US embassy cable - 05KINGSTON363

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 KINGSTON 000363 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR INL/LP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR, KCRM, JM 
SUBJECT: INL MONTHLY REPORT - NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 
2004 
 
November Activities and Achievements 
 
1.  The following is a combined report for the period 
November and December 2004.  It reflects activities in 
all INL supported programs and an assessment of progress 
in achieving mutual goals established in the current 
Letters of Agreement (LOA). 
 
2. Drug Eradication and Interdiction Program - The 
Jamaica Defense Force and the Jamaica Constabulary Force 
Narcotics Division continue to aggressively combine 
their strengths to fight the illicit drug trade. 
Intelligence provided by the JDF Headquarters 
Intelligence unit resulted in the seizure of 1,714.65 
kilograms of compressed marijuana in the parish of 
Clarendon, Westmoreland and St Elizabeth as well as the 
destruction of 10.53 hectares, 100,000 seedlings, and 12 
nurseries in the Parish of St Ann.  The marijuana fields 
were planted in rugged terrain and sheltered by thick 
vegetation.  Further aerial reconnaissance was done in 
five locations in the parishes of Manchester, Clarendon 
and St. Ann and approximately 1.8 hectares of marijuana 
was identified. This small area has been earmarked for 
eradication. 
 
3. Statistics to date show a percentage increase in most 
of the activities except a -4.85% change in the number 
of hectares destroyed and -100% in the discovery of 
clandestine laboratories. There has been a significant 
increase of 43.06% and 57.14% in the number of seedlings 
and nurseries destroyed.  The security forces destroyed 
4,045.97 Kilograms of cured marijuana, 239.35 kilograms 
of seeds year to date. There is no data for 2003 with 
which to in compare these activities. . 
 
Statistics 
Seizures and Eradication for the month of November 2004 
 Marijuana           HC             10.53 
 Seedlings           Units          100,000 
 Cured Marijuana          Kg             1,714.65 
 Nurseries           Each           12 
 Cocaine                  Kg             .23 
 
Seizures and Eradication Year-To-Date November 2004 
                2004           2003           %Change 
 Marijuana HC        404.96         425.6          -4.85 
 Seedlings Units     4,909,930      3,431,975      43.06 
Cured          Marijuana Kg        4,045.97       no data 
 Nurseries Ea        396            252            57.14 
 Seeds     Kg        239.35         no data 
 Cocaine    Kg       .23            no data 
 Clandestine Lab   Unit   nil  1              -100 
 
4. The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) "new" initiative 
"Operation Kingfish" is a collaborative effort of local 
police, military with American, Canadian and British 
counterparts was launched in the presence of the US 
Ambassador and United Kingdom High Commissioner to 
Jamaica who spoke and endorsed the operation.  This 
operation, in addition to seizing several go-fast boats 
suspected of being used for illicit traffic, has 
targeted a number of persons resulting in arrests in the 
United Kingdom.  One well-known trafficker Norman 
Ramcharam and Everton Dennis were arrested on money 
laundering charges in the UK.  They were both convicted 
and sentenced to seven and thirteen years respectively. 
 
5. Through a USD 50,000 blanket Purchase Agreement 
approved by the Narcotics Affairs Section the Jamaica 
Defense Force Coast Guard (JDFCG) was able to repair 2 
Sea Arks, One point Class, and 2 go fast vessels. 
During the month of November the JDF CG conducted 140 
routine and operational patrols along the North and 
South Coast of Jamaica amounting to 442 hours underway 
and utilizing 4440 and 8775 liters of petrol and diesel 
respectively.  The Coast Guard seized a sailboat with 1 
pound of compressed marijuana but the courts later 
released the occupants and the vessel.  Ten routine 
dives for contraband was conducted on the bauxite 
carriers in Clarendon and St. Ann with negative results. 
 
6. The Contraband Enforcement Team (CET) processed 151 
passengers during November. A male passenger who arrived 
at the Sangster's International Airport in Montego Bay 
from Curacao had ingested 33 pellets of cocaine.  He was 
subsequently arrested.  Marijuana weighing 2.84 
kilograms was concealed in a coffee maker and another 
quantity was found in eight fuel injectors. The 
shipments were destined for the United States and London 
respectively.  The number of containers examined in 
November increased except for the number of export 
containers, which had a significant reduction of -69%. 
The number of break bulk containers was 168 in 
comparison to 118 for the same period in 2003, an 
increase of 42%. The number of transshipment containers 
examined was 54 in comparison to 15 in November 2003. 
One .45 caliber para ordnance firearm was found in the 
office of a Customs Officer at Berth #7 at Kingston 
Wharves. The matter is being investigated by the JCF 
Organized Crime Bureau. 
7. The United States Marshall Services Jamaica Field 
Office works in collaboration with the National 
Intelligence Bureau (NIB), international law enforcement 
agencies from the UK and other US agencies.  On November 
25,the Jamaica Constabulary Force Fugitive Team (JFAT) 
arrested Karl Powell in the Parish of Manchester. Powell 
was wanted in South Carolina for narcotics charges. 
Dean Hanniford a 17-year-old Jamaican wanted for murder 
in Jamaica is presently being held in the West Palm 
Beach County jail on misdemeanor and immigration 
charges. Hanniford faces deportation to Jamaica upon 
resolution of his local charges. 
 
8. The National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) has a new 
Deputy Director.  Although he comes with an intelligence 
background and the necessary skills to fulfill the 
mandate of the unit, there are no guarantees that he 
will be given the authority and latitude required to 
move this agency forward.  One of his first challenges 
is to put the officers through a vetting process, 
including polygraph testing.  The NIB Advisor had 
favorable discussion with the Commissioner of Police 
concerning increased support from the JCF for the NIB 
but little action to date. 
 
 December Achievements and Activities 
 
9. The Narcotics Eradication Teams focused their 
energies in the parishes of St Elizabeth and 
Westmoreland.  The Jamaica Constabulary Force had the 
benefit of air and land transportation while the second 
battalion the Jamaica Regiment depended on 
transportation by road. A team consisting of fourteen 
soldiers and three policemen camped out for two days in 
the hilly and thickly vegetated terrain in the districts 
of Arlington and New Forest in the Parish of St. 
Elizabeth where they destroyed marijuana and seedlings. 
They observed the growing of domestic crops among the 
marijuana cultivation. The table below shows the 
statistics of the joint eradication operation for the 
month of December 2004. 
 
STATISTICS 
Seizures and Eradication for the month of December 2004 
 Cocaine            kg             not available 
 Marijuana      HC             21.12 
 Cured Marijuana     Kg             224 
 Seeds          Kg             0.6 
 Seedlings      Units          261,500 
 Nurseries      Ea              43 
 
Seizures and Eradication Year-To-Date December 2004 
                     2004           2003        %Change 
 Cocaine/kgs        1735.51        1619.21        6.70 
 Marijuana/HC        426.07         444.64        -4.18 
 Cured Marijuana/Kg  2,648.59       no data 
 Seeds/Kg           2,246.87       no data 
 Seedlings/Units     5,201,430    3,711,975        40.13 
 Nurseries/Ea        444            279            59.14 
 Mash           105.85         no data 
 
The year to date statistics for grown marijuana plants 
shows a decrease of 4.18%.  With the donation of the two 
new trucks to the JCF it is anticipated that there will 
be a significant increase in the eradication statistics 
for 2005. The destruction of seedlings and seeds 
continue to show a significant increase. 
 
10. Military and Narcotics police intelligence under 
"Operation Kingfish" resulted in the seizure of 
approximately 217.92 kilograms of cured marijuana in the 
Parish of Westmoreland. The JDF AW spent approximately 
2.6 hours of airtime, with members of the Headquarters 
Defense Force Intelligence Unit and the JCF   Narcotics 
team searching for a vessel suspected of transporting 
narcotics.  The vessel was later intercepted by the 
Marine Police in the mangrove North of the Great Goat 
Island, south of Jamaica however, no contraband was 
found. In addition, the JDF Engineering unit blasted the 
600-meter Greenwood airstrip located in St. James. 
Evidence shows that this is a drop off and pick up point 
for illicit drugs. The GOJ plans to destroy other 
unmonitored airstrips as well during 2005. 
 
11. JDF/CG conducted 165 patrols in the north and south 
coast and 9 routine dives at Port Rhoades St Ann, Rocky 
Point Clarendon and Port security patrols Montego Bay, 
Discovery Bay, Ocho Rios Port Antonio and Kingston. 
Three abandoned go-fast boats were confiscated in 
Kingston Harbor.  No contraband was found on the vessels 
and the owners have not yet been identified.  The 
vessels were examined for traces of narcotics.  The 
month's JDFCG activities utilized approximately 23263.7 
liters of petrol and 11486 liters of diesel. 
 
12. In anticipation of an increase in import and export 
of cargo over the Christmas period the Contraband 
Enforcement Team temporarily increased their manpower 
with the help of soldiers from the Jamaica Defense 
Force.  They were able to perform a 100 percent check on 
all imports.  CET focused on container examination and 
maintained an increase in four out of five categories of 
container examination. For example, the examination of 
break bulk containers increased from 396 in December 
2003 to 8528 in December 2004, an increase of 2054%. 
Break bulk containers examined at the airport increased 
slightly, from 141 to 162.  There was also a 277 percent 
increase, from 13 to 49, in the number of transshipment 
containers examined.  One hundred and forty (140) 
passengers were processed in comparison to four hundred 
and sixty four, (464) in the previous year, a reduction 
of 70%. 
 
Statistics 
Comparison of Contraband Enforcement Team (CET) 
Activities for December 2003 and 2004 
                          Dec -04     Dec 03   % Change 
 Cocaine seizure          3           no data 
 Marijuana seizure        2           2           none 
 Passenger Processed 140        464          -70 
 Import Containers Examined  7  3             133 
 Export Containers Examined    9     25           -64 
 Transshipment Containers 49         13        277 
 Examined 
 Break Bulk Containers   162         141        15 
 Examined Airport 
 Break Bulk Containers   8528         396      2054 
 Examined seaport 
 
The year to date statistics shows a similar trend with 
the monthly activities.  There was a percentage increase 
in the container activities and a negative percentage 
change of 67% with the processing of passengers.  This 
may be attributed to the lack of use of the Ion Scan 
machines and other domestic factors.  The ION scanners 
are being serviced and should be returned to the Kinston 
airport by mid-March. 
 
Contraband Enforcement Team Year To Date Activities for 
Jan-December 2004 
                    Jan-Dec -04   Jan-Dec -03   % change 
 Pass.Processed     633         1940           -67 
 Import Containers   148         113                 31 
 Examined 
 Export Containers   357         321                 11 
 Examined 
 Transshipment Containers   265         115         130 
 Examined 
 Break Bulk Containers    890           551          62 
 Examined airport 
 Break Bulk Containers   9277           811        1044 
 Examined seaport 
 
13. The National Intelligence Bureau's (NIB) new deputy 
director is well respected in the intelligence community 
and it is hoped that he have a positive impact in 
managing personnel and dealing with internal issues 
within that division.  His first task is to implement 
the vetting process, including polygraph and drug 
testing approved by the Commissioner, to all the 
officers. 
 
14. Comment:  Jamaican law enforcement activities 
tapered off during the holiday season but should pick up 
with renewed energy shortly.  Initiatives on the part of 
NAS, such as setting up Blanket Purchase Agreements 
(BPA), have given the JDF/CG in particular, autonomy 
never before experienced.  As a result, more JDFCG 
vessels are operational and more missions are being 
executed.  Because of the size of the vessels in 
question, Jamaican waters are less likely to be violated 
as traffickers are using routes farther from shore. 
Incorporating the JDF Air Wing more into the offshore 
interdiction efforts should reap further dividends in 
the form of increased seizures of drugs and property. 
End Comment. 
 
TIGHE