VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #1283/01 1101143
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201143Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8407
INFO RHEHOND/DIR ONDCP WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL//SCJ2/SCJ3/SCJ5//
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF STATE AIR WING PATRICK AFB FL

UNCLAS BOGOTA 001283 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR INL/LP AND INL/RM 
DEPT FOR WHA/AND 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO
SUBJECT: NAS MONTHLY REPORT FOR MARCH 2009 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:    Aerial eradicators sprayed 10,920 total 
hectares in March; this number brought the calendar year total to 
23,200 hectares of coca sprayed.  Eradication aircraft were involved 
in three hostile fire incidents, resulting in four impacts for a 
total for the year of seven hostile fire incidents and eight 
impacts.  Total manual coca eradication in March was 4,487 hectares. 
 Due to budget cuts, the 2009 manual eradication goal is 70,000 
hectares, 30,000 hectares less than in 2008.  Landmine and hostile 
fire incidents killed two manual eradication security personnel and 
one eradicator, and injured dozens; ten people have died during this 
year's manual eradication operations.  ARAVI's NAS-supported fleet 
flew 1,660 mission hours in March.  Various U.S.-supported entities 
made large seizures, captured Foreign Terrorist Organization 
personnel, and destroyed their assets.  Vice-President Santos 
launched two commercials linking drug consumption with support for 
narcoterrorism.  END SUMMARY. 
 
---------------------------- 
AERIAL ERADICATION PROGRAM 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Aerial eradicators sprayed 10,920 total hectares in March; 
very poor weather continued to affect spraying, which is being done 
at only two bases.  The team based in Barrancabermeja sprayed 3,667 
hectares and the team in Tumaco sprayed 7,253 hectares.  This number 
brought the calendar year total to 23,200 hectares of coca sprayed. 
 
 
¶3. (SBU) Eradication aircraft were involved in three hostile fire 
incidents in March resulting in four impacts.  This added up to a 
total for the year of seven hostile fire incidents and eight 
impacts.  There have been no deaths or injuries.  In 
Barrancabermeja, Counterdrug (CD) Brigade units supported with 
Colombian Army (COLAR) Aviation assets continued to work on 
offsetting the historically high number of hostile fire impacts in 
this area.  Due to unseasonably poor weather the, aerial eradication 
is behind in reaching the 2009 100,000 hectare spray goal.  Aerial 
eradication efforts have been flexible, surging where possible to 
take full advantage of periods of good weather. 
 
-------------------------- 
MANUAL ERADICATION PROGRAM 
-------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) The GOC's 2009 manual eradication campaign kicked off in 
early March, several weeks late due to administrative problems that 
slowed down the contracting of civilian eradicators.  Due to budget 
cuts, the 2009 manual eradication goal is 70,000 hectares (down from 
100,000 hectares in 2008).  Total coca eradication by the GME 
program for the month of March was 3,005 hectares.  Colombian 
security forces eradicated another 1,482 hectares bringing the GOC 
year to date total to 4,487 hectares of coca.  Manual eradication 
operations are ongoing in six departments with the majority of GMEs 
in the traditional coca growing regions of Putumayo, Antioquia, 
Meta, and Narino.  In March, landmine and hostile fire incidents 
killed two security personnel and one eradicator and injured dozens. 
 A brazen attack by the FARC against a manual eradication camp using 
mortars and cylinder bombs resulted in the death of one security 
guard and 10 injuries.  In addition, on March 3, a Huey II 
helicopter providing support to police units filling in for manual 
eradication crashed, killing four crew members.  Ten people (eight 
security personnel and two civilians) have died during this year's 
manual eradication operations. 
 
--------------------------------- 
COLOMBIA NATIONAL POLICE AVIATION 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Colombian National Police (CNP) Aviations Wing (ARAVI in 
Spanish) NAS-supported fleet flew 1,660 mission hours in March.  The 
seven UH-60 Black Hawks closed out the month with 203 flight hours 
and an Operational Readiness (OR) rate of 78 percent.  Mechanics 
from the manufacturer repaired a battle-damaged UH-60 that will be 
reassembled imminently. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The Bell 212 fleet flew 170 mission hours with an OR rate 
of 52 percent.  Two Bell 212s have yet to be inducted to the Service 
Life Extension Program/Rewire.  The Huey II OR rate was 71 percent 
while flying 860 hours.  Two Huey II aircraft, or six percent of the 
fleet, are currently undergoing depot maintenance for structural 
repairs.  On March 3, PNC 0716 Huey II crashed in the Putumayo 
Department, with four Colombian fatalities and a complete loss of 
 
the aircraft; a bilateral accident investigation is underway. 
 
¶7. (SBU) The DC-3 fleet flew 278 hours in March, with an OR rate of 
59 percent; one DC-3 is undergoing a 2,000-hour inspection.  The 
last C-26 Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Aerial Platform 
(ISRAP) PNC 0224 should be delivered in April 2009.  The C-208 
Caravan has been in the United States for installation of a mapping 
camera and will be returned to Colombia in April. 
 
------------ 
INTERDICTION 
------------ 
 
¶8. (SBU) The CNP seized 17.5 metric tons of cocaine hydrochloride 
(HCl) and cocaine base, 10.8 metric tons of marijuana, and 92 
kilograms (kgs) of heroin.  The CNP also destroyed 10 cocaine HCl 
labs, 120 coca base labs, and captured 185.1 metric tons of 
precursor chemicals. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Highlights for March included the seizure of 52 kgs of 
heroin on March 1 by the Tulua Jungla Company.  The heroin was 
hidden in a mountaintop cache site near Narino.  On March 5, the 
Tulua Junglas destroyed an HCl lab containing 5.6 metric tons of 
cocaine in the Department of Narino.  On March 7, the DIRAN Chemical 
Control Group seized 4.6 tons of precursor chemicals being 
transported in a truck near Barranquilla.  On March 7, the Bogota 
Jungla Airmobile Company destroyed a cocaine HCl laboratory 
containing 43 kgs of cocaine in Antioquia.  On March 9, the Tulua 
Jungla Company destroyed an ELN-supervised HCl lab (ELN supervised) 
containing 1.6 metric tons of cocaine in Narino.  On March 10, the 
Bogota Junglas seized 10 mortar tubes (FARC 21 Front), hidden in 
urban Ibague, Tolima.  On March 12, the Santa Marta Jungla company 
captured 500 kgs of marijuana outside of Barranquilla.  On March 18, 
the DIRAN Cali Intelligence section captured 1.17 metric tons of 
marijuana hidden in a warehouse in Cali's industrial zone.  On March 
18, DIRAN captured Julio Cesar Montoya in Antioquia, requested for 
extradition by the state of Florida for narcotrafficking.  On March 
21, the DIRAN Santa Marta Intelligence Section passed information to 
the Colombian Coast Guard, resulting in the capture of 220 kgs of 
cocaine and six kgs of heroin hidden in a boat in Bahia Portete, 
Guajira.  On March 27, the Bogota Jungla Company destroyed an HCl 
lab containing 1.9 metric tons of cocaine in Antioquia.  On March 
31, the Tulua Jungla Airmobile Company captured 49 kgs of heroin 
hidden in a mountaintop cache in Narino.  The Jungla Airmobile 
companies have been providing 12-man reconnaissance and advisory 
elements to each of the six Manual Eradication sites managed by 
DIRAN. 
 
¶10. (SBU) Several DIRAN courses are underway at the Antinarcotics 
Police Training Center in Pijaos, Tolima to include the 23-week 
Combat Medic Course (40 students), the eight-week Explosives and 
Demolitions Course (45 students), and the 18-week Jungla 
International Course (106 students).  The Jungla International 
Course includes 57 Colombian students and 49 foreign students from 
12 Latin American countries (Haiti, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, 
Belize, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, 
Argentina, and Brazil).  The US Army 7th Special Forces Group's 
course "Pequenas Unidades" graduated 40 students on March 7.  This 
course focused on close quarters combat and reconnaissance.  The 
eight-week land navigation-focused "Explorer Course" graduated 40 
students on March 13.  Two Junglas attended Ambassador Brownfield's 
dinner honoring wounded in action at the Residence on March 5. 
 
¶11. (SBU) The CD Brigade 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions continued to 
support aerial eradication and conducted interdiction and combat 
operations with operational bases in Vichada, Tumaco, Narino, and 
Barrancabermeja.  The battalions conducted interdiction and combat 
operations against the FARC's "Unidad Mixta" ("Mixed Unity") member 
Raul Eduardo Mahecha, Daniel Aldana Mobil Column, the 60th Front, 
ELN's "Frente Guerra" ("Front War") Edgar Amicar Grimaldo, and the 
BACRIMs "Grupo Uno" ("Group One") Magdalena Medio.  CD Brigade 
officers conducted operations in Bolivar, Vichada, Narino, and in 
Antioquia.  During March, the CD Brigade secured a total of 10,917 
hectares for aerial eradication operations.  The battalions located 
and destroyed two HCl laboratories, 12 coca paste laboratories, 
three enemy camps, one enemy cache; and seized 57 kgs of cocaine, 27 
kgs of coca paste, 95 gallons of liquid cocaine, 30,014 of liquid 
precursors, 38,225 of solid precursors, 13,000 kgs of leaf being 
processed, 23,000 coca seedlings, 22 microwaves, two generators, two 
dryers and six instruments used to process cocaine.  During combat 
operations, the battalions confiscated two rifles, one revolver, 
four pistols, eight hand grenades, 910 rounds of ammunition, and one 
two-meter radio.  The battalions also captured one FARC terrorist 
and seven civilians. 
 
--------------------- 
MARITIME INTERDICTION 
--------------------- 
 
¶12. (SBU) Program officers and counterparts conducted a site survey 
in Bahia Solano (Western Colombia) to evaluate the level of support 
required to establish permanent billeting for 20 Colombian Coast 
Guard personnel.  In a joint operation, CNP officers, Colombian 
Marines, and Coast Guard officials seized 768 kgs of marijuana in a 
warehouse in Buenaventura Coast.  During Joint Operation Firewall, 
the Naval Special Ops Group (GRUIN in its Spanish acronym) seized 
two Go-Fast boats.  The GRUIN worked with the Colombian Coast Guard 
and coordinated with Panamanian forces that seized 1,200 kgs in just 
one of the boats.  In a separate operation, another GRUIN team 
captured 45 kgs of cocaine hidden in a vehicle. 
 
------------------------------------------- 
BASE SECURITY/ROAD INTERDICTION/NVD PROGRAM 
------------------------------------------- 
 
¶13. (SBU) The one-month Base Defense course in San Jose de Guaviare 
begun on February 18 continued through the month of March.  48 
students from DIRAN from San Jose de Guaviare, carabineros from the 
Guaviare and Vichada Departments, and eight members of the Joaquin 
Paris battalion of the Colombian Army were participating. 
 
¶14. (SBU) Joint/Combined Interagency Operation Firewall with 
participants from the Colombian Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, Air 
Force, DIRAN Aviation, Junglas and carabineros began in March.  The 
U.S. is represented by members from the DEA, MILGP, NAS and JIATF-S. 
 
 
-------------- 
COMMUNICATIONS 
-------------- 
 
¶15. (SBU) CNP Mobile Training Team provided instruction on the 
THALES radios to the 15th, 16th, 17th, and 18th EMCARs (Mobile 
Carabineros Squadrons).  USSOUTHCOM J6 and USSOUTHCOM DISA (Defense 
Information Systems Agency) Commander visited the CNP G6 where he 
learned about joint NAS and CNP initiatives to improve C4I and 
Command and Control in Colombia. 
 
--------------------------- 
PORT SECURITY PROGRAM (PSP) 
--------------------------- 
 
¶16. (SBU) DIRAN's Ports and Airports Area unit seized 193 kgs of 
cocaine, three kgs of heroin, eight kgs of marijuana, 200 grams of 
amphetamines, USD 190,000 in false U.S. currency, USD 28,325 in 
non-declared dollars, and 6,873 in non-declared Euros at Bogota's 
airport; 6.8 kgs of cocaine, 19,6 kgs of cocaine, 39.6 kgs of 
marijuana, and USD 10,000 in fake U.S. currency at Cali's airport; 
USD 12,141 at the airport of Barranquilla; 2.7 kgs of cocaine at the 
airport of Cartagena; 11 kgs of cocaine at Pereira's airport; 24.4 
kgs of cocaine, 500 grams of heroin and USD 5,200 at the airport of 
Rio Negro (Medellin); 754 kgs of marijuana and 3.5 metric tons of 
cocaine at the port of Buenaventura; 551 kgs of cocaine at the Port 
of Cartagena; and 4.9 kgs of cocaine at San Andres's port. 
 
¶17. (SBU) The DIRAN polygraph unit conducted polygraph exams on 132 
members of the DIRAN's Interdiction, Aviation, and Ports and 
Airports units and supported the Internal Control Group activities 
in specific cases.  105 of those tested passed the exam, 23 failed, 
and four were inconclusive.  The Chief of the ICE Polygraph Unit 
trained the DIRAN Polygraph Unit and the Deserter's Program 
personnel. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
REESTABLISH POLICE PRESENCE PROGRAM (CARABINEROS) 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶18. (SBU) Mobile Carabineros Squadrons (EMCARs) have been providing 
rural security and security for the major lines of communications in 
28 of 32 departments.  The search block in Antioquia and Cordoba has 
been trying to combat the increasing number of homicides in Caucasia 
that are a result of a war for control between the different 
emerging criminal bands in the area.  During manual eradication 
missions, criminal elements have been attacking squadrons that are 
removing improvised explosive devices.  During March, the EMCARs 
destroyed 23 cocaine base laboratories, two seedbeds, and engaged in 
two confrontations with narcotraffickers. 
 
¶19. (SBU) During March, the carabineros captured 162 people (two 
narcotraffickers, 11 FARC/ELN, 14 members of emerging criminal 
bands, and 135 common criminals), 95 weapons, and 455 rounds of 
ammunition.  They also seized 8,653 gallons of liquid precursors, 
9,120 kgs of solid precursors, 123 kgs of cocaine, 166 kgs of 
cocaine base, and 41 kgs of marijuana. 
 
------------- 
ENVIRONMENTAL 
------------- 
 
¶20. (SBU) In March, the interagency complaints committee visited 34 
sites, received 24 new claims of alleged spray damage to legal 
crops, and closed 83 cases.  To date, NAS has paid for 117 
complaints, and started payment for 19 cases.  Once the 19 
recipients receive full payment, crop damage payments for the 136 
cases will total approximately USD 542,692. 
 
¶21. (SBU) In February, NAS received 36 complaints from USAID 
alternative development project recipients in Tumaco, Narino.  The 
technical committee conducted the verification visit in March and 
determined that four people would be compensated.  The remainder of 
the complaints will be closed because spray operations either did 
not affect the crops or coca was present. 
 
¶22. (SBU) The 19 verification missions took place from March 
24-April 2 in Antioquia, Cordoba, Bolivar, Nario, Cauca, Meta, and 
Guaviare.  Due to the security situation near Putumayo and Caqueta, 
NAS was unable to complete the mission at that time.  This 
verification covers fields that were sprayed between September 2008 
and February 2009.  Out of the 67 fields rated, overall coca control 
appeared high - meaning that spray operations significantly affected 
or killed coca crops, leading farmers to either replant or prune. 
Additional information will be provided in a subsequent cable. 
 
--------------------------------- 
INDIVIDUAL DEMOBILIZATION PROGRAM 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶23. (SBU) The Ministry of Defense's (MOD) demobilization program 
continues into 2009 with high desertion rates, so far totaling 785 
individuals.  Demobilization of ELN members has increased 
significantly compared to previous years due to a special 
communications strategy directed at that group.  More than 60 
percent of the demobilized stated their motivations for desertion 
are abuse by commanders and/or military pressure.  Information 
provided by the demobilized about their former organizations remains 
one of the best sources of intelligence available to Colombian 
security forces.  Large MOD budget shortfalls have not yet been 
remedied, impacting plans for communicating demobilization message 
deep into the countryside, payment for valuable information, 
prevention of illegal recruitment, and psychological/social 
assistance. 
 
---------------------- 
DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION 
---------------------- 
 
¶24. (SBU) On March 5 in Ibague, Tolima, Vice-President Santos, 
accompanied by the NAS Director launched two commercials linking 
drug consumption with support for narcoterrorism.  The commercials 
immediately went on air and their copies will be distributed to 
various departments and their municipalities.  NAS financed the 
making of these and other two commercials, taking ONDCP copies and 
"colombianizing" them. 
 
BROWNFIELD