VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGT #1474/01 3360739
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 010739Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6530
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF STATE AIRWING PATRICK AFB FL

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001474 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP, DAS CHRISTY MCCAMPBELL, AIMEE MARTIN AND JOE 
FURLONI 
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 11/14/08 - 
NARCOTICS AFFAIRS SECTION 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY: This cable provides a summary of NAS activities in 
Guatemala covering the period ending November 14, 2008.  End 
Summary. 
 
-------------- 
NARCOTICS 
-------------- 
 
¶2. (U) AIRPORT: NAS met with General Perusina, Chief of Guatemala 
national airport security, to discuss the DGAC plan to expand 
civilian airport operations in the airport at San Jose and the 
construction of the new Pacific Counter Narcotics base for the PNC 
narcotics units (DIPA/SAIA) in San Jose. General Perusina stated 
that in order for the base to become fully operational a radar 
system and landing lights must be installed to provide the airport 
with those critical operational safety measures. 
 
¶3. (U) PUERTO BARRIOS: The heads of DIPA, SAIA and NAS met with the 
head of DIPA operations in Puerto Barrios to discuss the search 
criteria used to identify containers.  The lack of results, as well 
as the containers searched over the past six months (only containers 
coming from the U.S. were searched), required explanation. His 
responses to the questioning were not satisfactory. (See below 
PUERTO BARRIOS 2). The leadership team also discussed the numerous 
barriers that impeded DIPA from making the selection and allowing 
access to these containers. 
 
¶4. (U) PUERTO BARRIOS 2: NAS met with the PNC Director of Human 
Resources regarding numerous personnel changes that are being 
recommended within DIPA and SAIA. The only significant change was 
the replacement of the director of DIPA port operations in Puerto 
Barrios. Not only were there numerous complaints from within DIPA, 
both DIPA and NAS have lost confidence in his ability to perform 
(see above). 
 
¶5. (U) CENTRAL SKIES: NAS met with SAIA and DEA to discuss the 
details concerning operation Central Skies. At the request of 
TAT/DEA and NAS, SAIA has commenced providing FIAAT personnel to the 
Central Skies operations. Note: Senior FIAAT leadership will rotate 
to Poptun for a one-week orientation of the Central Skies mission. 
 
¶6. (U) SEIZURE: Based on information from ICE, DIPA airport units 
seized $341,000 from a Guatemalan national at La Aurora airport. 
 
¶7. (U) SEIZURE 2: DIPA airport units seized approximately 2 
kilograms of cocaine from a Guatemalan-American citizen traveling to 
New York via Atlanta. 
 
¶8. (U) EUM EXERCISE: NAS conducted an End Use Monitoring K-9 
exercise with the head of DIPA in Santo Tomas with a DIPA K-9 
handler.  NAS conducted the exercise in the container yards at the 
port. A separate report of this exercise and the results will 
follow. Note: NAS will perform EUM exercises with all NAS trained 
canine units throughout Guatemala. 
 
------ 
POLICE 
------ 
 
¶9. (U) ACADEMY:  The training calendar for the CID Program has been 
completed for 2009.  There are presently 73 courses that have been 
programmed.   Prosecutors, judges, and some civilians will be 
included in the training. 
 
¶10. (U) REPLICATION OF VILLA NUEVA: A half-day seminar was conducted 
to examine the replication of the model precinct.  All those that 
were involved in the process provided input into lessons learned and 
what should be done in any future replication of the model.  92 
individuals from the PNC, MOG, MP, NGOs, clergy, transportation, 
business sector, schools, and the municipality provided input. 
 
¶11. (U) VILLA NUEVA MODEL PRECINCT:  PNC statistics for calendar 
year 2008 reflect that there were significant reductions in criminal 
Qyear 2008 reflect that there were significant reductions in criminal 
activity in Villa Nueva.  The following sets forth the more 
significant developments: 
 
- The Model Precinct initiated the Police Athletic League in Positos 
with approximately 400 children.  The Ministry of Education provided 
a physical fitness instructor and all of the athletic equipment.  A 
local school is providing the athletic facilities.  The teacher will 
stay with the program through 2009.  The PNC is providing 12 police 
officers, including six females, who have been vetted to work with 
the children. 
 
- The Attorney General has approved the creation of two units within 
the Special Prosecutors Office for Organized Crime to address gang 
cases.  The two agencies will not investigate all gang cases, but 
only those that can be developed into major cases against leaders 
and entire leadership structures utilizing the Organized Crime Law. 
 
- CICIG is coordinating with the officer in charge of the Model 
Precinct to assist in the selection, training and administration of 
investigators.  CICIG wants to prepare a corps of investigators 
patterned after those of Villa Nueva. 
 
¶12. (U) TIMS: Nineteen PNC officers are being trained in police 
computer system (SIPOL) and the proper use of the Complaint Form 
(RPI) in preparation for the new 24 hour court which will open this 
month in Escuintla.  Additionally, the Director General has 
requested NAS assistance in the implementation of SIPOL and the RPI 
in Solola.  NAS will provide training and some limited donations to 
the police station in Solola. 
 
¶13. (U) PRISON SYSTEM:  NAS continues to provide technical 
assistance to the prison system.  Connectivity with the 
Chimaltenango Prison, where the majority of gang members are 
incarcerated, has been established to transmit more accurate inmate 
biographical information and information regarding visitors.  This 
is an important step in identifying the gang members, their areas of 
operation, and those who provide logistical support.  NAS will 
continue to work with the prison system to establish nationwide 
connectivity of the prisons to MOG and the NAS-funded unit for 
collection, analysis and dissemination of information (CRADIC). 
This should be accomplished within six months. 
 
¶14. (U) ANTI-GANG PROGRAM:  NAS continues to coordinate with the FBI 
Legat Office in El Salvador in establishing a gang program in 
Guatemala which will be compatible with the Regional Gang Strategy. 
The Director General of the PNC is very supportive and has provided 
office space within the PNC headquarters to be utilized by the gang 
investigators.  PNC support, as well as cooperation from the prison 
system and the Public Ministry, in creating the units to investigate 
crimes is critical for success of the Regional Gang Project. 
 
¶15. (U) INACIF (Forensic Lab):  NAS is coordinating the transfer of 
previously donated office furniture from the PNC laboratory to the 
INACIF.  The Minister of Government, with NAS approval, agreed to 
the transfer of furniture and a ballistics tank to the INACIF.  NAS 
has coordinated with INACIF for the implementation of a quality 
control program for the laboratory to facilitate international 
certification. 
 
------------------------ 
RULE OF LAW 
------------------------ 
 
¶16. (U) INVESTIGATIVE UNITS: NAS had multiple meetings with Public 
Ministry secretaries and prosecutors to coordinate the support that 
is being provided to the investigative units (that work with the 
Money Laundering, Narcotics and Corruption prosecutors) being opened 
in Quetzaltenango and Guatemala City. It was agreed that the Public 
Ministry will assign investigators as soon as the contracts are 
approved and signed by the Attorney General. In addition, both 
prosecutors and investigators will develop a protocol to process 
crime scenes in money laundering cases so that problems regarding 
handling and custody of evidence are avoided. 
 
¶17. (U) TRAINING:  Twenty-one prosecutors from the anti-corruption, 
Q17. (U) TRAINING:  Twenty-one prosecutors from the anti-corruption, 
anti-money laundering and counternarcotics units of the Public 
Ministry received training on government accounting, as part of the 
comprehensive training schedule agreed between the MP and NAS.  The 
twenty-four hour course focused on the legal framework and 
procedures related to governmental audits, reporting requirements, 
counter review procedures, expenditure justifications, etc.  The 
course will be applicable to the prosecution of corruption cases. 
The course will be replicated to a second group of trainees this 
month. 
 
¶18. (U) PROSECUTORS PROVIDE PNC TRAINING: The Anti-Narcotics 
Prosecutors Unit in Quetzaltenango hosted, with NAS support and 
coordination, a regional training course on police reports. All 
thirteen prosecutors and assistant prosecutors assigned to the 
south-eastern region of the country met with 28 law enforcement 
officers from eight different areas to agree on the investigative 
procedures assigned by law to police officers must adhere to during 
initial investigation of a case, the importance of police/prosecutor 
coordination during this time, and the importance of preparing a 
police report for further prosecution of a case. 
 
 
------------------------ 
DEMAND REDUCTION 
------------------------ 
 
¶19. (U) PAL PROGRAM LAUNCHED: The Police Athletic League in Positos 
has officially been launched, beginning with a summer school program 
of 250 students, led by six PNC officers as organizers and teachers. 
 D.A.R.E and anti-gang activities are integrated into the program. 
NAS and SECCATID negotiated an agreement with DIGEF (the Physical 
Education Directorate of the Ministry of Health) to provide 
substantial support to the program, with DIGEF funding the 
resurfacing and roofing of the basketball court, improvement of the 
football pitch, and provision of sports equipment and other 
materiel. See Police above. 
 
---------------------- 
AVIATION SUPPORT (ASP) 
---------------------- 
 
¶20. (U) PILOT-IN-COMMAND (PIC): In addition to flying continuation 
training missions, both Majors Ruiz and Sagastume successfully 
passed their pilot-in-command check rides. This makes a total of 
four PICs out of the six pilots who have been trained and 
qualified. 
 
¶21. (U) OBSERVATION MISSION: The ASP flew an opium poppy 
reconnaissance which encompassed the entire historic growing area. 
Observations by the ASP crews, NAS and GOG aerial observers 
indicated a small handful of fields in the area which previously had 
been designated as Area A (close to the town of Cuilco). Most poppy 
cultivation appears to be restricted to an area which is demarked by 
the towns of Tajamulco, Tacana and Ixchiguan in the San Marcos 
department. This area is now designated as the "Triangle." 
 
¶22. (U) HELO FUEL:  NAS met with Vice Minister of Government for 
Administration, Finance Chief for the PNC, and Logistics Officer for 
VMOG.  At that meeting it was (verbally) agreed that the MOG would 
do the following: 
 
- Provide, per the LOA signed in February, a memo to NAS/CA 
detailing the funding that they are willing to provide for fuel for 
the ASP.  Ramirez explicitly said the amount that they are 
requesting from the Finance Ministry would be ten million quetzales, 
which amounts to a little over USD 1.3 million at the current 
exchange rate.  This is substantially more than expected, and NAS 
remains ready to provide assistance at every step as the request 
process unfolds. 
 
- In the interim, Ramirez offered USD 120,000 to cover current 
expenses.  This money is already in place. 
 
¶23. (U) FUEL LOCATIONS: NAS met with Lt. Col. Carlos Enrique Franco, 
Logistics Chief for the Guatemalan Air Force (GAF), to streamline 
helo fuel delivery and replacement within the GAF supply network. 
Cooperation from all parts of the GAF has been excellent thus far, 
and we now have received fuel from a total of four locations 
throughout the country. 
 
¶24. (U) TRAINING: The ASP conducted multiple aircraft operations and 
airfield interdiction training with the Guatemalan Joint Task Force 
Fuentes (FIAAT) Quick Reaction Force in the southern coastal region 
of Guatemala. 
 
¶25. (U) OPERATION: The ASP flew a multiple-purpose mission with the 
first leg to Poptun, Peten and the second leg to Puerto Barrios to: 
(a) Perform a local area orientation flight. 
(b) Meet with the Guatemalan Joint Task Force Fuentes (FIAAT) 
leadership in Poptun on personnel issues. 
(c) Review space availability/logistics as FIAAT becomes integrated 
in JIATF South Central Skies operations. 
(d) Conduct End Use Monitoring of NAS provided assets. 
Q(d) Conduct End Use Monitoring of NAS provided assets. 
(e) Deliver new weapons to the DEA Tactical Response Team in Poptun. 
 
 
MCFARLAND