VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #2380/01 2091803
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 281803Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9978
INFO RHEHOND/DIR ONDCP WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL//SCJ2/SCJ3/SCJ5//
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF STATE AIR WING PATRICK AFB FL

UNCLAS BOGOTA 002380 
 
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 JUNE 2009 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  The aerial eradication team sprayed 14,380 
hectares in June and is on schedule to reach the 100,000 hectare 
goal.  Accion Social opened up more area to spray in Tumaco, Narino. 
 Phase II of the manual eradication campaign will end in July and 
Phase III will start in mid-August; so far this year, 23,492 
hectares have been eradicated - well short of the 70,000 annual 
goal.  In June, landmine and hostile fire incidents killed two 
security personnel, one civilian eradicator and one UN topographer; 
so far this year, 21 people have been killed in manual eradication 
operations compared to 26 people killed in all of 2008.  PCHP flew 
62 hours supporting 15 medical evacuation flights that transported 
26 patients.  Out of 2,710 air tracks over Colombia, the ABD program 
did not identify any in June as Unidentified Assumed Suspect.  At 
indigenous consultations in Narino, the GOC and various indigenous 
communities signed an agreement to allow for aerial and manual 
eradication in indigenous areas in the northern part of Narino. 
Compared to the same time period last year, in 2009 the Ministry of 
Defense's demobilization program saw a decrease of 18 percent in FTO 
members who chose to demobilize.  On June 25-26, the Ministry of 
Social Protection, UNODC, National Directorate of Dangerous Drugs, 
and NAS Bogota organized a conference to commemorate the 
International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, 
discuss the National Household Drug Consumption Survey's results, 
and hold panel discussions on the characteristics of different drugs 
and their use.  Mark Lopes, principal staffer to Senator Robert 
Menendez, visited Colombia June 28 - July 3, and walked away with a 
better understanding of NAS's "hard side" programs and the CSDI's 
integrated approach.  Senator Menendez may be planning a visit to 
Colombia in August.  END SUMMARY. 
 
---------------------------- 
AERIAL ERADICATION PROGRAM 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) As a result of improved weather and decrease in 
unscheduled maintenance operations, the aerial eradication team 
sprayed 14,380 hectares in June, bringing the total for the year to 
46,643 and maintaining the program on schedule to reach the 100,000 
hectare calendar goal.  The eradication aircraft experienced two 
hostile fire incidents during the month, resulting in three impacts; 
so far this year, the aircraft experienced twelve hostile fire 
incidents with twenty impacts, without injuries or loss of life. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The GOC Accion Social (AS) manual eradication program has 
increased its willingness to coordinate with the NAS Aviation Unit 
(NAU) aerial eradication program.  Accion Social removed the 
majority of the previously instituted, large no-spray areas in 
Tumaco, thus increasing hectares that can be sprayed.  Macarena's 
Integral Consolidation Plan leaders (PCIM in its Spanish acronym) 
requested NAS assistance to spray in southern PCIM where the 
conditions are too difficult for manual eradication operations. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) CNP continues to consider its long term plans regarding 
follow up of AT-802 Mechanic Training.  Colombia National Police 
(CNP) Air Service Support (ARAVI) agreed to provide to NAU's 
eradication team a plan outlining their projections for mid and 
upper level maintenance and supervision.  Absences due to promotion 
schools and vacation plans are interfering with C-208 pilot 
training; NAS is coordinating with the CNP to maintain minimum crew 
requirements. 
 
-------------------------- 
MANUAL ERADICATION PROGRAM 
-------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Phase II of the GOC's 2009 manual eradication campaign 
(GME program) will end in late July.  Total eradication of coca for 
the month of June was 5,651 hectares - bringing the GME program's 
year-to-date total to 19,824 hectares.  Including eradication 
carried out by the Colombian security forces, total coca eradication 
through June was 23,492 hectares, well short of the 70,000 manual 
eradication goal half-way through the year.  Manual eradication 
operations are ongoing in 12 departments.  For Phase III, scheduled 
to begin in August, the DIRAN - responsible for half of the manual 
eradication goal - have proposed increasing the number of police 
units protecting GMEs to increase the pace of eradication.  It is 
unclear if DIRAN will have sufficient resources such as 
communications and other equipment. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) In June, landmine and hostile fire incidents killed two 
security personnel, one civilian eradicator, and one UN topographer 
tasked with measuring manual eradication.  Through June, 21 people 
(16 security personnel and five civilians, including the UN 
topographer) have died during this year's manual eradication 
operations.  In all of 2008, 26 security personnel and civilian 
eradicators were killed in manual eradication operations. 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Separate from the GME program, the Colombian Army (COLAR) 
and the CNP conducted manual eradication as part of their normal 
operations.  Through June, COLAR has eradicated 2,621 hectares of 
coca, 44 hectares of poppy, and two hectares of marijuana; the CNP 
has eradicated 721 hectares of coca, six hectares of poppy, and 44 
hectares of marijuana; and the Navy has eradicated 164 hectares of 
coca. 
 
----------------------------- 
COLOMBIA NATIONAL POLICE (CNP) 
AIR SERVICE (ARAVI) SUPPORT 
----------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) ARAVI's NAS-supported fleet flew 1,771 mission hours in 
June.  The seven UH-60 Black Hawks closed out the month with 167 
flight hours and an Operational Readiness (OR) rate of 58 percent. 
The damage by enemy fire to one UH-60 will remove it from service 
for 30 days.  The Bell 212 fleet flew 212 mission hours with an OR 
rate of 57 percent.  One Bell 212 has yet to be inducted to the 
Service Life Extension Program/Rewire.  The Huey II flew 894 hours 
with a 74 percent OR rate.  Four Huey II aircraft, or twelve percent 
of the fleet, are currently undergoing depot maintenance repair for 
structural faults.  The DC-3 fleet flew 176 hours in June, with an 
OR rate of 44 percent.  Two DC-3s are undergoing a 2,000-hour 
inspection.  ARAVI expects that the last C-26 Intelligence, 
Surveillance, Reconnaissance Aerial Platform (ISRAP) PNC 0224 will 
arrive in July. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
PLAN COLOMBIA HELICOPTER PROGRAM (PCHP) 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) The PCHP aircraft, operating from Tumaco, San Jose, and 
Tolemaida, flew a total of 712 hours providing air assaults, air 
movements, reconnaissance, medical evacuations, and support missions 
for aerial eradication operations, the Counter Drug (CD) Brigade, 
and other vetted COLAR units.  PCHP supported the capture of High 
Value Targets (HVTs) in the Vichada department and a destruction of 
gasoline refinery and HCl laboratories in the Narino department. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) PCHP flew 62 hours supporting 15 medical evacuation 
flights that transported 26 patients.  PCHP helicopters provided 
aerial transport and security escort support for the STAFDEL Long 
visit to the Narino department, and also supported three Chief of 
Mission HVT Joint Task Force operations.  COMMENT:  This record 
number of joint operations reflects an increasing effectiveness of 
Colombian intelligence and combined arms forces' projection 
capabilities.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶11. (SBU) During June, PCHP provided UH-60 and UH-II aircrew 
continuation/mission and aircraft qualification training.  Two 
COLAR pilots and four standardization gunner instructors received 
certification in the advanced crew qualification positions of 
Standardization Instructor Pilot and Standardization Maintenance 
Test Pilot. 
 
------------ 
INTERDICTION 
------------ 
 
¶12.  (SBU) Out of 2,710 air tracks over Colombia, the Air Bridge 
Denial (ABD) program did not identify any as Unidentified Assumed 
Suspect (UAS) in June.  Only 17 UAS have been identified during the 
first half of this year, compared to 28 for the same time period 
last year.  The ABD inspectors searched an aircraft in Popayan that 
had filed a legal flight plan, but was found to contain 784 
kilograms (kgs) of cocaine.  The GOC arrested both pilots and 
impounded the aircraft.  In collaboration with regional 
counterparts, ABD passed information on four visually identified 
aircraft to the Central American Authorities; one of the identified 
aircraft crashed in Honduras attempting to land at night, and the 
crew burned another aircraft after landing, escaping capture when 
the Honduran Police started closing in on them.  ABD's training in 
preparation for nationalization proceeded smoothly and maintenance 
training reached the 75 percent June 30 target. 
 
¶13.  (SBU) The CNP seized 11.5 metric tons of cocaine hydrochloride 
(HCl) and cocaine base, 20.7 metric tons of coca leaf, 13 metric 
tons of marijuana, and five kgs of heroin.  The CNP also destroyed 
10 cocaine HCl and 110 coca base laboratories, and captured 494 
metric tons of precursor chemicals. 
 
¶14.  (SBU) On June 6, DIRAN (CNP's Antinarcotics Directorate) Tulua 
Junglas (CNP Airmobile Commandos), using two UH60s and two UH-IIs, 
destroyed a cocaine HCl laboratory located in a mangrove swamp in 
Choco Department.  On June 10, the DIRAN Chemical Group captured 13 
members of a precursor chemical trafficking organization, five 
vehicles, and 12 metric tons of precursor chemicals in Cali.  Also 
on June 10, at a routine vehicle checkpoint near Ipiales, DIRAN 
found 3.5 kgs of heroin taped to the abdomens of two women 
passengers.  On June 11, the Tulua Junglas destroyed an HCl 
laboratory located near Huisito, Cauca (35 miles west of Popayan). 
On June 16, DIRAN Zone Five (Northeast Colombia) captured 3.3 metric 
tons of marijuana hidden in a cache site near Cucuta, Norte de 
Santander.  On June 18, DIRAN, in conjunction with the DEA and OFAC, 
captured 13 members of Fabio Ochoa's international money laundering 
organization. 
 
¶15.  (SBU) On June 21, the Tulua Junglas, using two UH60s and one 
UH-II, supported a CNP-directed High Value Target (HVT) operation 
against the FARC's Manuel Cepeda Vargas Front, headquartered in 
Timba, Cauca (30 miles West of Cali).  The Colombian Air Force 
initiated the attack, but bad weather prevented the follow-on Jungla 
airmobile assault from reaching the objective.  The CNP then moved 
an EMCAR squadron by road/foot to the area.  The EMCAR captured four 
FARC AK47s.  As the EMCAR returned to base, they were ambushed by 
the FARC and incurred seven deaths and two injuries.  Intelligence 
reports reflect that the initial COLAF bombing may have killed the 
FARC Front Commander alias "El Enano" and 24 FARC combatants. 
 
¶16.  (SBU) On June 22, the DIRAN Chemical Group seized a truck 
carrying 2.5 tons of precursor chemicals near Puerto Lopez, Meta. 
On June 26, the DIRAN Special Investigation Unit captured 13 members 
of an international narcotrafficking organization, making 
simultaneous arrests in Bogota, Pasto, Villavicencio, and Cucuta. 
On June 26, the DIRAN Chemical Group captured five tons of precursor 
chemicals (thinner and alcohol) at a road checkpoint near 
Barranquilla.  Also on June 26, the DIRAN, in coordination with the 
Colombian Air Force, captured a Piper aircraft at the Popayan 
airport transporting 784 kgs of cocaine. On June 29, near the Gulf 
of Uraba in Northern Colombia, the newly formed DIRAN Zone Six 
(Northwest Colombia) captured a Mexican and a Honduran who were 
transporting 1.8 tons of cocaine on a "go-fast" boat. 
 
¶17.  (SBU) The 18-week Jungla International Course graduated 106 
students on June 4.  The course included 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).  On June 5, a 
DIRAN DC3 flew the 22 Panama Border Police students back to Panama, 
where they will form their new Jungla Commando unit deployed to the 
Darien.  The next Jungla Commando Course will take place July 
27-December 3.  The CNP anticipate that 70 Colombian students and 70 
international students (from 15 Latin American and Caribbean 
countries) will attend.  This group will also include a second 
25-man contingent from the Panama Border Police.  The US Army 7th 
Special Forces Group (SFG) "Pequenas Unidades" course, focused on 
reconnaissance, military mountaineering, and 60mm mortar training, 
graduated 45 students.  On June 8-12, the 7th SFG taught the U.S. 
Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) approved "Fast Rope Master" 
course to twenty students from the three Jungla Airmobile Companies. 
 On June 26, 40 students graduated from the Explosives and 
Demolitions Course, including a Panamanian and a Peruvian student. 
DIRAN courses currently underway at the Antinarcotics Police 
Training Center in Pijaos, Tolima include the 23-week Combat Medic 
Course (40 students) and the 15-week Jungla Instructor Course (12 
students). 
 
--------------------- 
MARITIME INTERDICTION 
--------------------- 
 
¶18.  (SBU) Cartagena-based Naval Intelligence Group (GRUIN in its 
Spanish acronym) seized 530 kgs of cocaine, and captured six members 
of "los Paisas" criminal organization, one AK-47, one 9mm pistol, 
two 38mm revolvers, and two motorcycles in the vicinity of Magangue, 
Bolivar.  The Colombian Coast Guard captured seven individuals and 
seized 106 kgs of cocaine that were hidden inside a hull of fishing 
vessels. 
 
------------------------------- 
BASE SECURITY/ROAD INTERDICTION/ 
NVD PROGRAM 
------------------------------- 
 
¶19.  (SBU) The Bastion Wall contract for the project at San Jose de 
Guaviare to install three two-story bunker facilities was completed. 
 The La Julia project to reinforce the Police base attacked in May 
continued despite the constant pressure of FARC elements in the 
area.  The Miraflores Phase I project begun in March was completed; 
phase II of the project will begin in mid-July.  The Tierradentro 
project begun in May was also completed.  Projects in Piedras 
Blancas and Belen de Bajira are slated to begin in mid-July. 
 
¶20.  (SBU) Night Vision Device (NVD) advisor and GOC counterparts 
inspected 52 of 75 mine detectors to be used in manual eradication 
operations and will shortly inspect the remainder. 
 
---------------------- 
COMMUNICATIONS/WEAPONS 
---------------------- 
 
¶21.  (SBU) DIRAN radio teams deployed to the antinarcotics bases and 
sea ports in Santa Marta and San Jose de Guaviare, and to 
Barranquilla's port to conduct single channel radio training and 
conduct preventive maintenance on radios and computers.  DIRAN radio 
teams fixed the Motorola repeater in Puerto Estrella, enabling the 
forward operating base to communicate with its headquarters in Santa 
Marta via radio. 
 
¶22.  (SBU) DIRAN Data team supported the installation of the first 
body scan in Cartagena's international airport.  Telematica PNC 
donated 60 Motorola radios and two Quantar repeaters in support of 
the CSDI program in Montes de Maria.  Carabineros Directorate 
(DICAR) communication teams conducted training and took inventories 
in Atlantico, Caqueta, Tolima, Casanare, and Boyaca departments. 
 
--------------------------- 
PORT SECURITY PROGRAM (PSP) 
--------------------------- 
 
¶23.  (SBU) In May, DIRAN's Ports and Airports Area (ARPAE) unit 
seized 38 kgs of cocaine (bulk weight), 42 kgs of cocaine (net 
weight), and arrested two people at the Port of Uraba.  At the 
airport in Rionegro, ARPAE seized 11.3 kgs of cocaine (bulk weight) 
and 0.5 kgs of cocaine (net weight), USD 2,700 non-declared, and 
arrested three people.  At the airport in Barranquilla, ARPAE seized 
2.8 kgs of heroin and USD 2,800 non-declared.  At the airport in 
Cali - ARPAE seized 6.2 kgs of cocaine; at the airport of Bogota - 
210.6 kgs of cocaine (bulk weight), 12 kgs of marijuana, 7.2 kgs of 
heroin, 100 fake Euros, fabricated USD 20,000, 47,850 non-declared 
euros and USD 6,300 non-declared.  Based on information provided by 
DIRAN, Mexican authorities seized 512 kgs of cocaine at the Port of 
Manzanillo.  Canine Units participated in the Cartagena, Bogota and 
Uraba port seizures. 
 
¶24.  (SBU) The DIRAN polygraph unit conducted polygraph exams on 54 
members of the DIRAN's Interdiction, Aviation and Ports and Airports 
Units, as well as on the CNP's Antikidnapping Unit.  36 of those 
tested passed the exam, 11 failed, and seven had inconclusive 
results.  After a quality control review, ICE Polygraph Chief asked 
for some of the DIRAN's Polygraph Unit personnel to be re-tested. 
 
------------- 
ENVIRONMENTAL 
------------- 
 
¶25.  (SBU) During the week of June 16, NAS, the CNP and other GOC 
members traveled to Tumaco, Narino to conduct indigenous 
consultations that had originally started in September 2007 and were 
delayed due to internal GOC issues.  At the consultations, GOC and 
various indigenous communities signed an agreement to allow for 
eradication in the northern part of Narino.  The next set of 
consultations is scheduled for July 28-29 in Meta. 
 
¶26.  (SBU) In June, the interagency complaints committee received 
157 new claims of alleged spray damage to legal crops; the committee 
closed 85 cases.  As of June 30, NAS has compensated a total of 144 
complainants for approximately USD 626,556.  The complaints 
committee visited nine sites in Tumaco that alleged that spray had 
damaged their legal crops; out of the nine complaints received, four 
will be compensated.  The committee also paid four USAID complaints. 
 
 
--------------------------------- 
INDIVIDUAL DEMOBILIZATION PROGRAM 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶27.  (SBU) The Ministry of Defense's (MOD) demobilization program 
received more than 1,425 individuals through June 30 - a decrease of 
approximately 18 percent compared to the first half of 2008. 
Program leadership began a focus group to identify areas for 
improvement in an attempt to jump start desertion rates.  While FARC 
demobilization rates were down, the National Liberation Army's (ELN 
in its Spanish acronym) rates increased due in part to a targeted 
communications strategy.  Large budget shortfalls have been mostly 
overcome, allowing the MOD to execute contracts with commercial 
radio stations communicating the demobilization message deep into 
the countryside.  The MOD has re-initiated payments for information 
and re-invigorated efforts towards providing psychological 
assistance and preventing illegal recruitment. 
 
¶28.  (SBU) More than 60 percent of the demobilized state that their 
motivations for desertion are abuse by their commanders or pressure 
from military operations, while the rest seek a new way of life or a 
different ideological formation.  Information provided by 
demobilized members of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) is one 
of the best sources of intelligence available to security forces. 
 
---------------------- 
DRUG DEMAND PREVENTION 
---------------------- 
 
¶29.  (SBU) On June 25-26, the Ministry of Social Protection, UNODC, 
National Directorate of Dangerous Drugs, and NAS Bogota organized a 
day-and-a-half conference to commemorate the International Day 
Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, discuss the National 
Household Drug Consumption Survey's results, and hold panel 
discussions on the characteristics of different drugs and their use. 
 More than 300 academics, police officers, local government leaders, 
and NGO members from some 27 departments attended.  The most 
poignant discussions took place regarding the perceived increase in 
the use of synthetic drugs.  On June 27 in Barranquilla, DCM Nichols 
observed the "Lions Quest" ("Leones Educando") program in a school 
for hearing-impaired children (Leones works in two such schools in 
Colombia).  NAS Bogota and INL finalized the grant process for 
"Leones Educando," awarding the NGO USD 100,000. 
 
--------------- 
STAFDEL LOPES 
--------------- 
 
¶30.  (SBU) Mark Lopes, principal staffer to Senator Robert Menendez, 
visited Colombia June 28 - July 3, and walked away with a better 
understanding of NAS programs and the CSDI's integrated approach. 
In Tumaco, Mr. Lopes received briefings on aviation assets, 
equipment and nationalization issues, and visited a manual 
eradication operation.   The Mayor of Tumaco, Neftali Correa, 
complained to Mr. Lopes about alleged spray of legal crops, however, 
the local police commander, Col. Ordonez, gave a different 
perspective.  In Pijaos, Mr. Lopes observed a jungle live-fire 
operation and had a substantive discussion with the CNP and NAS 
Jungla advisors on Colombian Army (COLAR) and CNP roles.  Mr. Lopes 
talked to demobilized members of the FARC and ELN, and met with Gen. 
Patino and MOD Special Projects Advisor Ponton.  UNODC 
representative Aldo Lale-Demoz briefed Mr. Lopes on the progress of 
counternarcotics efforts in Colombia.  Mr. Lopes was also briefed in 
and out of the Embassy on human rights issues.  Senator Menendez may 
be planning a visit to Colombia in August. 
 
BROWNFIELD