME LAW:  On October 15, 2008, NAS 
Director and NAS Legal Advisor met with the Attorney 
General to discuss prosecutor program activities.  While 
discussing the Anti-organized Crime Law, the AG mentioned 
that he had convened a meeting with MOG and CICIG to 
discuss the implementation of this law. The AG asked what 
support the Embassy could give the MP to help implement 
this law (equipment, training, etc.). 
 
On October 23, 2008, DEA and NAS met with one of the MOG 
advisors to discuss progress in the enactment of the 
executive decree that would restructure the NationL 
Police (PNC).  She mentioned that the President?s legal 
counsel had returned the draft to the MOG to make 
changes.  The legal section of the MOG is working on the 
changes as a priority.   The MOG advisor believes that 
once they are sent back to the Presidency, the President 
will sign off enabling the law to come into force. 
 
------------------------ 
¶4. DEMAND REDUCTION 
------------------------ 
 
NAS worked with Eric Siervo and Edgar Camargo of SECCATID 
to complete arrangements for CADCA training in Guatemala 
to take place during CY 2009. 
 
NAS attended the National Drug Observatories Workshop 
hosted by OAS/CICAD in Antigua, Guatemala.  The workshop 
was attended by representatives of 19 Latin American 
Qwas attended by representatives of 19 Latin American 
countries, the European Union, Spain, Canada, and the 
 
U.S.  The timing of the event was ideal for Guatemala, as 
NAS and SECCATID are just beginning the process of 
standing up the Guatemala Observatory, and we received a 
wealth of technical and administrative advice for the 
project.  In addition,  side meetings were held between 
NAS Guatemala and CICAD personnel to discuss coordination 
of activities (particularly relating to prosecutor 
training), and with the representative from Mexico to 
discuss strategies for cooperation between Mexico, 
Guatemala, the U.S., and possibly Belize in the area of 
Demand Reduction activities in border areas. 
 
------------------------ 
¶5. AVIATION SUPPORT (ASP) 
------------------------ 
 
With the rainy season coming to an end, the weather in 
the mountains finally eased up and the ASP were able to 
complete mountain training on the last of their six 
aviators which brings to a close the special mission task 
training phase of training. 
 
On Monday, 13 October, the ASP flew a mission with a 
three person staff delegation from the Senate Select 
Committee on Intelligence lead by Carol Tess.  The 
destination was the Guatemalan border with Mexico at 
Tecun Uman, San Marcos.  The ASP flew a short opium poppy 
field reconnaissance over flight on the way to the 
Mexican border. 
 
MCFARLAND