VZCZCXYZ0004
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #3662/01 3221401
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181359Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RHMFIUU/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF STATE AIR WING PATRICK AFB FL
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0986
INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0201
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS
RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO
RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 0670
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO
RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA

UNCLAS BOGOTA 003662 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
DEPT FOR INL/LP AND INL/RM 
DEPT FOR WHA/AND 
WHITE HOUSE PASS DIR ONDCP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR SENV KCRM PTER CO
SUBJECT: NAS MONTHLY REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2009 
 
REF: BOGOTA 3604; BOGOTA 2976 
 
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SUMMARY 
 
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¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY:  Eradication numbers continue to lag behind last 
year's due to funding constraints affecting manual eradication 
progress.  So far in 2009, the Colombian government has reported a 
total of 40 fatalities during manual eradication operations.  Other 
GOC forces have also incurred casualties in successful operations 
that forge ever deeper into emerging criminal band and Foreign 
Terrorist Organization (FTO) territory.  A steady increase in 
hostile fire, an ageing air fleet, and an increase in CNP missions 
and flight hours are overtaxing ARAVI's operational aircraft.  The 
FARC and other FTO members are assuming reactionary stances and are 
developing counter-tactics to the MOD's demobilization efforts. 
The GOC continues to provide training to police counterparts in 
Central and South America.  END SUMMARY. 
 
 
 
¶I.        Aerial Eradication Program Update 
 
II.       Manual Eradication Program Update 
 
III.      Plan Colombia Helicopter Program (PCHP) Update 
 
IV.       Colombia National Police Air Service Support (ARAVI) 
 
       Program Update 
 
¶V.        Interdiction Program Update 
 
VI.       Base security/Road Interdiction/NVD Program Update 
 
VII.      Maritime Interdiction Program Update 
 
VIII.     Communications/Weapons Program Update 
 
IX.       Port Security Program (PSP) Update 
 
¶X.        Reestablish Police Presence Program (Carabineros) 
 
       Update 
 
XI.       Air Bridge Denial (ABD) Program Update 
 
XII.      Environmental Program Update 
 
XIII.     Individual Demobilization Program Update 
 
XIV.      Drug Demand Prevention Program Update 
 
 
 
---------------------------------- 
 
 
¶I.      AERIAL ERADICATION PROGRAM 
 
 
---------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶2. (SBU) Aircraft based in Forward Operating Locations (FOLs) in 
Larandia, Popayan, and Caucasia sprayed a total of 6,509 hectares 
(ha) in October.  A total of 2,780 ha were sprayed out of Larandia; 
 
 
503 out of Popayan; and 3,226 out of Caucasia.  The aerial 
eradication team has sprayed 89,055 ha through ten months and is on 
track to reach its calendar year target of 100,000 ha.  During 
October, eradication aircraft experienced eight hostile fire 
incidents and thirteen impacts, bringing the total for the calendar 
year to 37 hostile fire incidents and 66 impacts. No one was 
wounded or killed as a result of these incidents. 
 
 
 
---------------------------------- 
 
II.    MANUAL ERADICATION PROGRAM 
 
---------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶3. (SBU) Total manual eradication of coca through November 7 was 
46,794 ha.  With less than two months left in the year, Post 
estimates that total manual eradication in 2009 will be 57,000 
hectares, well short of the 2009 manual eradication goal of 70,000 
hectares (see reftel a).  Phase IV of the 2009 manual eradication 
campaign, scheduled to begin in mid-October, began on November 10 
due to funding constraints at Accion Social, the Colombian 
government's (GOC) civilian agency responsible for implementing the 
manual eradication program.  In late October, the Ministry of 
Defense (MOD) agreed to transfer 15 billion Colombian pesos 
(approximately $7.5 million) to Accion Social and avoid 
cancellation of Phase IV manual eradication operations.  An 
estimated 130 to 140 mobile eradication groups will work during 
Phase IV under police and army protection to pull up coca in seven 
departments, including the main coca growing regions of Narino, 
Guaviare, Meta, and along the Ecuador border in Putumayo.  The GOC, 
also behind in its 2009 goals to eradicate 500 hectares of poppy 
and 150 ha of marijuana, has begun eradication operations of poppy 
in Cauca and Narino in southwestern Colombia, and marijuana in the 
Sierra Nevada in northeast Colombia.  As of November 5, the GOC has 
manually eradicated 303 ha of poppy and 85 ha of marijuana. 
 
 
 
¶4. (SBU) As of November 9, the GOC has reported a total of 40 
fatalities during manual eradication operations in 2009, including 
25 security personnel, 14 civilian eradicators, and one United 
Nations-hired topographer embedded within a manual eradication 
group.  Dozens of security personnel and civilian eradicators have 
been maimed by landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). 
NAS Bogota is exploring ways to improve the capacity of the 
Antinarcotics Police to detect landmines and IEDs.  [Note:  The 
number of reported fatalities is based on records held by the 
Colombian National Police, Colombian Army, Accion Social, reports 
from the field and press reports.  Complete reporting of fatalities 
during manual eradication will not be available until the end of 
the year.  End Note.] 
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
III.  PLAN COLOMBIA HELICOPTER PROGRAM (PCHP) 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
 
 
¶5. (SBU) PCHP aircraft operated from Tumaco, Larandia, 
Barrancabermeja, and Tolemaida bases and flew a total of 544 hours 
providing air assaults, air movements, reconnaissance, medical 
evacuations, and support missions for the Counter-Drug (CD) Brigade 
and other vetted Colombian Army (COLAR) units.  Helicopter flight 
hours have been depleted by damage to the aircraft and the 
increasing need to provide additional protection from ground fire 
incidents.  Tumaco-based PCHP helicopters provided support for 
 
BACNA 2 (Counternarcotics Battalion of the CD Brigade) air assault 
missions, and armed escort for unarmed civilians and COLAR MI-17 
helicopters supporting manual eradication operations.  PCHP gunship 
helped to escort an Army MI-17 with a GOC commission that was 
investigating the killing of seven Awa Indians in the Barbacoas 
(Narino) area.  PCHP flew 31 hours supporting seven medical 
evacuation flights transporting a total of seven patients. 
 
 
 
------------------------------------- 
 
IV.    COLOMBIA NATIONAL POLICE (CNP) 
 
AIR SERVICE (ARAVI) SUPPORT 
 
------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) ARAVI's NAS-supported fleet flew 1,985 mission hours in 
October.  During a High Value Target mission in Caqueta, the FARC 
impacted two UH-60s.  The seven UH-60 Black Hawks closed out the 
month with 211 flight hours and an operational readiness (OR) rate 
of 75 percent.  Two UH-60s are undergoing depot maintenance for 
structural repairs.  The Bell-212 fleet flew 294 mission hours with 
an OR rate of 72 percent.  The Huey II OR rate was 58 percent while 
flying 938 hours.  Six Huey IIs are undergoing depot maintenance 
for structural repairs.  As part of a deal that resulted in cost 
savings for the aerial eradication and COLAR aviation programs, 
ARAVI accepted four out of five Huey IIs from PCHP.  The DC-3 fleet 
flew 274 hours in October, with an OR rate of 46 percent; one DC-3 
is undergoing a 2,000-hour inspection.  The last of the three C-26 
Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Aerial Platforms 
(ISRAP) arrived and will undergo a final acceptance inspection. 
 
 
 
-------------------- 
 
¶V.      INTERDICTION 
 
-------------------- 
 
 
 
¶7. (SBU) During the month of October, the Colombian National Police 
seized 10.8 metric tons of cocaine hydrochloride (HCl) and cocaine 
base, 21.5 metric tons of coca leaf, 12.5 metric tons of marijuana, 
and 42 kgs of heroin.  The CNP also destroyed 15 cocaine HCl 
laboratories, 130 coca base laboratories, and seized 216.4 metric 
tons of precursor chemicals.  While working out of Forward 
Operating Bases in Magangue (Bolivar) and Aguachica (Cesar), the 
Santa Marta Junglas destroyed three clandestine airstrips, one 
cocaine HCl laboratory, and intercepted multi-ton shipments of 
precursor chemicals.  Since January 1, 2009, the CNP has seized 
112.7 metric tons of cocaine/cocaine base, 417 metric tons of coca 
leaf, 141.2 metric tons of marijuana, and 566 kgs of heroin.  The 
CNP has destroyed 166 cocaine HCl laboratories, 1,323 coca base 
laboratories, and seized 22,696.7 metric tons of precursor 
chemicals so far this year. 
 
 
 
¶8. (SBU) On October 1, the Antinarcotics Police (DIRAN) captured 
Marco Fidel Barba, alias "Mateo," near Apartado, Antioquia. 
"Mateo" had assumed control of the Daniel Rendon Herrera, alias 
"Don Mario," narcotrafficking group following the CNP's capture of 
"Don Mario" on April 15, 2009. Numerous EMCARs (mobile carabinero 
units) and the DIRAN Jungla (CNP Airmobile Commando) Special 
Reconnaissance team (15 x Junglas, 1 x UH-60) - that had just 
graduated from the U.S. Army Seventh Special Forces Group - ensured 
the capture.  On October 10 in Covenas (Sucre), the DIRAN Judicial 
Police captured narcotrafficker Ramon Majona, wanted for 
 
extradition to the U.S.  On October 25, the CNP (2 x UH-60s, 30 x 
DIPOL, 30 x Junglas) conducted an airmobile assault on the FARC's 
Teofilo Forero Mobile Column command post near Larandia (Caqueta), 
killing three FARC combatants and capturing three others.  Among 
the FARC's killed-in-action was a most-wanted criminal Herier 
Triana, alias "Patamala," also wanted for extradition to the U.S. 
According to the GOC, "Patamala" was responsible for the 2003 Club 
Nogal bombing in Bogota, the 2000 execution of the Turbay Cote 
family, the 2007 kidnapping and murder of the sister of former 
Colombian President Cesar Gaviria Trujillo, and the 2005 murder of 
former senator Jamie Lozado Perdomo, among others.  "Patamala" was 
also reportedly responsible for a series of assassinations 
committed against various town council members, the failed plan to 
kill former Minister of Defense Manuel Santos and his family, and 
was thought to be the author of the 2007 frustrated plan to kidnap 
U.S. Embassy personnel in Melgar, Tolima.  During this assault, two 
CNP officers were wounded, one of whom died from his injuries on 
October 28. 
 
 
 
¶9. (SBU) On September 2, DIRAN Junglas deployed a nine-man Mobile 
Training Team (MTT) to Mexico to provide 60 days of antinarcotics 
training to 60 members of the Jalisco State Police.  The DIRAN's 
four-man MTT traveled to Bolivia on October 17 to provide 
instruction at the Garras School on cocaine laboratory destruction, 
chemical safety, and evidence handling. Argentinean, Paraguayan, 
and Brazilian nationals also attended this training.  The Jungla 
Commando International Course, comprised of 54 international and 29 
CNP students, will continue until December 3.  The Combat Medic 
Course's 39 students will graduate on December 15.  Six U.S. Army 
Special Forces trainers arrived in Colombia on September 24 and 
will assist with training at Pijaos through April.  DEA Bogota 
helped the Bogota Junglas to develop a live fire reaction pistol 
and rifle range at the Facatativa base.  From October 22-28, DEA 
trainers provided advanced marksmanship training to the Jungla 
Special Reconnaissance section.  From October 25-28, the Colombian 
Red Cross conducted a "Vertical Rescue" course for 20 Junglas from 
Santa Marta, Tulua, Facatativa, and Espinal.  On October 5-6, the 
Panama Border Force Deputy Commander Commissioner Heyer, Operations 
Officer Major Lizcano, and NAS Panama's Chip Gusler visited DIRAN 
headquarters, the Facatativa Jungla company, and the 25 Panama 
Jungla students at Pijaos. 
 
 
 
--------------------------------------- 
 
VI.    BASE SECURITY/ROAD INTERDICTION 
 
/NVD PROGRAM 
 
--------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶10. (SBU) On November 6, 32 students (out of the original 40) 
graduated from the Base Security course at the newly-designated 
DIRAN Northwest Zone base in Necocli (Uraba Gulf, Atlantic Coast). 
The IDIQ Bastion Wall in Necocli will be completed by November 17. 
Phase II of the Miraflores IDIQ project was interrupted by a 
two-week land ownership disagreement that was subsequently 
resolved; the project is slated to be completed by the end of 
November.  NAS Night Vision Device (NVD) program officers worked on 
the final outfitting of the Jungla NVD laboratory at Pijaos, the 
relocation of the NVD container laboratory from Espinal to Pijaos, 
and the renovation of the NVD container laboratory at Bogota's El 
Dorado airport. 
 
 
 
----------------------------- 
 
VII.  MARITIME INTERDICTION 
 
----------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶11. (SBU) On October 1, near Buenaventura, the Pacific Coast Guard 
(CG) Command seized a vessel carrying 645 kgs of marijuana.  Three 
days later, the CG Command seized another vessel in the same area 
with 25 plastic containers containing 950 kgs of cocaine.  On 
October 21, the U.S. Coast Guard captured an SPSS (self-propelled 
semi-submersible) near the Guatemalan Coast and detained three 
Colombians and one Mexican, seizing 4.9 metric tons of cocaine. 
 
 
 
¶12. (SBU) The Colombian Navy Intelligence tactical unit (GRUIN) 
conducted tactical training in October in support of a month-long 
deployment near the Uraba Gulf (Atlantic Coast) and Choco (Pacific 
Coast).  During the deployment near the Uraba Gulf, the unit 
located two abandoned BACRIM camps that appeared to have housed up 
to 15 bandits per camp.  In a follow-on mission in the vicinity of 
Necocli, the GRUIN commandos seized 1.5 metric tons of cocaine 
stored at a ranch.  The Tumaco (Narino) Coast Guard station stopped 
a vessel coming from Ecuador that was carrying 275 gallons of 
contraband fuel likely to be used at cocaine laboratories in the 
region. 
 
 
 
-------------------------------- 
 
VIII.      COMMUNICATIONS/WEAPONS 
 
-------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶13. (SBU) During October, DIRAN's mobile training and repair teams 
installed NAS-procured High Frequency (HF) and Tadiran Very High 
Frequency System (VHF) repeaters, repaired Motorola hand-held 
radios, and took inventory in Popayan, Norte de Santander, Tumaco, 
Barrancabermeja, Florencia, Larandia, and Tulua.  DIRAN 
representatives from San Jose, Santa Marta, and Tulua received 
NAS-procured training in data networks, fiber optic cabling, and 
general electrical properties.  DIRAN continued to install remote 
security cameras at the armories in Bogota's DIRAN headquarters, 
and in police bases at Guaymaral, Ipiales, and Facatativa.  These 
security cameras allow the DIRAN weapons officer-in-charge to 
access all of the armories via the Internet Protocol (IP) network. 
NAS hosted a conference for all of 27 Telematica DIRAN 
communications members to review projects. 
 
 
 
¶14. (SBU) The DIRAN weapons section received 300 Sig Pro 2022 
pistols from the CNP to support airport/ports programs and 
antinarcotics companies.  The Junglas will continue using 
NAS-procured Berretta M9 pistols.  The weapons team deployed MTTs 
to Tumaco (Narino), Caucasia, and Florencia in support of manual 
eradication groups. 
 
 
 
---------------------------------- 
 
IX.    PORT SECURITY PROGRAM (PSP) 
 
---------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶15. (SBU) DIRAN's Ports and Airports Area (ARPAE) units seized 
460.9 kgs of cocaine, 0.5 kgs of marijuana, and arrested 22 people 
at Colombia's airports.  At the Bogota airport, 6.3 kgs of cocaine 
 
and one kg of heroin were seized and two people arrested.  At the 
Pereira airport, 28.9 kgs of cocaine were seized and five people 
arrested.  At Cali's Palmira airport, 1.1 kgs of cocaine and three 
kgs of heroin were seized and two people arrested.  At Medellin's 
Rionegro airport, one kg of cocaine was seized and two people 
arrested.  In Cartagena's port and airport, one kg of cocaine was 
seized and two people arrested.  In Barranquilla's port and 
airport, 330 kgs of cocaine and 25 kgs of heroin were seized and 
two people arrested. 
 
 
 
¶16. (SBU) ICE polygraph examiner conducted polygraph exams on 102 
members of DIRAN's interdiction, ports and airports units. 
Seventy-eight passed the exam, 23 failed, and one exam had 
inconclusive results.  Sixteen Dominican Republic Customs and 
Police officers participated in NAS Dominican Republic-sponsored 
training at Bogota's El Dorado airport's DIRAN unit.  Two DIRAN 
analysts from Bogota airport and Cartagena seaport will provide NAS 
Guatemala-sponsored training to Guatemalan counterparts on document 
analysis.  NAS Bogota and NAS Lima sponsored training for two 
Peruvian customs officers in Bogota on the use of NAS-procured body 
scanners. 
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
¶X.      REESTABLISH POLICE PRESENCE PROGRAM (CARABINEROS) 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
 
 
¶17. (SBU) On October 15, 147 new police graduated from the CNP 
Academy at Yuto (Choco).  This USG-supported police academy was 
created five years ago to provide opportunities for Afro-Colombian 
youth and women, enhancing security and improving perceptions of 
the police in the marginalized Pacific Coast region of Colombia. 
Deputy Governor, Choco's regional Chief of the Police, and other 
notables attended the ceremony.  The top graduate was a female 
officer.  Major Cuesta, Commander of the Yuto School, expressed 
interest in having Choco candidates participate in the NAS Police 
Scholarship Program next year. 
 
 
 
------------------------------ 
 
XI.    AIR BRIDGE DENIAL (ABD) 
 
------------------------------ 
 
 
 
¶18. (SBU) Out of 1,711 tracks over Colombia, five were declared 
Unknown, Assumed Suspect (UAS).  Three aircraft did not carry 
illegal items on board, and the Colombian Air Force was not able to 
locate the other two.  The SR-560 flew 82 missions for 180 hours. 
 
 
 
----------------------- 
 
XII.  ENVIRONMENTAL 
 
----------------------- 
 
 
 
¶19. (SBU) In July, the environmental section analyzed the complaint 
system and focused on closing the oldest cases out of the then 
back-log of 791 complaints.  Due to the difficulties in determining 
if legitimate damage had occurred in cases that dated as far back 
 
as 2005, the environmental section compensated 37 out of 81 
complainants whose plots were visited.  The team has closed out all 
complaints from 2005 and 2006, and has 13 complaints that remain to 
be verified that include the last complaints from 2007 and 2008. 
 
 
 
¶20. (SBU) In October, the antinarcotics police received 101 
complaints, closed 183 cases, and compensated approximately $14,531 
to seven complainants.  The environmental section continues to 
focus on decreasing the 2,206-case back-log; however, the influx of 
complaints from Narino has decreased the speed with which cases can 
be processed and closed (see reftel b).  In lieu of a formal 
agreement that cannot be established at this time, the NAS lawyer 
is working on a letter to establish specific guidelines to ensure 
quick and effective handling of crop-damage complaints.  Once the 
recently-acquired high-imagery ADS camera has undergone the 
required tests, it should greatly assist in verifying complaints 
and result in savings to the complaints program. 
 
 
 
¶21. (SBU) On October 27, CNP Inspector General's office organized a 
videoconference on eradication operations, specifically focusing on 
the complaints process.  The environmental lawyer briefed the 
audience on the crop damage process and the National Institute of 
Health (INS) gave a presentation on the health complaints process. 
The conference was broadcast throughout Colombia. 
 
 
 
¶22. (SBU) As of November 6, INS will house the first laboratory in 
Colombia capable of analyzing glyphosate in body fluid samples, 
reducing costs and helping to nationalize USG efforts.  On October 
16, INS trained approximately 20 CNP officials on the proper 
collection of water samples.  According to the Environmental 
Management Plan, the GOC is required to collect water samples prior 
to, immediately after, and 60-days following spray operations. 
 
 
 
----------------------------------------- 
 
XIII.      INDIVIDUAL DEMOBILIZATION PROGRAM 
 
----------------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶23. (SBU) The MOD's Humanitarian Attention Program for the 
Demobilized (PAHD) has received 20,250 combatants since 2002, 
including 208 insurgents in October, and 2,333 to date in 2009. 
The FARC's demobilization numbers are more than 1,000 short of last 
year's 3,027 to date, however, the ELN's demobilization numbers 
stand at a record 430 for this year.  (Comment:  The most likely 
factor contributing to lower demobilization is a natural leveling 
off after the extraordinarily high demobilization rates in 2007 and 
¶2008.   The high demobilization numbers in the previous two years 
were strongly correlated to areas under sustained military 
pressure, especially those affected by desertion, and capture or 
death of insurgent leaders.  Reduced military pressure and a lack 
of major psychological blows may lower the motivation to desert, 
but a more important factor is an increased tendency for insurgents 
to avoid direct contact with security forces and the local 
population which reduces the opportunities to escape.  The FARC 
also reportedly employ demobilization "counter-measures" such as 
separation of FARC couples, prohibition of radio use, and execution 
of those caught or accused of attempts at desertion.  End comment.) 
 
 
 
¶24. (SBU) In response to FARC counter-measures, the MOD has created 
tactical demobilization positions throughout the Joint Task Force 
Omega (JTF-O) area of operations along with other tailor-made 
 
demobilization initiatives.  One such position is in the Catatumbo 
region (Norte de Santander), where a customized communications 
strategy was designed to take advantage of a reported local FARC 
leader's tendency to abuse his personnel, among other factors. 
 
 
 
------------------------------- 
 
XIV.   DRUG DEMAND PREVENTION 
 
------------------------------- 
 
 
 
¶25. (SBU) On October 5-7, NAS Lima provided training to NAS and 
Colombian NGOs Mentor, Surgir, and Lions Club International 
representatives on community coalition building. These NGOs will 
create the first three drug demand prevention community coalitions 
in Bogota, Medellin, and Barranquilla, respectively.  On October 
28, an INL/RM-approved request for community coalition-creation 
proposals was sent to these NGOs; the grants will be awarded upon 
the receipt of FY2009 funds.  NAS provided support for the October 
19-22 UNODC/Ministry of Social Protection conference on heroin 
where 30 regional leaders participated.  NAS also provided support 
for the October 21-23 National Directorate on Dangerous Drugs (DNE) 
conference for researchers studying illegal drug use issues.  On 
October 29, NAS-supported DARE Mexico trainers completed training 
for 30 CNP's DARE officers on expanding the program to high schools 
and parents. 
 
 
 
BROWNFIELD 
BROWNFIELD