VZCZCXYZ0009
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #0406/01 0961451
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 061451Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3494

UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000406 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR INL/LP - DEBORAH HOOKER 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: SNAR AFIN AR
SUBJECT:  INL-FUNDED ASSISTANCE IN ARGENTINA: 2008 END-USE 
MONITORING REPORT 
 
¶1. Embassy Buenos Aires' CY-2008 End-Use Monitoring Report follows 
below: 
 
¶2. Inventory Management 
 
EUM Program Coordinator: 
Theodore J. Craig, Phone number 54-11-5777-4858, email address: 
craigtj@state.gov 
 
Post's Narcotics Program has to date not utilized PD&S funding and 
has been unable to fund on-site inspections or periodic spot checks 
to perform End-Use Monitoring.  The Narcotics Program Coordinator 
has relied on DEA officers to assess appropriate usages and 
verification of the condition of INL-funded resources and equipment. 
 Argentine law enforcement officials provide post with periodic 
updates on equipment.  While this system of overlapping verification 
methods was deemed in the past the best possible end-use appraisal 
system available given Post's resources, Post is currently planning 
for the use of PD&S resources in FY 2009-2010 to fund both site 
visits and a part-time EFM position to perform end-use monitoring. 
 
 
¶3. Counterpart Agencies 
Recipients: 
Argentine Federal Police (PFA) 
Argentine Border Patrol (GNA) 
Argentine Coast Guard (PNA) 
Provincial Police Forces (Buenos Aires, Salta, Misiones, Mendoza) 
 
Receipt: 
The provision of items and services provided to the above-mentioned 
agencies is done through MOUs, diplomatic notes, official letters, 
and donation ceremonies. 
 
¶4. On-site inspections of INL-funded resources are carried out by 
DEA agents when performing their other duties. 
 
¶A. STATUS-COMMODITIES 
 
The majority of INL-funded equipment is located in the northern 
provinces of Salta and Jujuy.  All indications are that all provided 
equipment is being used for the intended purposes.  No single case 
of inappropriate or unauthorized use was reported in 2008.  In 
general, the equipment provided through INL funding continues to be 
used but with problems coming from advancing age and hard use.  Many 
computers, vehicles, and radio equipment are near or well past their 
useful lives. 
 
¶B. VEHICLES 
 
Currently, the NBTF has 17 donated vehicles.  However, only 12 are 
operational; the others have been damaged to such an extent that 
they are not cost effective to repair. 
 
The unusable vehicles by recipient follow: 
 
NBTF - Salta Provincial Police 
 
Jeep Cherokee 4x4 Blue, no plates - Motor No. VM59BO6544 - Body No. 
14FJ68M6W1194729 - Model 1998 
 
Jeep Cherokee 4x4 Blue, no plates - Motor No. VM59B06541 - Body 
FJ68M2WL194727 
 
NBTF - GNA 
 
Clio, Bordo, plate EWA283 - Motor No. K9KA700D069185 - Body No. 
8A1BB07055L546003 
 
Clio, Red, Plate EWA281 - Motor No. K9KA700D074134 - Body No. 
8A1LB07055L578817 
 
Clio, Grey, Plate EWA282 - Motor No. K9KA700D065610 - Body No. 
8A1BB07054L528485 
 
 
It is Post's recommendation that, when replacing vehicles, models 
better suited to rough/rural terrain should be selected to alleviate 
the continuing need for repair. 
 
One Chevrolet double-cabin pickup was provided to the NBTF in 2006 
with INCLE funds.  It was delivered and is currently in use by the 
NBTF.  One Ford cargo van and one sedan were purchased in May 2006 
with Andean Initiative funds.  Both vehicles were delivered to and 
are being used by the Mendoza provincial police counternarcotics 
unit.  Vehicles provided in previous years (1993-1997) already have 
over 200,000 kilometers on them and require fairly extensive routine 
maintenance on suspension, brakes and engine parts. 
 
In 2007 Post initiated the purchase of six sedan vehicles that are 
to be distributed between the NBTF, EBTF, and Federal Police.  Final 
 
payment to the dealer was made in 2008. 
The PFA has two donated vehicles the other four were donated to the 
NBTF and EBTF.  All cars are in working order. 
 
¶C. MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT 
 
One gas tank fiberscope and 20 digital cameras were purchased in 
2006; the fiberscope was provided to the NBTF; out of the 20 
cameras, sixteen were provided to Argentine counterparts and four 
are still to be distributed by DEA.  Post continues to observe that 
both National and Provincial Police Forces make good use of the 
miscellaneous equipment (handcuffs, vests, flashlights, cameras, 
etc.) provided to them in previous years. 
In 2008, the NBTF was provided with emergency medical kits 
(stethoscopes, tourniquets, bandages, automatic defibrillator, 
airway nasopharyngeal, and IVs) and with defensive tactical gears. 
Also, in June 2008, the GNA, the Salta provincial police, and the 
Jujuy provincial police received the donation of uniforms for use at 
the NBTF. 
 
¶D. COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT 
 
Communications equipment has not been donated in the last few years. 
 Radio transmitters provided to the NBTF require routine maintenance 
and repair.  Many hand-held radios provided to Federal and 
Provincial Police throughout Argentina need to be repaired or 
replaced because of wear and tear resulting from routine use under 
harsh operational conditions. 
 
¶E. COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE 
 
Two laptops with networking system and 18 desktops were purchased in 
2006 for use by the Northern Border Task Force (NBTF) and other GOA 
counternarcotics agencies.  Delays in receiving the computers and 
mislabeling at the Embassy warehouse delayed distribution.  Post 
distributed the computers to the target agencies in April 2008 and 
they are working.  In addition, I2 chart-making software that was 
provided to federal and provincial law enforcement forces in FY 2008 
is being utilized to assist in investigations.  DEA officers have 
seen useful Argentine-developed products using this software. 
 
¶F. TRAINING 
 
February 2008: Firearms and Tactical Training in Salta (Andean 
Initiative Funds) 
February 25-March 1, 2008: Firearms and Tactical Training in Buenos 
Aires (Andean Initiative Funds) 
April 2008: Firearms and Tactical Training in Mendoza (INCLE Funds) 
May 2008: Firearms and Tactical Training in Misiones (INCLE Funds) 
June 2008: DEA/MILGRP sponsored Medical Casualty Assistance Course 
in Salta (First Phase)-(Andean Initiative Funds) 
June 2008: Firearms and Tactical Training in Buenos Aires) (Andean 
Initiative Funds) 
July 2008: Firearms and Tactical Training in La Plata for the Buenos 
Aries provincial police (INCLE Funds) 
July 21-November 30, 2008: Colombia Jungla International Course 
(INCLE Funds) for two GNA and two PNA officers 
September 2008: Firearms and Tactical Training in Mendoza (INCLE 
Funds) 
December 2008: Female Defensive Tactics training for the Buenos 
Aires provincial police.(INCLE Funds) 
January 2009: DEA/MILGRP sponsored Medical Casualty Assistance 
Course in Salta (Second Phase)-(Andean Initiative Funds) 
 
CHALLENGES 
 
¶5. Post lost its Narcotics Coordinator position in June 2006.  These 
additional duties were assumed by the PolMil Officer, but lack of 
PD&S funds to date limited direct oversight and monitoring 
activities.  The changing counter-narcotics policies in neighboring 
Bolivia coincide with growing cocaine trafficking through Argentina 
and increasing requests by GOA authorities for assistance.  GOA Law 
Enforcement Agencies provide exceptional cooperation to Post 
agencies on counternarcotics issues, providing an opportunity to 
greatly improve the GOA's ability to combat drug trafficking.  The 
Narcotics Coordinator has requested PD&S funding to conduct a 
comprehensive review of donated equipment, establish an effective 
end-use monitoring system and, ideally, fund an Eligible Family 
Member or Locally Employed position to help manage this important 
program. 
 
IMPACT 
 
¶6. While the INL-funded program in Argentina is small, it continues 
to have a positive impact working in coordination with DEA's country 
programs, especially on the perennially under-funded Provincial 
Police Anti-Drug Units operating in the Northern provinces.  In 
2007, DEA established a NBTF-like operation in the Misiones Province 
(the Eastern Border Task Force - EBTF), near the Tri-Border Area 
with Brazil and Paraguay.  INCLE funds will be used to support 
training and equipment for this operation, as it has with the 
 
successful NBTF (Northern Border Task Force).  Argentine law 
enforcement agencies continue to report increased cocaine seizures 
over the past several years and GNA seizures for the first two 
months of 2009 were well ahead of 2008 numbers.  Post, led by DEA, 
has actively assisted local law enforcement in their 
counter-narcotics efforts.  Drug seizures by GOA law enforcement 
agencies are up, including those resulting from complex 
investigations, indicating increased capacity on the part of these 
agencies. 
 
¶7. Posts INL program is a valuable tool in implementing and 
advancing our counter-narcotics/transnational crime agenda with the 
GOA.  GOA law enforcement agencies remain focused on this agenda and 
look to Post agencies for advice and assistance in implementing 
their national drug plan.  In the coming years, the INL program will 
be increasingly important in meeting USG counternarcotics objectives 
in Argentina and the region. 
 
WAYNE