US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA540

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEGUCIGALPA 000540 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL/LP, INL/ENT, AND WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR, PREL, KCRM, EAID, PHUM, HO 
SUBJECT: CY-2004 END USER MONITORING REPORT FOR 
HONDURAS 
 
REF: A) STATE 16913 
 
     B) STATE 17655 
 
1. The INL Section has been managing and providing 
support to INL funded counternarcotics (CN) projects in 
Honduras.  On January 6, 2005, a new law enforcement 
advisor arrived to assist the POL/INL section in 
developing more focused support for INL projects. 
Current operational projects are: 
 
1. Maritime (boat) Project 
2. Canine Project 
3. Container Freight Tracking System (CFTS) Project 
4. Elite Unit Project 
5. GOH CN agencies support 
6. Frontier Police 
7. Demand Reduction 
 
2. POL/INL law enforcement advisor coordinates INL 
programs and liaisons with law enforcement officials of 
the Government of Honduras (GOH).  His duties also 
include End Use Monitoring (EUM). 
 
3. Resources: INL provides counternarcotics support 
directly to the following GOH agencies: 
 
A) General Directorate of Special Investigative 
Services (DGSEI) through the Frontier Police who are 
attached to the Ministry of Public Security. 
 
B) Joint Information Control Center (JICC) - attached 
to the Ministry of Public Security (MOPS). 
 
Project funds were disbursed to the above organizations 
for training, equipment, operations, and demand 
reduction. 
 
4. Procedures: EUM inspections are conducted on an 
annual basis with the organizations listed in paragraph 
three.  A complete inventory of donated equipment is 
available at Post.  Training equipment and supplies, in 
addition to constant interaction and communication with 
referenced organizations, provide Post with the 
necessary feedback to determine that INL resources are 
being used appropriately. 
 
5. Status: CY-2004 was a year in which projects 
continued evolving.  Projects are all operational. 
Status of projects is outlined below: 
 
A) Maritime Project (Frontier Police):  Two 36ft boats 
and two 25ft boats are currently docked.  Upon final 
repairs the boats will be assigned to the Ministry of 
Public Security (MoPS).  Maritime patrolling is 
detained. 
 
B) Canine Project (Frontier Police):  The Canine 
Project was transferred to the Frontier Police in July 
2003.  Fixed assets, such as buildings, and some mobile 
assets such as vehicles and trailers are pending final 
signature transfer.   Canines have been formally 
transferred to MOPS.  The Canine program is utilized in 
several border areas by the Frontier Police with 
positive results.  Additional training for the handlers 
and canines along with veterinary services, food, and 
supplies continue to be maintained by the INL program. 
 
C) Container Freight Tracking System Project:  This 
project is complete and has been fully operational 
since April 2003.  The Ministry of Public Security 
maintains and staffs this facility.  Presence of 
uniformed Frontier Police is observed. 
 
D) Elite Unit Project:  This unit is fully operational 
and works directly with Embassy sections/agencies such 
as DEA, TAT, and INL.  INL and MOPS maintain the unit, 
with one office in Tegucigalpa and another in San Pedro 
Sula. 
 
E) Government of Honduras counternarcotics agencies 
support:  INL assistance continues to MOPS, the 
Ministry of Defense, and the Public Ministry.  The 
level and type of assistance provided by INL is 
determined by the project goals and funds available. 
Assistance includes equipment, technical assistance, 
and training. 
 
6. Problems: Post encountered problems with the DLCN, 
maritime (boat) and canine projects.  INL is no longer 
supporting the DLCN, and the other two projects were 
turned over to MOPS and are currently operational and 
providing positive results. 
 
7. Program Changes: As previously stated, Post 
transferred the maritime (boat) and canine programs to 
the MOPS under the Frontier Police unit and is no 
longer supporting the DLCN. 
 
8. Impact: Post's projects have had a positive impact 
on the GOH's overall counternarcotics efforts.  A 
counternarcotics infrastructure is now in place and 
capable of providing effective operational support. 
During the last two years, Honduras law enforcement has 
seized more cocaine than in the previous ten years. 
Through constant monitoring and interaction, a sense of 
professionalism and accountability has been established 
with the GOH's counternarcotics organizations.  This 
engagement by Country Team has allowed resources to be 
more effectively utilized. 
 
PALMER