VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDG #1727/01 3122000
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 072000Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO
TO RHEFHLC/HQS DHS WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1721
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 001727 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: DR KCRM PHUM PREL SNAR
SUBJECT: NON-AVAILABILITY OF CBP INTERDICTION ASSETS 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  Summary.  Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 
Blackhawk helicopters stationed in Puerto Rico that have been 
assisting the Dominican Republic Directorate for National 
Drug Control (DNCD) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement 
Administration (DEA) in the interdiction of suspected 
narcotics laden flights and boats have discontinued support 
for an indefinite period.  The support provided by CBP was 
under OPERATION BROKEN BRIDGE and was discontinued after 
recent hostile fire incidents directed by ground based 
narcotics traffickers against the CBP helicopters.  This has 
caused a shut-down of interdiction end game efforts and drug 
laden aircraft are delivering loads at an increased rate. 
CBP cited safety concerns and the need to protect their 
crews, DEA Special Agents and DNCD Tactical Response Team 
members and has advised that they would be willing to 
re-deploy in support of OPERATION BROKEN BRIDGE providing 
they be authorized to deploy with U.S. manned weapons mounted 
on the Blackhawk helicopters.  By way of this cable, post is 
reporting the problems with interdiction efforts and requests 
guidance and assistance to resolve this issue.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Since August 2007, DEA Santo Domingo (SDCO) and 
CBP Air and Marine Branch have been providing support to the 
DNCD with OPERATION BROKEN BRIDGE.  OPERATION BROKEN BRIDGE 
is a Dominican led operation targeting illicit aircraft from 
South America which are airdropping multi-ton quantities of 
narcotics in remote areas of the DR during nighttime hours. 
This operation's success has been attributed to the 
deployment of the CBP Blackhawk helicopter which is 
responsible for transporting the DR Tactical Response Team 
(TRT) to the airdrop location.  (Note:  The DR lacks the 
resources needed to effectively combat this threat (i.e. 
antiquated helicopters not capable of flying at night and 
over water, lack of night vision trained and qualified 
pilots, etc.) and are solely reliant on the support provided 
from CBP for end game operations). 
 
¶3.    (SBU)  Once a suspect aircraft has been detected by the 
Joint Inter Agency Task Force-South (JIATFS) and confirmed to 
be heading for the DR, CBP deploys a CBP Blackhawk helicopter 
and a DEA Special Agent Advisor from Puerto Rico to San 
Isidro Air Force Base, DR to pick-up members of the DR TRT. 
CBP then transports the DEA Special Agent Advisor and TRT 
members to the suspected airdrop location for end game 
operations. 
 
¶4.    (SBU)  In the past several weeks, the CBP Blackhawk, 
DEA Special Agent Advisor and TRT members have encountered an 
increase in resistance from drug traffickers recovering drugs 
from the airdrop.   The level of violence has increased to 
include drug traffickers firing at the Blackhawk crew and 
group aboard, resulting in the DEA Special Agent Advisor and 
DR TRT members taking a defensive posture and returning fire 
with small arms fire.  No U.S. or Dominican Officials on the 
Blackhawk helicopter have been injured to date however; an 
alleged drug trafficker was recently shot and killed.  The 
most recent shooting event occurred on October 9, 2008, when 
CBP encountered two (2) drug traffickers shooting at the CBP 
helicopter in an attempt to elude law enforcement 
detection/apprehension. 
 
¶5.    (SBU)  Since this event, CBP has terminated all 
deployments to the DR in support of OPERATION BROKEN BRIDGE. 
CBP has cited safety concerns and the need to protect their 
crews, DEA Special Agent Advisor, Host Nation Counterparts 
(TRT) and the helicopter that are being placed in harms way 
from drug traffickers shooting at the helicopter.  CBP has 
advised that they would be willing to re-deploy to the DR in 
support of OPERATION BROKEN BRIDGE providing they be 
authorized to deploy with weapons mounted on the CBP 
Blackhawk helicopter.  These weapons would be manned by CBP 
personnel and would be strictly utilized in self-defense when 
encountering drug traffickers shooting at the Blackhawk 
helicopter and crew, DEA Special Agent Advisor and Host 
Nation Counterparts (TRT). 
 
¶6.    (SBU)  DEA Santo Domingo has been in contact with DR 
officials from the DNCD concerning this problem and the 
possibility of permitting armed CBP Blackhawk helicopters to 
operate in the DR.  The DNCD has also been in contact with 
the DR Secretary of Armed Forces regarding the issue and are 
awaiting a response.  Post's CBP Attache has been in contact 
with the CBP Deputy Director of Air and Marine and with the 
CBP Chief Counsel. 
 
¶7.    (SBU)  Since the 9 October shooting incident and the 
discontinuance of Blackhawk support, there have been 14 
flights tracked into the DR, a noticeable increase 
(approximately 30 to 40 percent) when compared to previous 
periods of the same length.  It is estimated these flights 
carry an average of 400 kilograms of cocaine per trip, 
resulting in approximately 6 metric tons of illicit drugs 
delivered during this down time.  Even though the DNCD has a 
fully functional 24/7 Operations Center, a dedicated and 
trained TRT of approximately 50 individuals that respond via 
CBP Blackhawk helicopters and SUVs provided to the DR under 
NAS programs, during Opertion Broken Bridge missions they are 
defenseless without the support of the CBP Blackhawk.  Based 
on the known fact the TRT will no longer have the support of 
the CBP Blackhawk, there is reason to believe the narcotics 
organizations will take advantage of the downtime as the DNCD 
now must rely solely on ground based interdiction which is 
very difficult when considering the poor conditions of roads 
and vastness of the remote drop zones. 
 
¶8.    (SBU)  Much of the training and equipment (e.g. SUVs, 
body armour, etc.) for the DNCD TRT are provided through INL 
funded programs.  This, coupled with the complexity of the 
above issues and the fact that the ability to interdict 
suspected drug laden aircraft as they deliver their loads is 
at a standstill, warrants reporting and post seeks assistance 
and guidance.  Request DHS work with INL and WHA to review 
these facts and circumstances and provide advice and 
assistance to ensure all end game interdiction operations can 
resume and that these efforts are legal and in accordance 
with U.S. policies and laws. 
FANNIN