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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 001282 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR WHA ASSISTANT SECRETARY ARTURO VALENZUELA AND INL 
ASSISTANT SECRETARY DAVID JOHNSON FROM AMBASSADOR HUGO 
LLORENS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR ASEC PREL MASS HO
SUBJECT: TFH01: PROPOSED RESPONSE TO INCREASED DRUG 
TRAFFICKING AND VIOLENCE IN HONDURAS 
 
REF: A. TEGUCIGALPA 1268 
     ¶B. TEGUCIGALPA 1198 
     ¶C. BOGOTA 3780 
     ¶D. STATE 69221 
 
¶1. (U) Summary: The Mission suspended some aspects of joint 
counternarcotics activity with the GOH as a result of the 
June 28 coup d'etat.  Over the course of calendar 2009, 
narcotics trafficking through Honduras has significantly 
increased compared to 2008, a trend that had begun well 
before the coup.  Also in 2009, there has been a marked 
increase in the murder rate and a number of high-profile 
assassinations, most recently the December 8 killing of the 
director of anti-narcotics operations (Ref A), which have 
raised concerns over the effects of trafficking groups on 
overall security.  As a result, we propose a resumption of 
some anti-narcotics activities in Honduras.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (U) As a result of the June 28 coup d'etat and the no 
contact policy with the de facto regime that took power (Ref 
D), military to military assistance and operations, as well 
as security sector assistance procurements were suspended in 
Honduras.  While the USG continues to share trafficking 
information with the Honduran National Police (HNP), the 
Embassy reduced joint interdiction operations with the 
Honduran police (although these resumed effective in 
October)and suspended such operations with the Honduran Armed 
Forces.  Since the coup, the de facto regime's decision to 
deploy security forces to the capital and devote the bulk of 
its resources to the task of maintaining order and 
controlling demonstrations by the opposition has severely 
diminished the ability of the HNP and the HOAF to fight 
narcotrafficking. 
 
¶3. (U) Even before the coup, trafficking through Honduras in 
2009 was increasing; the trend continued post-coup and now 
points to a doubling of illegal drugs transiting Honduras in 
2009 compared to 2008 figures (Ref B).  With this increase in 
trafficking, there has also been an increase in violent 
crime, as well as an increase in high-profile killings 
suspected to be related to the drug traffic, including the 
assassination of Honduras' National Director of 
Counter-Narcotics, General Aristides Gonzalez on December 8 
(ref A).  (Note: The homicide rate in Honduras was 58 per 
100,000 population in 2008, and UNDP predicts the rate will 
exceed 60 in 2009.  Details to be reported septel.  End note) 
 
¶4. (SBU) In response to the increased trafficking and 
violence, Post would like to take additional measures in 
support for the anti-narcotics fight.  The Embassy proposes 
the immediate resumption of the following anti-narcotics 
activities designed to emphasize support of the Honduran 
police while minimizing interaction with the Honduran 
military: 
 
--Procure and donate INL-funded police equipment in support 
of HNP anti-trafficking and border control operations. 
Donations to be resumed would include three converted 
containers to be used by border police as border control 
stations at crossings where they currently have no 
facilities; radios, motorcycles and other equipment to assist 
border police to patrol remote unguarded border crossings and 
trafficking zones along the Atlantic coast; and radios, 
protective gear, off-road vehicles and other tactical 
equipment for the DEA-supported joint tactical response unit 
(TRT) of the Honduran police. 
 
--Procure and donate fuel to the Honduran Navy to use in 
interceptor boats for coastal and riverine interdiction 
operations.  SOUTHCOM has made USD 20,000 available for this 
purpose.  An estimated four times more drugs are transmitted 
into Honduras by sea than by air.  Post believes this support 
could significantly improve anti-drug operations with a low 
probability of publicity.  It also has the advantage of 
giving support to the only branch of the armed forces that 
 
TEGUCIGALP 00001282  002 OF 002 
 
 
did not directly participate in the June 28 coup. 
 
--Resume the shiprider program to place police, though not 
military, personnel on U.S. Coast Guard and naval vessels in 
support of maritime interdiction operations in Honduran 
territorial waters beyond the operational reach of HOAF 
vessels.  (Note: Pre-coup, the shiprider program placed both 
police and armed forces personnel on U.S. vessels; this 
proposal is to resume only the police element at present. 
End note). 
 
--Provide jungle commando training to members of the vetted 
TRT (Ref D). 
 
--Send police representatives to the Joint Interagency Task 
Force-South Operations Center Interoperability Conference 
January 27-29, 2010 in the Dominican Republic.  Travel would 
be paid out of SOUTHCOM TCA funds.  The purpose of police 
participation would be to support recently begun DEA efforts 
in standing up an Interagency Counter Illicit Trafficking 
Operations Center, run by the Honduran police, but staffed by 
police and military personnel. 
LLORENS