VZCZCXYZ0032
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGT #1526/01 3470902
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 120902Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6606
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF STATE AIRWING PATRICK AFB FL

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001526 
 
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 
12/05/08 ? NARCOTICS AFFAIRS SECTION 
 
(U) 1. SUMMARY: This cable provides a summary of NAS 
activities in Guatemala covering the period ending 
December 5, 2008.  End Summary. 
 
------------------------ 
¶2. NARCOTICS 
------------------------ 
 
(U) COCAINE SEIZURE: The new Counter-Narcotics Police 
(SAIA) Chief with the support of SAIA operations units 
launched a number of counter-drug raids throughout 
Guatemala.  The raids were designed to target those areas 
that have high incidence of drug trafficking activities. 
During these operations, numerous minor drug seizures 
were made.  However the most significant was the seizure 
of 72 kilograms of cocaine seized from two tractor 
trailers near Escuintla.  Two defendants were arrested. 
Post-seizure intelligence indicates that more drugs might 
be concealed in the trailers.  SAIA and DIPA are 
conducting post-seizure searches to determine if any 
additional drugs are concealed inside the cargo. 
 
(U) COCAINE SEIZURE 2: SAIA agents intercepted a vehicle 
convoy in which the spouse and children of a major drug 
trafficker were traveling.  A search of nine vehicles 
resulted in the seizure of 3 kilograms of cocaine, 
numerous assault rifles, hand guns, shotguns and radio 
equipment.  The SAIA agents seized all nine vehicles and 
arrested nine people. A judge subsequently let the wife 
of the major trafficker go free ?for lack of evidence.? 
The Supreme Court is investigating the judge. 
 
 
(U) DRUG WAR: During a horse racing incident in Santa Ana 
Huista, Huehuetenango, shots were fired between two rival 
drug groups, one Mexican and the other Guatemalan.  The 
shootout resulted in 22 confirmed dead and numerous 
others wounded, including bystanders.  SAIA agents and 
elements from the Public Ministry requested NAS 
assistance in the post-shooting investigation and 
transportation of evidence. 
 
(U) METAMPHETAMINE LAB: A PNC unit intercepted two 
individuals as they were preparing to enter a home in the 
capital city of Guatemala.  A search of their vehicle 
resulted in the seizure of 10 kilograms of cocaine which 
were concealed in a hidden compartment in the vehicle. 
The police officer requested the assistance of the Public 
Ministry to execute a search warrant for the home, which 
led to the discovery of a fully functioning 
methamphetamine laboratory.  Members of the Public 
Ministry proceeded to dismantle the laboratory and seized 
all the drug evidence. Field test conducted on the seized 
substance tested positive for methamphetamine.  This is 
the first meth lab to be found in Guatemala. 
 
------------------------ 
¶3. POLICE 
------------------------ 
 
(U) ACADEMY: A two week train-the-trainer course was 
presented at the NAS sponsored Criminal Investigation 
School.  9 instructors from the Academy, Villa Nueva and 
the Criminal Investigation School graduated on December 
5, 2008. 
 
(U) INTERCEPT TRAINING: A month long basic criminal 
investigation course for members of the PNC who will be 
working telephone intercept cases has been initiated. 
This is an important step in preparing these 
investigators for implementation of the Organized Crime 
Law. 
 
(U) EVALUATION FOR MOG: The Academy prepared a written 
evaluation of the programs developed in the Model 
Precinct setting forth best practices for future 
replication.  This document has been presented to MOG to 
assist the Minister in selecting where the Model will be 
Qassist the Minister in selecting where the Model will be 
replicated.  The information was taken from a survey of 
over 80 individuals who have participated in the 
implementation and functioning of the Model Precinct over 
the last 3 years. 
 
(U) VILLA NUEVA MODEL PRECINCT:  Three investigators from 
 
 
the Model Precinct have been reassigned to the Special 
Prosecutors Unit responsible for investigating Organized 
Crime.  The investigators will work in groups within the 
Unit to demonstrate best practices learned in Villa Nueva 
regarding investigations of extortions, kidnappings and 
auto theft. 
 
(U) TIMS:  The director of the Drug Intelligence Unit for 
the Police of Honduras (CIENCO) visited Guatemala to 
observe the successful work of CRADIC and the Total 
Information Management System of the PNC.  The director 
indicated that he will incorporate many of the best 
practices of the Guatemalan systems in the Honduran 
Intelligence Unit.  Most important was the fact that a 
solid link for exchange of drug and organized crime 
information was established between the two countries. 
 
 
(U) NEW 24 HOUR COURT: NAS provided training in the use 
of the initial complaint form (RPI) and the Police 
computer network (SIPOL) was provided to members of the 
24 hour court in Escuintla.  The training included police 
and members of the Public Ministry. The Ambassador 
inaugurated the 24-hour court on December 11. 
 
(U) OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY (ORP):  42 PNC 
officers graduated from the Investigation/Administration 
course designed for the Office of Professional 
Responsibility.  The month long course is designed to 
provide investigators with the tools to conduct more 
effective investigations of police involved in 
corruption. 
10 Investigators graduated from a week long course 
designed to orient them in Disciplinary Code infractions 
and procedures. 
 
(U) IG DEPLOYMENT: Two units of the Inspector General 
have been deployed to Precinct Number 13 and the 
Department of San Marcos.  The units will be staffed with 
members of the PNC that have benefited from NAS training 
in anti-corruption and administrative matters. 
 
(U) PNC CAREER PATH: NAS continues to work closely with 
MOG in the development of a career program for the 
Police.  NAS presented one of three models discussed in 
the seminar and it was the project that was accepted by 
the participants as the most complete and adequate for 
the PNC. 
 
(U) PRISON SYSTEM:  NAS has received approval from the 
Director of Prisons to proceed with a project to gather 
information on individuals who visit gang members in 
prison.  This is important to address the large number of 
extortions, murders and other criminal activity that is 
directed from within the prison and carried out by 
individuals visiting the gang members.  The program 
consists of putting terminals in each of the 18 prisons 
in Guatemala and sharing information with CRADIC. 
 
(U) ANTI-GANG PROGRAM:  Coordination of anti-gang 
information was accomplished with the Director of the 
Honduran Police Drug Intelligence Center (CIENCO).  This 
is an important step in advancing the coordination on a 
regional level of the collection of gang information. 
 
(U) GANG INVESTIGATIONs: NAS coordinated meetings between 
the PNC and Public Ministry to establish a prosecutors 
unit to investigate gang crimes and for the PNC to vet 
personnel for an anti gang unit in the Criminal 
Investigation Division (DINC). 
 
------------------------ 
¶4. RULE OF LAW 
------------------------ 
 
(U) HIGH LEVEL MEETING: The quarterly high level meeting 
(cabinet-level) with the Public Ministry, SECCATID and 
Ministry of Government was hosted by the Attorney 
QMinistry of Government was hosted by the Attorney 
General. The meeting was to discuss with newly appointed 
personnel, such as the Director General of the PNC and 
other MOG advisors, the bilateral programs carried out by 
NAS in the fight against illicit drug traffic and to 
discuss the security environment.  During the 
discussions, various benchmark items were discussed, such 
 
as lack of distribution of seized assets among different 
GOG agencies in charge of demand reduction, law 
enforcement and prosecution of cases, the implementation 
of the anti-organized crime law and the lack of 
seizures.  The AG committed to advocate with MOG for the 
prompt implementation of the law. 
 
(U) ORGANIZED CRIME LAW:  NAS has begun the vetting 
process for 14 prosecutors, selected by the Public 
Ministry, to work in a specialized unit within the 
ministry.  Both the Executive and the Public Ministry 
have set January 15, 2009, as the deadline for this 
agency to begin working. 
 
(U) INTERCEPT EQUIPMENT: The Private Secretary of the 
Attorney General informed NAS that he, along with MP 
prosecutors and technicians, would travel on December 9, 
2008 to Brazil to purchase the wire intercept equipment, 
with GOG funds. 
 
------------------------ 
¶5. DEMAND REDUCTION 
------------------------ 
 
(U) SPENDING PLAN REVIEW: NAS met with SECCATID on 
formation of a detailed spending plan. 
 
--------------------------- 
¶6. AVIATION SUPPORT (ASP) 
--------------------------- 
 
(U) FUEL: NAS met with the Fuels Logistics Manager for 
the PNC, who is handling the account for the fuel that 
the MOG is providing to the NAS ASP.  He provided an 
update on the status of the MOG request to the Ministry 
of Finance for the approximately US$1.3 million (local 
currency Q 10 million) for ASP fuel, saying that the 
internal request process within the MOG is nearly 
finished, and will be forwarded to MOF before the end of 
the year. 
 
(U) INL/A VISIT: The INL Air Wing Rotary Wing 
Standardization Chief visited post.  During his visit, he 
was able to visit Retalhuleu and Santa Elena, Peten and 
while flying to those locations he gave two check rides. 
Additionally, he gave a no-notice evaluation to the Site 
Standardization Instructor Pilot who was giving an oral 
evaluation to the pilot in command who failed the 
evaluation and is now a copilot and will receive more 
training to be followed by another evaluation to 
determine his status. The Standardization Chief stated 
that the ASP overall was in great shape in the area of 
training and standardization and that the project was 
fully trained up and prepared to execute its mission 
under daylight conditions and saw no problems with the 
ASP moving into night vision goggle training. 
 
(U) COORDINATION MEETING WITH SAIA: NAS held a meeting 
with the head of the SAIA on increasing the amount of 
counter-narcotics operations the ASP could support. 
There were several missions planned for the following 
week starting with a reconnaissance mission the following 
day, and the SAIA and the ASA both committed to keep in 
better contact in order to maximize both the use and the 
effectiveness of the ASP helicopters. 
 
(U) RECON MISSION: NAS flew a reconnaissance mission in 
the department of Izabal in the Motagua River valley and 
along the Honduran border.  The purpose of the mission 
was to fly to five different points that were taken from 
intelligence captured by the SAIA and look for possible 
drug and loot stash sites. 
 
 
(U) RECON MISION 2: NAS flew a mission to Puerto Barrios, 
Izabal to support the Kaibiles that are stationed there 
(the principal unit that the FIAAT Kaibil quick reaction 
force in Poptun, Peten is detached from).  The purpose of 
the mission was to overfly several suspected drug 
Qthe mission was to overfly several suspected drug 
smuggling (crossing) sites along the Honduran border and 
on the beaches of the Bay of Honduras (the Caribbean). 
Locations for future counter drug operations were 
identified as well.  The mission was completed without 
incident. 
 
 
(U) RECON MISSION 2 PART 2: NAS took advantage of the 
flight to Puerto Barrios in order to complete a 
reconnaissance mission that was canceled due to bad 
weather.  The SAIA agents were able to take many photos 
and believe they have valuable information for follow on 
operations. 
 
(U) DEA SUPPORT: NAS flew a one helicopter mission in 
support of the DEA and the US Army Special Forces in 
Poptun (a Central Skies support mission).  NAS 
transported a DEA Agent and one of the members of the 
Special Forces training team to Poptun.  NAS had intended 
to fly a DEA King Air pilot up to Poptun on this same 
flight to look at the airstrip there to determine the 
suitability of the Poptun airstrip for King Air 
operations, but after showing him the ASP file photos, 
the pilot determined that the strip was unsuitable for 
King Air operations and that his trip was unnecessary. 
 
(U) SAIA RAID SUPPORT: NAS placed two aircraft on standby 
for a support mission to Coban, Alta Verapaz.  The SAIA 
was raiding five houses that belong to suspected drug 
traffickers.  The SAIA captured several suspected drug 
traffickers and also discovered weapons, munitions and 
drugs.  Additionally, the SAIA found maps, note books 
with coordinates, photos, radios and frequencies that 
would provide intelligence to support follow on missions. 
 
(U)RECON MISSION 3: NAS flew a two ship reconnaissance 
mission of the beach on the GuatQan south coast.  The 
idea behind the beach mission was to overfly and 
photograph 21 separate points of interest along the coast 
that are possible or suspected beaching sites/smuggling 
routes for fast boat shipments of drugs coming up the 
pacific coast from South America.  NAS also carried a 
team of 12 Quick reaction Force FIAAT members on board in 
case the flight encountered targets of opportunity. No 
targets of opportunity were noted. 
 
(U) CENTRAL SKIES SUPPORT: NAS deployed three aircraft to 
Santa Elena, Peten in support of a JIATF-South ground 
based radar (GBR) site urvey mission. 
 
(U) The JIATF-South teamed arrivd at the Guatemalan Air 
Force Base in Santa Elena.  NAS transported them to 
Poptun, Peten in two helicopters for their first site 
survey.  After transporting the GBR Team, NAS loaded up 
12 FIATT Kaibil QRF members in Poptun and flew them to an 
LZ (a practice tactical insertion) that was ten miles 
east of Puerto Barrios, Izabal.  The QRF was taking part 
in field operations with their parent unit (the unit they 
are detached from) out of Puerto Barrios. 
 
 
(U) Bad weather forced the helicopters to remain over 
night in Puerto Barrios. The stand by crew in Santa Elena 
was launched to Poptun to pick up the JIATF-South team. 
The crews picked up the JIATF-South team and returned 
toward Santa Elena.  En route, the crew ran into heavy 
rain and reduced visibility and made the decision to land 
in a soccer field in a small town.  Because of the late 
hour in the afternoon (nightfall), NAS elected to leave 
the aircraft secured in the field with local military and 
returned the visitors and crews to Santa Elena.  It 
should be noted that the weather for all destinations was 
reported as better than required for our operations. 
 
(U) CENTRAL SKIES SUPPORT 2: NAS launched two aircraft to 
perform the second half of the JIATF-South ground base 
radar site survey in Playa Grande, Quiche.  The mission 
went off without problems; the weather was much improved. 
Qwent off without problems; the weather was much improved. 
 
(U) INSERTION MISSION: NAS flew a tactical insertion 
mission with three helicopters to an airstrip at Ixquisis 
in northern Huehuetenango.  There are reports that drug 
traffickers are using the airstrip in Ixquisis for drug 
flights.  NAS inserted a team of eight Kaibiles and eight 
SAIA who will be in place for a week. 
 
(U) RECON MISSION 4: On the return trip from the Ixquisis 
tactical insertion, NAS flew a reconnaissance mission 
with two SAIA agents over coordinates that were found in 
a notebook that was captured on the SAIA raid that took 
 
 
place in the city of Coban, Alta Verapaz.  The agents 
took photographs of the locations and collected 
information and then NAS helicopters returned to Santa 
Elena. 
 
(U) PROSECUTOR SUPPORT MISSION: NAS flew a support 
mission for the Director of the Office of the Attorney 
General for Counter Narcotics (GOG) to retrieve 20 
weapons (11 long guns and 9 pistols) and other evidence 
that was captured and will be used as evidence in the 
case resulting from the SAIA raid in Coban. 
 
(U) EQUIPMENT: The night vision goggles and door guns for 
NAS arrived in country and are in USG custody. 
MCFARLAND