US embassy cable - 05KINGSTON759

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 000759 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR INL/LP - KBROWN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR, JM 
SUBJECT: MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT - JANUARY 2005 
 
Achievements/ Activities: 
 
1. The Jamaica Defense Force Air Wing (JDF/AW) spent approximately 
10 hours transporting members of the "Kingfish" operation, 
narcotics police and The Jamaica Defense Force Headquarters 
Intelligence team to the parishes of St James, St. Elizabeth and 
Westmoreland to gather information on narcotrafficking and other 
related criminal activities. Combined intelligence efforts by the 
JDF and JCF led to the seizure of 31.66 kilograms of cocaine and 
399 pieces of crack cocaine by Narcotics police.  The Jamaican 
security forces eradicated marijuana in ten districts over hilly 
and swampy areas in the parishes of St Elizabeth, Westmoreland and 
Clarendon where they destroyed 22.24 hectares, 2,457 kilograms of 
cured marijuana, 600,000 units of seedlings, 11 nurseries and 5 
huts.  The police encountered a hostile crowd and one arrest was 
made at Bailey Ground in St Elizabeth.  The monthly operation was 
accomplished within 2 weeks and 6 days with the deployment of 
thirty-nine (39) personnel. 
 
Seizures and Eradication for January 2005 
 
Cocaine           Kg          31.66 
Crack Cocaine     Pieces      399 
Marijuana         Ha          22.24 
Cured Marijuana   Kg          2,457 
Seedlings         Units       600,000 
Nurseries         Units       11 
Huts              Units       5 
 
An examination of the year to date statistics compared to 2004 
indicates a significant reduction of 31.93% in the seizure of 
cocaine and a minimal increase of 39.93% of crack cocaine.  There 
was a significant increase of 224.32% in the destruction of 
seedlings and the destruction of huts is a new feature for the 
month of January. 
 
Seizures and Eradication Year-To-Date January 2005 
                              2005           2004           %Change 
Cocaine             Kg        31.66          51.01       -37.93 
Crack Cocaine     Pieces      399            352          13.35 
Marijuana         HC          22             11           94 
Cured Marijuana   Kg          2,457          1,991        23.40 
Seedlings         Units       600,000        185,000      224.32 
Nurseries         Units        11              9          22.22 
Huts              Units          5             0          100.00 
 
2. Two hundred and ten (210) patrols covering 3095 Nautical Miles 
were conducted along the North and South Coast by the Jamaica 
Defense Force Coast Guard (JDF/CG) inshore patrol vessels. Twelve 
diving operations were conducted at Port Rhoades, St Ann and Rocky 
Point, Clarendon. In addition Port Security patrols were extended 
to Montego Bay, Discovery Bay, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio and 
Kingston. The monthly operation was done in approximately 395 
hours, using 11,155.59 liters of petrol and 10,772 liters of 
diesel.  No vessels were seized or identified. 
 
The Narcotics traffickers and growers continue to find new and 
creative ways to maintain their trade while the Jamaican and 
selected foreign law enforcement official continue to interrupt 
their livelihood. In an effort to adequately prosecute major 
illicit operators the Jamaican government announced the tabling of 
the Plea-Bargaining Bill in parliament in February 2005. There has 
being grave resistance from some sectors of the society. However, 
the Commissioner of Police responsible for "Operation Kingfish" 
announced that the initiative is making progress.  He also stated 
that an anti-extortion strategy would be shortly implemented, and 
that the JCF has identified some of the criminal networks. 
Investigators are currently building cases. 
 
3. During January NAS visited the Police Training School at 
Twickenham Park, Spanish Town, Mobile Reserve Police Station and 
the Jamaica Defense Force Coast Guard and the Narcotics trailer the 
Boscobel Aerodrome, St Mary. At the training School the portable 
and stationery Firearm Training Simulators were seen. They are 
adequately utilized and are in good working condition. The M16 
weapons are accounted for and despite the lack of a modern armory, 
the walls of the building appeared strong and safety was not 
compromised. The equipment at the JDF Coast Guard was all accounted 
for and used for the purposes intended. There was a marginal 
improvement of serviceability of the boats but they are now 
challenged to maintain them and to get the additional boats in the 
water. 
 
4. On January 19th Mr. Lucius Thomas was appointed as the 
Commissioner of police for The Jamaica Constabulary Force. In his 
inaugural speech he stated that the final draft of the JCF's three- 
year Corporate Strategy (2005-2008) was completed, and the document 
would be completed soon and would be published for implication. 
Most critics welcomed his appointment and it is expected that he 
will better utilize his resources to solve crime. 
 
Messrs. Garace Reynard, Dave Purdy and Morris Davis visited the 
Commissioner to discuss the inability of the NIB to fulfill its 
mandate because of poor management, lack of top management support 
from the Jamaica Constabulary Force, and the absence of polygraph 
testing for the staff. The Commissioner listened with interest and 
stated that he would examine the issues with a view to correcting 
them. The Commissioner was very responsive and frank in stating the 
problems facing him and his administration.  He agreed with our 
assessment and suggestion for managing the JCF and with specific 
recommendation for changes in specific units to enhance the 
effectiveness of their operations. He ordered vetting to proceed 
shortly afterwards. 
 
5. The National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) Advisor, Mr. Morris Davis 
has been in conversation with the Minister of National Security The 
Hon. Peter Phillips and there are plans for the Minister to visit 
NIB early February and look at their capabilities and their 
difficulties with the intention of giving the Bureau more support 
from top management enabling them to fulfill their mandate. 
Members of the NIB, Operation Kingfish and the Divisional 
Intelligence Unit participated in a weeklong training exercise 
where they covered several related modules including "Training in 
Managing Informants".  The NIB continues to work with personnel 
from the Corporate Strategy Unit with the mandate of fully 
implementing the Bureau.  As a part of the Reform and Modernization 
effort consultants from the United Kingdom are working closely on 
the project. 
 
6. The Entry/Exit System has been functioning well since it was 
formally launched in November 2004, however, it is not being fully 
utilized by Jamaica Immigration Service (JIS), especially in 
Montego Bay.  The system still hasn't been able to produce the 
required reports that will identify problems or progress at the 
ports of entry.  IOM officials are working with JIS to improve 
their performance and image with the touring public. 
 
7. The Fugitive Apprehension Team conducted island-wide operations 
with the U.S. Marshal Service in January and collected information 
that should lead to the arrest of several fugitives from U.S. 
justice in the near future. 
 
8. The Contraband Enforcement Team continues to be active at the 
seaports and airports.  Cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana 
concealed among jewelry, fiberglass wrapped in aluminum and the 
picture tube of two television sets were among the contraband that 
alleged traffickers attempted to import and export. There were 
seven (07) seizures of marijuana, six at Norman Manley 
International Airport in Kingston and one (01) at the Sangster 
International Airport, Montego Bay. Six of those seizures were 
destined to the United States of America. There were two (02) 
cocaine and heroin related seizures, which amounted to 10.0113 
kilograms of combined drugs. One shipment was destined to the 
United States and the other to Curacao. 
 
Jamaica Contraband Enforcement Seizures 
                              Jan 05       Jan 04      % Change 
No of Cocaine Seizures        2         no data 
No of Marijuana seizure       7              1         600 
Qty of Marijuana seized (Kg)  54.11          605       -91 
No of Persons Arrested          1            2         -50 
Passengers processed          260            6         4233 
Import Containers Examined      17           6          183 
Export Containers Examined      17           57         -70 
Transshipment Cont. Examined    21           13          62 
Break Bulk Containers airport  225           50         350 
Break Bulk Containers seaport 6652           87        7546 
 
The statistics shows that there has been a significant increase in 
the number of passengers processed and the inspection of containers 
in 2005 when compared to 2004. The increase in the processing of 
containers is due to the assignment of military personnel to the 
agency. 
 
Two key management staff members from the Contraband Enforcement 
Team has resigned recently and the NAS Director has a planned 
meeting with the CET's Directors to discuss possible replacement 
and the impact that this will have on the performance of the 
agency. 
 
9. The Narcotic Affairs Section continues to actively support all 
agencies that are actively involved in the interruption of the 
narcotic trade and related criminal activities by meeting directly 
with the responsible officials in each program and the key players 
at the Ministry of National Security. 
 
10. Note: Post is still concerned that the GOJ hasn't proceeded at 
a faster pace on the establishment of the Airport Interdiction Task 
Force.  The delay seems to lie with the Ministry of National 
Security (MNS) and the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) 
unable to agree on facilities to house the Task Force.  Although 
there has been a big push to address domestic crime, and success in 
combating international criminal activities, the GOJ has been slow 
to respond to programs already underway that could go a long way 
towards addressing some of their problems.  End Note. 
 
TIGHE