US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA3691

UNCLAS BOGOTA 003691 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR INL AND WHA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR, PTER, MOPS, CO 
SUBJECT: COUNTER DRUG BRIGADE SUCCESSES IN NARINO 
 
1. (U) Summary: Counter Drug (CD) Brigade operations in 
Narino Department from January to March destroyed 13 HCL 
labs, captured over 1500 kgs of cocaine HCL and over 5000 
kgs of explosives.  The 1st and 2nd battalions of the Plan 
Colombia-supported CD Brigade have been conducting ongoing 
operations to secure areas in southern Narino to enable 
spray aircraft to conduct aerial eradication.  Thus far in 
2005 the aerial eradication program has sprayed over 45,000 
hectares of coca in Narino Department alone.  End Summary. 
 
2. (U) During the first quarter of 2005, elements of the CD 
Brigade conducted a series of successful operations in the 
general vicinity of the Mira, Guisa, Nulpe, and Mataje 
rivers (major drug transit routes): 
 
- In a January operation the CD Brigade destroyed two 
cocaine HCL processing labs, over one million coca plant 
seedlings (enough to plant over 80 hectares of coca), more 
than 40 tons of liquid precursors and 10 tons of solid 
precursors, and three narcoterrorist camps. 
 
- During a February 17-27 operation the CD Brigade destroyed 
one cocaine HCL lab and a narcoterrorist camp belonging to 
the Armed Revolutionary Front of Colombia (FARC). 
 
- During a March 7-29 operation in southern Narino 
Department the CD Brigade captured more than 1500 kgs of 
cocaine HCL and nearly 500 kgs of cocaine base.  The unit 
destroyed eight cocaine hcl labs belonging to the `Daniel 
Aldana' Mobile Column of the FARC and to elements of the 
`Cabrera Ruales' Company of the National Liberation Army 
(ELN) narco-terrorist groups.  The CD Brigade destroyed over 
40,000 gallons of liquid precursor chemicals and over 67 
tons of solid precursors.  The unit also destroyed nearly 
three tons of explosives of the type used to construct car 
and house bombs; five tons of food stuffs; seed beds with 
over 700,000 coca plants; and nine narco-terrorist camps. 
 
3. (SBU) Comment: CD Brigade operations and tactics in 
support of spray operations have evolved under the new 
commander, Brigadier General Luis Felipe Paredes Cadena. 
Night and daytime assaults are conducted against specific 
targets in the spray areas.  The objective is to stay on the 
ground only the time necessary to engage the enemy, destroy 
camps and drug processing labs, and neutralize identified 
threats to spray aircraft.  These operations are typically 3- 
5 days in duration, compared to the 2-3 week sweeps 
previously employed.  The extended deployments often 
resulted in higher casualties from enemy hit and run attacks 
and anti-personnel mines laid in advance of CD Brigade troop 
movements.  During the Narino campaign there have been fewer 
casualties, fewer impacts against spray aircraft, and a 
higher success rate in operations against narco-terrorist 
groups.  End Comment. 
 
Wood