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FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9943
INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 2308
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 0377
RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC 1414
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1867
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PORT AU PRINCE 000500 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/EX AND WHA/CAR 
INL FOR MEAGAN MCBRIDE, KEVIN BROWN AND DIANNE GRAHAM 
S/CRS 
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD 
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR 
INR/IAA 
WHA PLEASE PASS USOAS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL EAID KCRM KJUS HA
SUBJECT: HAITI: APRIL 2009 NAS MONTHLY REPORT 
 
PORT AU PR 00000500  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1.  The following summarizes Post's INL/NAS and 
counternarcotics activities in April 2009. 
 
¶2. Merida Initiative: 
-  On April 30, Ambassador Sanderson and Minister of Justice 
Exume signed the Letter of Agreement for 2,159,000 USD to 
fund four projects under Merida: a communications network for 
the Haitian National Police (HNP), assistance to 
counternarcotics units, including a new Haitian Coast Guard 
base at Port de Paix, joint training fQfDQeform 
with advisors in 2006.  All corrections advisors are French 
and Creole speakers. 
-  Two contingent members suffered injuries or illness 
requiring hospitalization.  One has since departed for the 
U.S. to undergo surgery. 
 
¶5.  NAS Project Status: 
-  Construction of three new instructors barracks at the HNP 
Academy by PAE is progressing slowly, awaiting INL approval 
of modifications to add a third story to those buildings. 
Trailers currently occupied by the instructors have been 
determined to be beyond rehabilitation, thus necessitating 
the modification to the original construction plans.  Road 
and drainage work on campus also continues but inappropriate 
sewage disposal from some of the cadet facilities and the 
Jordanian UN camp on the Academy grounds is negatively 
impacting the contractor's ability to finish canal work.  NAS 
is working to propose a solution to the GOH and MINUSTAH. 
-  DynCorp is finishing remaining items at the new Cite 
Soleil police station that was inaugurated in March, while 
awaiting approval of additional perimeter wall construction. 
Trainers continue to mentor the HNP on introduction of 
community oriented policing in the commune. 
 
¶6.  Corrections: 
-  Corrections Advisor Eddie Pigg completed his contract on 
April 30 and departed post.  He was instrumental in laying 
 
PORT AU PR 00000500  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
the groundwork for construction of a new women's prison in 
Haiti.  That project has been stalled for some months due to 
the initial selection by the GOH of an inappropriate site. 
At a meeting on April 27, the Director of Prisons indicated 
that a new site had been chosen and later accompanied NAS to 
visit the proposed site on the outskirts of Port au Prince. 
-  Construction of an isolation ward in the Men's 
Penitentiary will be finished in 30 days.  DynCorp, NAS and 
IOM met to discuss coordination of the next projects being 
undertaken in that facility:  exterior wall reconstruction by 
IOM and the NAS-funded infirmary rehabilitation.  These 
projects present particular challenges due to the 
complexities of working in a severely-overcrowded prison 
holding nearly 4000 detainees (400% capacity). 
 
¶7.  Counternarcotics: 
-  On three occasions in April, DEA received information from 
JIATF-S regarding clandestine flights headed to Haiti.  In 
each case, DEA and the HNP attempted to locate and interdict 
the offloads, with negative results in terms of drugs seized. 
 However, on the third attempt, they did stop an SUV driven 
by an HNP officer that had been linked to at least seven 
other offloads.  The HNP officer was arrested and his vehicle 
seized, which smelled of chemicals associated with bulk 
cocaine.  A second SUV, suspected to be the load vehicle, 
spotted the roadblock and fled the scene. 
-  On April 8, BLTS (HNP counternarcotics unit) and Haitian 
Customs responded to a DEA tip and searched three containers 
at the Port au Prince port.  Four vehicles reported stolen in 
the greater Miami area were seized. 
-  The BAFE (HNP financial crimes unit supported by NAS/OTA 
anti-money laundering program) seized two additional houses 
under forfeiture orders based on U.S. drug convictions.  This 
brings the value of properties and assets seized to over 24 
million USD.  More such forfeitures are expected in the 
future. 
-  Two separate deployments of HNP SWAT officers took place 
to Pestel, stronghold of wanted drug trafficker and 
disqualified Senate candidate Guy Philippe.  The initial 
deployment of 15 HNP on April 7 was to ensure that the 
polling place, closed by Philippe following his 
disqualification, would open on April 19 for the Senate 
election as scheduled.  In reality, it was also intended to 
establish a stronger HNP presence in Pestel to facilitate 
active efforts to arrest Philippe.  18 additional SWAT 
officers were deployed on April 18.  HNP DG Andresol has 
vowed to keep them there until Philippe is arrested. 
-  In a setback for interdiction efforts in Haiti, on April 
17, a judge in St Marc, citing insufficient evidence, 
released nine defendents, inclduing two Colombians, two 
active duty HNP and two former HNP, who were held after being 
arrested in possession of illegal firearms and $689,000 USD. 
The release came in spite of the confession of one of the 
Colombians that he had been recruited in Colombia to 
coordinate cocaine deliveries n Haiti, that he had already 
receied two shipments of 500 kilos which he had deliverd to 
a Haitian in Cap Haitian and the cash seized was partial 
payment for the second load.  His statement was corroborated 
by one of the Haitians and by GPS coordinates found in his 
SUV leading to a clandestine airstrip in the Central Plateau. 
 
¶8.  Other: 
-  Secretary of State Clinton paid a one-day visit to Haiti. 
In her meetings with the President and with Embassy staff she 
noted the challenges faced by Haiti as a major transit 
country for drugs and the USG commitment to assisting in 
counternarcotics efforts. 
-  The remaining 160 of 500 12-gauge shotguns purchased by 
the Interim Government of Haiti (IGOH) in 2005 were turned 
over the HNP to provide additional security for Senatorial 
elections that took place on April 19.  NAS maintained 
physical possession of those weapons due to Congressional 
requirements established to allow the weapons to be purchased 
by the IGOH while the arms embargo was in place.  NAS retains 
possession of some tear gas and M-14s under those same 
 
PORT AU PR 00000500  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
restrictions until such time as all conditions for turnover 
are met by the HNP. 
 
SANDERSON