US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA2505

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BOGOTA 002505 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED 
 
DEPT FOR INL/RM, INL/LP 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/AND 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR, EFIN, KCRM, PTER, CO 
SUBJECT: NAS MONTHLY REPORT FEBRUARY 2005 
 
 
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The spray program eradicated 18,086 
hectares of coca in February.  Colombian Army (COLAR) and 
Colombian National Police Antinarcotics Directorate (DIRAN) 
units conducted joint interdiction operations (septel). 
Colombian Army Plan Colombia helicopters provided 1,993 
hours of support to the COLAR Counternarcotics (CD) Brigade 
and DIRAN in support of eradication operations.  Three HCL 
labs were destroyed and 250 kilos of cocaine were 
intercepted on Colombian roads.  Mobile Rural Police 
(Caribinero) squadrons captured 35 narco-traffickers and 135 
guerrillas.  CNP/ARAVI aircraft completed 1,148 flying hours 
of support to NAS's various programs.  Eradication aircraft 
conducted medical evacuations of Colombian soldiers.  End 
Summary. 
 
Eradication and Interdiction 
---------------------------- 
 
2. (U) During the month of February, OV-10s operating from 
San Jose sprayed approximately 3,634 hectares of coca, while 
AT-802s operating from Tumaco sprayed approximately 14,223 
hectares of coca.  The T-65 aircraft sprayed approximately 
229 hectares of coca during this period while operating 
first from Armenia, then from Pasto/Chachagui.  In the area 
of Pasto/Chachagui, the T-65s were also able to begin the 
first poppy campaign of the year, resulting in 407 hectares 
of poppy sprayed. 
 
3. (U) On February 19, Eradication Search and Rescue (SAR) 
personnel in San Jose took part in a simulated "down pilot" 
exercise at the Colombian military base at El Barrancon. 
While returning from the exercise the team was alerted to a 
requirement to fly a medical evacuation mission for an 
injured soldier.  The SAR helicopter, accompanied by escort 
helicopters, conducted the mission that resulted in the 
evacuation of two soldiers. 
 
4.  (SBU) Eradication and COLAR aircraft were involved in 
six incidents involving hostile fire during February, 
resulting in a total of eight hostile fire impacts for the 
month.  Eradication AT-802s received four impacts, T-65s 
received one impact, and UH-1Ns escort helicopters received 
one impact.  A Plan Colombia UH-60 aircraft received one 
impact during the month.  In addition, a Plan Colombia UH-1N 
received one impact while escorting an eradication spray 
package. 
 
5.  (SBU) COLAR Plan Colombia helicopters continued to 
support CD Brigade troops and eradication operations in 
Larandia, Tumaco, and Chachagui.  Plan Colombia helicopters 
flew over 1,993 hours and transported 2,278 passengers and 
232,160 pounds of cargo.  Fifty-three flight hours were 
dedicated to medical evacuation missions to transport 49 
patients. 
 
6. (U) The CNP, led by DIRAN, continues to build on their 
record-setting interdiction performance of CY2004.  In 
February the CNP destroyed 17 cocaine HCL labs and 83 
cocaine base labs; over 4.5 metric tons of cocaine HCl and 
coca base were seized, along with 41 kilos of heroin. 
 
7. (U) The DIRAN Road Interdiction group based in 
Villavicencio, Meta Department, seized 250 kilos of cocaine 
at a road interdiction control point in Granada, Meta 
Department.  The cocaine was being transported in the roof 
of a 4-wheel drive vehicle. Road interdiction operations in 
Putumayo seized 12 kilos of coca base concealed in soft 
drink cans. 
 
Interservice Cooperation 
------------------------ 
 
8. (SBU) For the first time, COLAR helicopters flew DIRAN 
troops on cocaine HCl lab interdiction missions.  Over an 
eight-day period, COLAR provided three UH-60 Blackhawk and 
four Huey-II helicopters to conduct joint interdiction 
operations in Narino Department.  The DIRAN C-26 
intelligence/command and control aircraft and one DIRAN UH- 
60 Blackhawk also supported the missions that destroyed 
three cocaine HCl laboratories. 
 
In-Country Training Courses 
---------------------------- 
 
9.  (U) The US Army 7th Special Forces Group began the six 
week Small Unit Tactics course in Espinal, Tolima 
Department, training 55 Jungla Commandos in Close Quarters 
Combat Training.  The Jungla Commando four-month basic 
course began on February 22 in Espinal with 98 trainees. The 
five-week Sapper Course (demolitions) began on February 16 
for 45 members of DIRAN.  DIRAN base security personnel, 
accompanied by NAS, conducted base defense training in the 
DIRAN Northern Zone.  In February, 62 CNP members departed 
for training courses in the United States. 
 
International Police Intelligence Conference 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
10.  (U) Representatives from 28 countries and two 
international organizations met at the CNP Intelligence 
Directorate (DIPOL) February 17-18 to discuss the challenges 
of transnational crime and terrorism.  Keynote speakers 
included the former GOC Inspector General and Constitutional 
Court Justice who discussed Colombia's transition to an 
accusatory system. The Acting Director of the European Union 
Police agency (EUROPOL) briefed on advances by that 
organization to centralize information on terrorism and 
transnational crime.  Europol offered to help form a similar 
organization for Latin America. 
 
Firewall Exercise Planning Conference 
------------------------------------- 
 
11.  (U) Representatives from the Colombian Navy, DIRAN, Air 
Force, UK Embassy, DEA, MILGP and NAS began planning the 
second Firewall Field Training Exercise that will be held 
April 4-14, near Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast. 
Exercise will test reactions of Firewall units against three 
separate scenarios, each simulating launching of narco go- 
fasts.  The newly installed Firewall communications network 
will also be tested during the exercise. 
 
Law Enforcement/Public Security 
------------------------------- 
 
12. (U) One new Mobile Carabineros Squadron (EMCAR) and 200 
replacement policemen for the existing squadrons completed 
their training on February 25.  To date, a total of 41 
Carabineros Squadrons have been trained.  The Combat Medics 
Course began in January with 49 students, 30 EMCAR, 15 
DIRAN, 1 GREAS (Colombian Coast Guard), 1 GRATE (CNP Anti- 
Terrorist Reaction Group), and 2 others. 
 
Security and Democracy Foundation Event 
--------------------------------------- 
 
13. (U) On February 23, the "Fundacion Seguridad and 
Democracia" (Security and Democracy Foundation, established 
with seed money from NAS), held a major conference to 
examine the sustainability of Colombia's Defense and 
Security Policy, established by President Uribe's 
administration (also with USG assistance through a NAS 
project).  Three panels composed of government, academic and 
outside experts concluded that Colombia was able to sustain 
its national security strategy.  Former President Pastrana, 
who launched Plan Colombia and the build up of the military 
and police forces, closed the conference. 
 
Air Bridge Denial 
---------------- 
 
14. (U) There was one Phase III event that resulted in the 
destruction of a drug carrying aircraft and impoundment of 
475 kilos of Cocaine.  During this month there were over 
5200 tracks over Colombia, of which 16 were declared 
Unknown, Assumed Suspect. 
 
Manual Poppy Eradication (DIRAN) 
------------------------------ 
15. (SBU) NAS continues to press the GOC's Plan Colombia 
Mobile Eradication Unit planners not to compromise security 
in identifying manual eradication sites.  On February 16, a 
Mobile Eradication Unit walked into a minefield and took 
sniper fire in Sardinata, Norte de Santander.  Though the 
group suffered no casualties, one third of the campesinos at 
that site abandoned the program. 
 
16. (U) In Pauna, Boyaca Department, an eight-member local 
police force eradicated 108 hectares of coca. 
 
CNP Aviation (ARAVI) 
-------------------- 
 
17. (U) The three largest components of ARAVI's fleet 
clocked 1,148 mission hours in February:  the UH-1H II 
helicopters flew 790 mission hours with an operational 
readiness rate of 49 percent, the Bell 212 helicopters flew 
199 mission hours with an operational readiness rate of 66 
percent, and the UH-60L helicopters flew 159 mission hours 
with an operational readiness rate of 70 percent.  NAS 
approved ARAVI support for the "relevo" program of rotating 
Carabineros in and out of rural police stations.  ARAVI also 
successfully managed the newly established flying hour 
program (the first in ARAVI's history) for February, with 11 
of the 12 aircraft models having a positive balance of 
hours.  Construction of the new hangar complex at ARAVI's 
Guaymaral base remains on schedule.  In-country rescue hoist 
training for the major airframes was conducted and over- 
water survival training began.  NAS, Lockheed and Lockheed's 
subcontractor held a program management review (PMR) 
February 23-24 and agreed to include more specific 
performance measurements for Lockheed contract in the Task 
Execution Plan (TEP).  The PMR also identified 25 additional 
action items for completion over the next three months. 
 
Port Security 
------------- 
 
18. (U) NAS, DIRAN airport units, and the Airport Police 
deployed NAS purchased ION Scanners on a trial basis at 
Bogota's El Dorado International Airport. A trainer from the 
manufacturer trained Airport Police, DIRAN airport police, 
and DIRAN Road Interdiction personnel in the operation of 
these narcotics/explosives detection devices. 
 
19. (U) NAS and US Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) 
began cooperation with the recently vetted Bogot Airport 
Police by donating radios, flashlights, and hand tools to 
assist them in internal communication and cargo and luggage 
inspections. 
 
20. (U) NAS and DIRAN seaport unit commanders participated 
in a Spanish government-sponsored conference on Narcotics 
interdiction in seaports at Cartagena. 
 
Environment 
----------- 
 
21. (U) NAS concluded its annual environmental verification 
throughout Colombia.  Analysis of soil samples is in 
progress. 
 
WOOD