VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #1750/01 1521131
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011131Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8977
INFO RHEHOND/DIR ONDCP WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL//SCJ2/SCJ3/SCJ5//
RUWDQAC/US INTERDICTION COORD WASHDC
RUEAHLC/DHS WASHDC//ICE/CNO//
RUMIJTF/DIRJIATF SOUTH KEY WEST FL
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF STATE AIR WING PATRICK AFB FL

UNCLAS BOGOTA 001750 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR INL/LP 
DEPT FOR WHA/AND 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO
SUBJECT: COLOMBIA: NARCOTICS MAJOR 2010 REQUEST FOR REPORT CARD 
 
REFS: A) STATE 0832222, B) BOGOTA 1595 
 
¶1.  (U) SUMMARY:  Though Colombia remains a major producer and 
trafficker of illicit narcotics, the Government of Colombia (GOC) 
continues as an unwavering ally in the fight against both narcotics 
production and trafficking.  Our core bilateral counternarcotics 
eradication and interdiction programs in Colombia are producing 
record results.  Extraditions, desertions, and justice programs also 
contribute to the success of counternarcotics programs and 
operations.  U.S. assistance to Colombia continues to be a success 
story and the Embassy recommends full narcotics cooperation 
certification for Colombia in 2009. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
----------- 
Eradication 
----------- 
 
¶2.  (U) Total eradication numbers for coca in Colombia in 2008 was a 
record 229,227 hectares, an increase of 10,335 hectares from 2007, a 
new record. 
 
-- In 2008, the Colombian National Police aerially eradicated 
133,496 hectares, exceeding the goal of 130,000 hectares, but 15% 
lower than the 2007 spray total of 153,134 hectares.  Due to reduced 
USG funds for eradication, in late 2008 the aerial eradication 
program moved from three to two forward operating spray bases and 
the 2009 spray goal has been adjusted to 100,000 hectares to reflect 
reduced funding for aerial eradication. 
 
-- Manual eradication of coca in 2008 totaled 95,731 hectares, a new 
record but just short of the GOC's goal of 100,000 hectares.  Manual 
eradication in 2007 was 65,587 hectares.  In 2008, 26 eradicators 
and security personnel died and dozens were injured during manual 
eradication operations -- a stark reminder that manual eradication 
is necessary, but dangerous work.  Landmines caused most of the 
deaths and injuries, along with IEDs planted in coca fields and 
sniper fire.  There have been 120 deaths since 2005. 
 
-- The GOC continues to conduct monitoring and verification missions 
to ensure the aerial eradication program is conducted without undue 
risk to human health and the environment, as required under 
Colombian and U.S. law.  The Environmental Management Plan for 
aerial eradication requires verification on a semi-annual basis, and 
the Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) has increased the monitoring 
using a gyroscopic camera that is operated by Colombian police 
personnel.  The recent addition of aviation platforms equipped with 
high resolution cameras will increase the GOC's ability to conduct 
more frequent coca monitoring and verification missions. 
 
-- In the last year numerous studies and field reports have been 
released touting the success of eradication in reducing the amount 
of cocaine produced, the funding available to narcoterrorists, the 
amount of coca leaf available and the amount of coca under 
cultivation (see REF B).  In September 2008, the Office of National 
Drug Control Policy reported that sustained aerial and manual 
eradication reduced Colombia's maximum potential production of pure 
cocaine by 24 percent since its high point in 2001.  The recently 
released results of the United Nation's 2008 coca cultivation study, 
citing heavy eradication pressure during 2008, found that coca 
cultivation in 2008 is down by an estimated 18 percent compared to 
¶2007.  This reduction verifies reports from USG program managers and 
spray pilots who are reporting difficulties in finding coca.  When 
found it is less healthy, less dense, and in smaller fields. 
 
-- In 2008 the CNP deployed judicial police to accompany manual 
eradication operations to gather evidence and develop asset 
forfeiture investigations against property owners who use their land 
for the cultivation or processing of illegal crops.  Despite legal, 
procedural, and security obstacles, this asset seizure initiative is 
a crucial step toward real deterrence of cultivation and replanting 
after eradication.  In 2009, the GOC will continue to conduct asset 
forfeiture cases jointly with manual eradication operations with the 
goal of 380 seized properties and 1,000 arrests of coca growers. 
 
------------ 
Interdiction 
------------ 
 
¶3.  (U) Interdiction makes record seizures in 2008. 
 
--The Colombian Public Forces set new records for seizures of 
cocaine (including cocaine base), marijuana, and drug labs in 2008. 
Colombian Public Forces seized 245 metric tons of cocaine and base, 
258 metric tons (MTs) of marijuana, and 695 kilos of heroin this 
past year.  They also destroyed 3,667 drug labs.  A variety of 
factors contributed to these unprecedented results, including 
aggressive senior police and military leadership, an expanded CNP 
Antinarcotics Directorate and greater coordination between 
interdiction and eradication. 
 
-- The Colombian Army Counter-Drug (CD) Brigade provided security 
for the aerial and manual eradication, and conducted interdiction 
and high value target operations against members from the FARC, ELN 
and organized crime organizations.  During 2008 the CD Brigade 
seized over three metric tons of cocaine, 667 kilos of coca paste, 
10,077 gallons of liquid coca, and 126,054 gallons of liquid 
precursors.  The brigade also destroyed 28 HCL cocaine laboratories, 
134 coca base laboratories and two clandestine precursor refineries 
(one sulfuric acid). 
 
---------------------------------------- 
Extradition and High Value Targets (HVT) 
---------------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (U) There were a record number of extraditions and HVT missions 
in 2008 and 2009 is on track to be another record year. 
 
-- The USG has no better international partner in the area of 
extradition than the Colombian government.  In 2008, the GOC 
extradited 208 people to the United States, including 15 former top 
paramilitary chiefs -- many of whom continue to participate in the 
Justice and Peace Process through live transmissions from the United 
States.  From January to April 2009, another 93 individuals have 
been extradited.  Furthermore, Colombia is actively investigating 
and prosecuting cases against major drug traffickers and cooperating 
with U.S. judicial authorities to provide evidence and witnesses for 
prosecutions of extradited Colombian nationals facing trial in the 
United States.  Colombia has extradited 880 individuals to the 
United States between the beginning of President Uribe's 
administration in August of 2002 and the end of April 2009. 
 
-- In 2008, three members of the FARC Secretariat died, including 
the numbers one and two as well as one Secretariat member who was 
killed by his own bodyguard.  The GOC killed or captured numerous 
other high-ranking FARC leaders, including alias "Cesar" and alias 
"Gafas," who were taken into custody during the daring military 
rescue of the three US contractors held hostage from 2002-2008.  In 
2009, GOC operations against FARC HVTs continue to keep the 
Secretariat -- including new Supreme Leader Alfonso Cano -- on the 
move and unable to conduct major attacks.   In 2009, the GOC in 2009 
captured leading emerging criminal band (BACRIM) leader Daniel 
Rendon Herrera, alias "Don Mario." 
 
------------------------------- 
Rule of Law, Peace, and Justice 
------------------------------- 
 
¶5. Colombia continues to expand state presence and the government is 
now able to provide justice and other services due to the improved 
security situation in many areas. 
 
-- Colombia has made major progress in strengthening the Colombian 
state and weakening criminal and terrorist groups.  Colombia 
maintains a police presence in every municipality and Mobile 
Carabineros Squadrons continue to actively patrol rural Colombia. 
Increased law enforcement and expansion of government control into 
previously hard-to-govern areas is a dramatic success story. 
Homicides are at their lowest level in more than twenty years. Since 
Uribe took office, Colombia has seen a decrease in homicides by 37 
percent, kidnappings by 78 percent, terrorist attacks by 63 percent 
and attacks on the country's infrastructure by 60 percent. 
-- The adoption of new tactics by narcotraffickers, including 
shifting coca cultivation and cocaine production to new areas and 
exploiting the lack of a sustained Colombian government presence in 
many rural areas, has enabled them to continue to produce and export 
substantial amounts of cocaine to the United States and Europe.  In 
response, Colombia has adjusted its approach to focus on 
establishing a sustainable government presence and integrated rural 
development in major coca growing and FARC-controlled regions. 
Colombia's first consolidation program in the Macarena region of 
central Colombia has been successful in reducing coca cultivation 
there.  The United Nations recently reported that coca cultivation 
in the Macarena consolidation zone reduced by 73 percent in 2008 
compared to 2007.  Consolidation programs based on the Macarena 
model are currently in the planning stages for other priority 
regions in Colombia. 
 
-- In 2008, the GOC completed the final phase of its implementation 
of a new criminal procedure code and a transition to an efficient 
and transparent oral accusatory justice system.  The initial 
indicators of the transition are very positive, with the time to 
resolve criminal cases reduced by more than 75 percent and an 
increase in prosecutions in criminal cases from three percent to 
over 60 percent.  By year end 2008, Colombia had trained, with USG 
support, more than 42,000 judges, investigators, public prosecutors, 
forensic experts and defenders in the new system.   To help 
implement the new system, the USG has also assisted in constructing 
or remodeling 45 new courtrooms suitable for oral trials and 15 new 
public defender offices across Colombia. 
 
-- The Uribe administration continued its proactive peace efforts in 
¶2009.  To date, over 19,000 individual members of the FARC, ELN, 
AUC, and other illegal armed groups have deserted their 
organizations, and more than 31,000 AUC demobilized collectively 
through negotiations with the GOC. 
 
----------------------------------- 
A Great Partner and a Success Story 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶7.  (U) The GOC is a great partner and has met or exceeded all of 
its identified narcotics cooperation certification criteria set 
forth in section 481(h)(2)(A) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 
for eligibility for United States assistance.  The GOC is firmly 
committed to fighting the production and trade in illicit drugs and 
remains a key USG ally in the fight against narcoterrorism. 
President Uribe has repeatedly emphasized in public that the 
narcotics threat is the single biggest enemy of democracy in 
Colombia and security forces have responded accordingly.  U.S. 
assistance to Colombia continues to be a success story and the 
Embassy recommends full narcotics cooperation certification for 
Colombia again in 2009. 
 
Brownfield