VZCZCXYZ0021
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMN #0023/01 0151948
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 151948Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO
TO RUEAWJB/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8724
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA IMMEDIATE 2676

UNCLAS MONTEVIDEO 000023 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/BSC MDASCHBACH, WHA/AND MWELLS, L/LEI STORRES 
DOJ FOR OIA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR SOCI PGOV KCRM KJUS UY
SUBJECT: URUGUAY ESTABLISHES NEW COURTS TO TACKLE COMPLEX 
CRIMES 
 
REF: A. A. 2008 MONTEVIDEO 449 
     ¶B. B. 2008 MONTEVIDEO 569 
 
¶1. SUMMARY.  In an effort to ensure that complicated cases 
are properly understood and adjudicated, and to address the 
 
public's growing concern about organized crime and narcotics 
abuse and trafficking, the GOU has established two new courts 
to focus specifically on those areas.  The Juzgados contra 
Crimen Organizado (&Tribunals against Organized Crime8) 
began hearing cases on January 1.  In Uruguay, complex cases 
involving more than one defendant are often referred to as 
"organized crime," so the phrase has a meaning distinct from 
its use in the U.S.  Judges serving in these courts are 
Uruguay's specialists in hearing such complicated cases.  The 
courts are off to an energetic start, having already achieved 
some notable successes, but further training will likely be 
needed is needed to ensure the continuing success of the 
courts in combating narcotrafficking and organized crime. 
End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
AN ORGANIZATIONAL SOLUTION TO A GROWING PROBLEM 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶2. The Uruguayan people have registered an increasing 
dissatisfaction with the growing problem of organized crime 
in the country.  A 2008 Latinobarometro poll found that more 
than one-fifth of the country's population feels that the top 
domestic problem facing Uruguay today is security, in 
particular, crime, violence, gangs, and narcotics.  At the 
same time, many Uruguayan jurisdictions are ill-equipped to 
deal with cases involving a large number of individuals (e.g. 
drug trafficking organizations) or having a particularly 
convoluted evidentiary trail (e.g. money laundering).  The 
new courts are dedicated specifically to address these 
issues, and are another example of the Vazquez government's 
decision to make combating counternarcotics and organized 
crime a priority (reftel A).  They have country-wide 
jurisdiction and will hear cases on money laundering, 
trafficking in persons and arms, sex trafficking, child 
prostitution and child pornography, and financial crimes. 
 
¶3. Two judges have begun hearing cases related to organized 
crime, money laundering, and narcotics in the courts.  About 
twenty pending criminal cases have been referred to them, and 
all new cases filed as of January 1 pertaining to these 
topics are directly sent to their offices.  Upon their 
swearing-in, Jorge Vazquez, Deputy Chief of Staff of the 
Presidency and President of Uruguay's Counter-narcotics 
Commission (JND), noted specifically that the new courts are 
the culmination of a long-term project between the JND and 
the Judiciary to allow for the centralization of complex 
crimes that were heard before in distinct tribunals 
throughout the country.  Vazquez characterized the courts as 
an important advance in the fight against narcotrafficking 
and money laundering.  He mentioned to the ambassador January 
8 that the GOU would be interested in any specialized 
training opportunities that could help to prepare officers of 
the courts for their unique challenges.  Note: The Embassy 
will work with its interagency law enforcement team to 
identify suitable opportunities.  End Note. 
 
¶4. The courts have already arraigned several high profile 
cases, including a local ring of drug traffickers and a 
Colombian wanted for participating in a pyramid scheme that 
brought ruin to thousands of Colombians.  In the latter case, 
Judge Jorge Diaz has reached out to the Judiciary in Colombia 
to make arrangements for her extradition. 
 
--------- 
BIO NOTES 
--------- 
 
¶5. Judges Graciela Gatti and Jorge Diaz were designated by 
the Supreme Court to serve on these courts because of their 
previous experience handling such cases.  Permanent 
prosecutors for the court have yet to be assigned, but Monica 
Ferrero and Ricardo Perciballe, currently serving 
temporarily, are among the most likely candidates.  Both have 
experience working with criminal cases, and Perciballe 
prosecuted two well-known narcotics cases that Diaz heard. 
 
¶6. Graciela Gatti has served as a judge for 17 years at local 
and district levels.  She most recently was a member of the 
Criminal Court (seventh turn).  Gatti has taken many courses 
in anti-crime matters, both in Uruguay and abroad.  She is 
the judge presiding over the case of former banker Juan 
 
Peirano Basso, who was extradited from the U.S. to Montevideo 
in September 2008 for his part in a large banking scandal 
earlier in the decade that victimized thousands of account 
holders. 
 
¶7. Jorge Diaz has served as a judge for 15 years at local and 
district levels.  His most recent post was as a member of the 
Criminal Court (fourth turn).  Diaz has taken classes abroad 
specializing in combating organized crime and money 
laundering. 
 
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COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶8.  The establishment of courts dedicated exclusively to 
complicated cases such as money laundering and 
narcotrafficking is a strong indication that the GOU is 
taking those problems seriously.  We have been ramping up our 
cooperation with Uruguayan government entities dedicated to 
fighting crime (reftels), and will be on the lookout for 
training opportunities that could increase the effectiveness 
of officials serving these courts.  End Comment. 
Baxter