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PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBH #0139/01 0651701
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061701Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY NASSAU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6175
INFO RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 4784
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 2922
RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 5697
RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 8616
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE 3629
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RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC
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UNCLAS NASSAU 000139 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL TK BF
SUBJECT: SEIZURES UP, MIGRANT SMUGGLING DISCUSSED AT U.S.-BAHAMAS 
JOINT COUNTER NARCOTICS TASK FORCE MEETING 
 
REF: (A) 08 NASSAU 429 
 (B) 08 NASSAU 191 
 (C) 07 NASSAU 1244 
 
¶1. (SBU) This is a cable with action issue items.  Southern 
Command/Northern Command/Coast Guard please see paragraph 15 on 
piracy. 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Charge d'Affaires (CDA) and Minister for National 
Security Tommy Turnquest co-chaired the semi-annual Joint Counter 
Narcotics/Illegal Migration Task Force (JTF) meeting between the 
United States and The Bahamas on February 27, 2009. The Turks and 
Caicos did not participate in this JTF meeting due to the ongoing 
Commission of inquiry into the Governemnt of the Turks and Caicos. 
 
 
¶3. (SBU) The parties discussed narcotics smuggling trends, including 
increased smuggling through the Freeport Container Port and the 
recent jump in cocaine seizures. The parties also discussed the 
possibility of greater cooperation in anti-migrant smuggling 
efforts; the GCOB's decision to enforce a ban on Haitian 
wooden-hulled sloops; and plans for the development of Great Inagua. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
¶4. (SBU) In his opening remarks, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign 
Minister Brent Symonette noted the close relationship between 
narcotics smuggling and migrant smuggling and reiterated the GCOB's 
commitment to cooperating with the United States in the fight 
against both. Symonette stated the GCOB would continue to place a 
high priority on providing adequate resources to the Royal Bahamian 
Police Force (RBPF) and Royal Bahamian Defense Force (RBDF), 
including the development of Great Inagua as a platform for law 
enforcement operations. 
 
¶5. (SBU) In his remarks, CDA Zuniga-Brown praised the GCOB for its 
commitment to combating narcotics smuggling and noted that 
cooperation through Operation Bahamas, Turks, and Caicos (OPBAT) had 
led to significant successes against narcotics smuggling in the past 
and he suggested further cooperation between the U.S. and the GCOB 
in anti-migrant smuggling efforts. He noted the importance of the 
GCOB's decision to enforce existing law requiring vessels entering 
Bahamian waters from Haiti to stop in Great Inagua and disgorge 
their cargo before returning to Haiti, and then challenged the GCOB 
to present a plan for the long-term development of Great Inagua as a 
platform for law enforcement operations in the Southeastern 
Bahamas. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The Joint Task Force's third leg, the Turks and Caicos 
Islands, cancelled its participation in the JTF meeting at the last 
minute due to ongoing Commission of inquiry into the Governemnt of 
the Turks and Caicos.   Over the next few weeks, post will reach out 
to its Turks and Caicos law enforcement partners to discuss the 
counter narcotics and anti-migrant smuggling issues raised at the 
meeting. 
 
------------------- 
COCAINE SEIZURES UP 
------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Briefing the parties on recent trends in narcotics 
smuggling, DEA Miami Field Division Special Agent in Charge Mark 
Trouville stated that DEA estimates 5-10 percent of the cocaine 
entering the United States transits The Bahamas and noted an 
increase in seizures at the Freeport Container Port. Additionally, 
he noted, currency seizures in The Bahamas have accounted for nearly 
14 million dollars in the last two years. This indicates that a 
substantial amount of cocaine is being smuggled through The Bahamas. 
He also noted a shift from the traditional Bahamian or Jamaican 
smuggler that once was utilized exclusively by South American drug 
trafficking organizations in this region to Haitian smuggling 
organizations. (NOTE: OPBAT seized 2,040 kg of cocaine during the 
first six months of FY 2009. That represents a 57 percent increase 
over the total cocaine seizures for all of FY 2008). 
 
¶8. (SBU) Commenting that narcotics smugglers are increasingly making 
use of containerized cargo to thwart Bahamian law enforcement's 
detection efforts, Trouville stated that 905 kg of cocaine had been 
seized at the Freeport Container Port during the first six months of 
FY 2009, while only 1,251 kg was detected there during the preceding 
24 months. Though, recently, the majority of cocaine seized has been 
found at the Freeport Container Port, small boat smuggling is still 
a significant threat as evidenced by the February 12 seizure of 808 
kg of cocaine from two Haitian wooden-hulled freighters at Great 
Inagua. RBPF Assistant Commissioner of Police Raymond Gibson agreed 
with the assessment of increased cocaine smuggling through The 
Bahamas and noted that the RBPF also saw increases in cocaine 
seizures and arrests during 2008. 
 
----------------- 
MIGRANT SMUGGLING 
----------------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Observing that The Bahamas had become a major destination 
and transshipment point for illegal migrants, GCOB Director of 
Immigration Jack Thompson stated that Bahamian law enforcement had 
arrested 7,058 illegal aliens in 2008. Of this number, roughly 6,000 
were Haitians, while the remainder included Cubans, Chinese, Eastern 
Europeans, and citizens of various South and Central American 
countries. Thompson reiterated the GCOB policy of repatriating 
illegal aliens as quickly as possible and noted that detention and 
repatriation of these aliens cost the GCOB over 1 million dollars in 
2008 and the government has budgeted 2 million dollars for 2009. 
 
¶10. (SBU) U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) District 7 commander RADM Steve 
Branham agreed that illegal migration from Haiti was on the rise and 
noted that USCG had picked up some 3,100 migrants in Bahamian waters 
or en route to the U.S. during December 2008 and January 2009. 
Branham emphasized his concern with the potential for a mass 
migration from Haiti and said USCG had emphasized operations in the 
northern Windward Passage with one or two cutters patrolling there 
at all times. Branham stated that info sharing is critical to 
success against migrant smuggling the U.S. government and GCOB could 
enhance cooperation and intelligence sharing regarding illegal 
migration issues. The Minister of National Security stated that he 
would support a working group on this issue and the GCOB would take 
the suggestion under advisement. RADM Branham suggested that the 
Bahamaian Immigrations and the USCG public affairs offices work 
together to get the message out to the Haitian community regarding 
the dangers of illegal migration by sea.  Thompson agreed that this 
was a good idea. 
 
----------------------------------- 
GCOB ENFORCES BAN ON HAITIAN SLOOPS 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶11. (SBU) As previously reported (REFs B and C), post has on several 
occasions approached the GCOB regarding the narcotics and migrant 
smuggling threat posed by wooden-hulled Haitian sailing sloops 
traveling through Bahamian waters. Though current Bahamian law 
states that, upon entering Bahamian waters, all commercial vessels 
departing from Haitian ports must off load cargo for inspection at 
Great Inagua, Bahamian authorities had not been enforcing this 
requirement prior to September 2008. In his remarks, Deputy Prime 
Minister Symonette said his government recognized the threat posed 
by these loosely regulated and frequently unsafe vessels and would 
enforce Bahamian law appropriately. He also said the GCOB was 
prepared to bring to a vote in Parliament legislation that would 
codify into Bahamian law the Code of Safety under the Caribbean 
Cargo Ships and the Caribbean Small Vessels agreements. The Bahamas 
is a signatory to both of these Caribbean-wide agreements, but has 
never adopted implementing legislation to incorporate their 
provisions into Bahamian law. These agreements provide health and 
safety standards applicable to wooden-hulled commercial freighters, 
along with an enforcement mechanism that would effectively ban the 
Haitian wooden-hulled freighters from Bahamian waters. (COMMENT: 
USCG reporting and anecdotal evidence based on observations of the 
Nassau port support the GCOB's assertion that it is now enforcing 
the ban on Haitian wooden-hulled sloops in Bahamian waters. We were 
pleased to hear the GCOB's plans pass legislation to implement the 
Code of Safety, however, since this draft legislation was first 
described to post in September 2007 (REF C) we are not certain it 
will be brought to a vote in the immediate future. END COMMENT). 
 
------------ 
Great Inagua 
------------ 
 
¶12. (SBU) As previously reported (REF A), Great Inagua, the 
southeastern most island in The Bahamas, sits astride the primary 
maritime route between Hispaniola and the United States and is an 
untapped resource for law enforcement operations against narcotics 
and migrant smugglers. At the JTF meeting, Minister for National 
Security Turnquest reiterated the GCOB's desire to develop Great 
Inagua. Noting that 3 boats and 40 RBDF personnel are already based 
on Great Inagua, Turnquest said the GCOB was committed to deploying 
more resources there. Turnquest stated that upgrades to the harbor 
and runway facilities were critical to expand operations on Great 
Inagua. Turnquest also noted that RBDF is committed to fully 
staffing and equipping a base in GI for the RBDF.  The GCOB has 
committed to purchase 10 new vessels and 2 new aircraft over the 
coming years. RBDF Commander Commodore Clifford Scavella said the 
RBDF had plans on paper for the development of Great Inagua and 
suggested discussing them with embassy personnel at a later date. 
The GCOB supported the formation of a working group to discuss plans 
for developing Great Inagua. 
 
¶13. (SBU) Referring to the damage caused by hurricane Ike in 
September 2007, RADM Branham stated USCG's commitment to rebuilding 
the hangar facility on Great Inagua and relocating USCG helicopters 
from their temporary operating location in Providenciales, Turks and 
Caicos back to Great Inagua. 
 
------------------------------ 
GCOB Attorney General Comments 
------------------------------ 
 
¶14. (SBU) Assistant Attorney General Bernard Turner stressed the 
importance of a migrant smuggling working group and the continuation 
of asset sharing between the US and the GCOB.  The AG noted fees to 
represent Bahamians who have been extradited to the US can be a 
significant drain on the GoB budget. 
 
-------------------------- 
Piracy a Concern - Request 
USG Assistance 
-------------------------- 
 
¶15. (SBU) The GCOB requested assistance and information on 
international efforts including USG to combat piracy on the high 
seas.  LCDR Bain, Port Department, noted that that the Bahamas has 
the third largest ship registry in the world and due to recent 
incidents of piracy in other regions the Port Department would like 
to have some training on reporting procedures to DOD citing that 
piracy has become a major concern for shipowners.  He also requested 
USCG partnership to review and improve port security measures in 
Nassau and Freeport. RADM Branham stated that the USCG will put LCDR 
Bain in touch with appropriate personnel at US Southern Command. 
ACTION ISSUE: Embassy requests Southern Command/Northern 
Command/USCG assistance in providing briefer/briefing to GCOB 
officials on international efforts including USG, to combat and 
respond to piracy. 
 
----------------------- 
Positive Press Coverage 
----------------------- 
 
¶16. (SBU) The meeting received broad positive coverage in press, 
radio, and television. The Tribune, one of three daily newspapers, 
on February 28, carried an article dubbed "Talks on stepping up 
anti-drug fight."  Citing information taken from the 2009 
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 'that understaffed 
and underfunded Bahamian Drug Secretariat hampered momentum in the 
fight against drug trafficking, and destruction caused by Hurricane 
Ike in Great Inagua last September, the article went on to report 
that both governments stated redevelopment of the Defense Force Base 
in Great Inagua as a top priority.  The article said the US 
government showed its continued commitment to assisting Bahamian 
officials with a $499,800 check presented to the Bahamas Drug 
Enforcement Unit by the US Drug Enforcement Agency.  It noted that 
both US Charge Timothy Zuniga-Brown and Bahamian Deputy Prime 
Minister Brent Symonette agreed that developing the base at Great 
Inagua is a paramount in 2009 after the destruction caused by 
Hurricane Ike forced the US to relocate helicopters based there to 
the Turks and Caicos. 
 
¶17. (SBU) The Nassau Guardian of March 2, carried a front page 
article inclusive of color photographs of officials attending the 
JTF under the heading in bold print "Inagua Base Overahaul Planned." 
 The article quotes Bahamian National Security Mnister Tommy 
Turnquest as saying that the effort to transform the Royal Bahamas 
Defense Force operation on Inagua from an outpost to a full-fledged 
base has been in the works since the Ingraham administration took 
office in 2007.  Minister Turnquest said "we recognize the need to 
improve Inagua, but what we need now is some infrastructural 
development within the harbor, which he said is a multi-million 
dollar infrastructure project.  Turnquest went on to explain that 
the Bahams government has taken "a phased approach in terms of the 
development of the base at Inagua."  Turnquest explained that the 
base was never equipped with vessels since its inception - he said 
that the Bahamas government always had about a dozen marines at the 
base but no assets to do patrols.  When the government took over in 
May, 2007 they made a conscious decision to improve the base.  He 
 
said that the government of the Bahamas is looking forward to being 
able to support the Defense Force's air wing, which is currently 
under expansion. 
 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶18. (SBU) The February 27 meeting continued the trend of substantive 
JTF meetings dedicated to discussing the latest narcotics and 
migrant smuggling issues confronting the U.S., The Bahamas, and the 
Turks and Caicos Islands. Though, unfortunately, the Turks and 
Caicos was unable to participate in this meeting, the parties 
present agreed to pursue initiatives that should increase our 
ability to interdict smugglers, including plans to expand 
coordination and information sharing on migrant smuggling issues; 
GCOB plans to enact a law to implement the Code of Safety regarding 
small commercial vessels; and the agreement to further develop plans 
to develop Great Inagua, beginning with the reconstruction of the 
hangar facilities and the return for USCG helicopters to the island. 
Post supports GCOB initiatives for informal working groups on these 
issues and will continue to meet with the GCOB and appropriate USG 
interlocutors to encourage the full implementation of these 
proposals. END COMMENT. 
 
ZUNIGA-BROWN