US embassy cable - 04NASSAU937

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NASSAU 000937 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR INL/LP KBROWN 
STATE FOR WHA/CAR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR, BF, Narcotics - OPBAT 
SUBJECT: BAHAMAS: BUDGET CUTS HINDER OPBAT OPERATIONS 
 
 
Summary 
-------- 
 
1.  The withdrawal of air assets currently committed to 
Operations Bahamas, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) has already had 
a measurable impact on drug interdiction in The Bahamas. 
Over the longer term, failure to restore assets committed to 
OPBAT to the status quo ante could adversely impact bilateral 
relations with The Bahamas, reduce the safety margin of 
helicopter crews, reduce Search and Rescue (SAR) capability, 
and ultimately increase the flow of drugs through the region 
into the United States as traffickers take advantage of 
OPBAT's reduced capabilities. Post urges the Department to 
work with other Washington agencies to examine options to 
restore full operational capability as soon as practicable. 
End of Summary. 
 
Deterring Migrants also Deterred Traffickers 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
2.  Last month, at the onset of the Haitian crisis, the U.S. 
Coast Guard re-directed many of its resources to respond to a 
potential illegal migrant flood.  At its height, twenty 
cutters were positioned in Caribbean waters, ready to respond 
to the unstable political situation that culminated in the 
resignation of ex-President Jean Bertrand Aristide.  The USG 
presence off the coast of Haiti and in the Windward Pass had 
a noticeable impact on drug trafficking in the region. 
During this period of increased USG presence in the region, 
OPBAT missions observed a decline in both the amount and 
frequency of narcotics shipments through the area. 
 
Doing More with Less 
-------------------- 
 
3.  As part of this re-alignment of assets to address 
instability in Haiti, OPBAT lost one of its assets as a 
helicopter and its crew were re-assigned from Andros Island 
to intercept illegal migrants in the Mona Passage off the 
western coast of Puerto Rico.  Earlier, in March 2003, 
another helicopter and crew were reassigned from OPBAT duty. 
This helicopter has yet to be returned to OPBAT duty.  The 
result of these decisions is that in the past eighteen 
months, OPBAT's effective asset strength provided by the USCG 
has declined from four helicopters and four crew to two 
helicopters and two crew- an effective reduction in assets of 
50 percent. 
 
4. OPBAT remaining helicopter assets are assigned as follows: 
-- The Coast Guard maintains two HH-60 Jayhawk helicopters in 
The Bahamas, one at the OPBAT base in Matthewtown, Great 
Inagua; and one at the OPBAT base on Andros Island, AUTEC 
facility. 
-- The U.S. Army also maintains three UH-60 Blackhawk 
helicopters in Georgetown, on the island of Great Exuma. 
 
5. In addition, OPBAT has access to three fast response boats 
pursuit boats that were donated by NAS and deployed across 
the archipelago to provide much needed "end game" to 
anti-drug helicopter missions. 
 
6.  The loss of these valuable assets has made drug 
interdiction missions over Bahamian waters even more 
difficult.  The reduction in the number of helicopters, and 
crews available has hampered OPBAT ability to conduct routine 
patrol and surveillance missions.  Limited to 12-hour shifts, 
instead of past 24/7 coverage, OPBAT controllers have much 
reduced scheduling flexibility and conduct only hard 
intelligence driven and no anti drug patrolling or 
intelligence gathering missions. 
 
Loss Opportunities 
------------------ 
 
7.  The reduction is starting to have an impact on OPBAT 's 
ability to react to information on the movement of 
contraband.  During March 2004, OPBAT documented at least 
four occasions in which it was not able to react to 
intelligence regarding possible trans-shipments of narcotics 
for lack of an available helicopter. 
Conclusion 
---------- 
8.  Any permanent, unilateral withdrawal of OPBAT's assets 
would send the wrong message to drug traffickers who 
regularly monitor our operations as well as the GCOB.  OPBAT 
is a multi-national, multi-agency, multi-functional model 
that requires long term, consistent commitment of assets by 
all parties if it is to continue its track records of 
success.  All elements of OPBAT face the same resource 
constraints and temptation to pull out assets on the 
assumption that the other players will pick up the deficit. 
Post believes that the USG must set the example of resisting 
this temptation.  Second, the message to drug traffickers in 
the region of a permanent force reduction in OPBAT's air 
assets would be equally devastating - the once off-limits 
Bahamian waters are again open for business.  Intelligence 
gathered by OPBAT reveals that narcotics traffickers monitor 
the flights of helicopters when they are trying to move 
contraband through Bahamian waters.  It is only a matter of 
time before traffickers realize the decreased presence of 
helicopters in the area. 
 
9.  Members of Congress who have visited Post and have been 
briefed on the situation have expressed concern at the 
reduction in the Mission's drug and alien interdiction 
capabilities, as well as its SAR response capability implied 
by a permanent reduction in OPBAT air assets.  Post urges 
Department to work with other Washington agencies to examine 
options to restore OPBAT full operational capability as soon 
as practicable. 
WITAJEWSKI