US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA6563

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 006563 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR INL/RM, INL/LP 
DEPT FOR WHA/AND 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR, KCRM, PTER, CO 
SUBJECT: NAS Monthly Report June 2005 
 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: In June 2005, the Colombian National 
Police (CNP) spray program eradicated 9,884 hectares of coca 
and 41 hectares of poppy.  Anti-Narcotics Police (DIRAN) 
destroyed four cocaine HCL laboratories and captured nine 
metric tons of cocaine, one ton of cocaine base, and 70 
kilos of heroin.  End summary. 
 
Eradication and Interdiction 
----------------------------- 
 
2. (SBU) Eradication: During June, OV-10s operating from 
Apiay and Villavicencio, Meta Department, sprayed 
approximately 1,504 hectares of coca.  AT-802s operating 
from Caucausia, Antioquia Department, sprayed approximately 
6,521 hectares of coca.  T-65s operating from Popayan, Cauca 
Department, sprayed 1,859 hectares of coca and 41 hectares 
of poppy.  In total, CNP aircraft sprayed approximately 
9,884 hectares of coca and 41 hectares of poppy during the 
month of June.  Thus far in 2005 the CNP eradication program 
has sprayed more than 95,512 hectares of coca and 1,020 
hectares of poppy. 
 
3. (SBU) Armed narco-terrorists fired on eradication and 
COLAR aircraft 13 times during June, resulting in 38 
impacts.  The AT-802s and T-65s were struck six times each 
and OV-10s and UH-1Ns were struck once each.  In the Plan 
Colombia Helicopter Program, ground fire struck UH-1Ns four 
times this month, UH-1HIIs once, and the UH-60Ls 19 times. 
 
4. (SBU) During June, COLAR Plan Colombia helicopters 
continued to support CD Brigade troops and eradication 
operations in Caucausia and Apiay, as well as Infrastructure 
Security Strategy (ISS) training and operations in Saravena 
and training operations in Tolemaida.  Plan Colombia 
helicopters transported 4,213 passengers, including 100 
medical evacuation patients, and 76,000 pounds of cargo 
during 2,417 flight hours, 1,940 of which were dedicated to 
the Eradication Program. 
 
5. (SBU) On June 22, the Plan Colombia Helicopter Program 
(PCHP) received the final four UH-1HII aircraft for the 
Infrastructure Security Strategy (ISS) Program.  These 
aircraft will arrive in Saravena, Arauca Department, 
approximately July 10, pending nationalization and 
acceptance inventories.  Four aircraft are currently on loan 
from other Plan Colombia bases to Saravena.  These aircraft 
support a Quick Reaction Force trained to respond to 
terrorist attacks along 174 kilometers of petroleum pipeline 
in the department of Arauca.  On June 6, the first ISS- 
supported combat mission in Saravena resulted in 14 
guerrillas killed. 
 
6. (SBU) PCHP helicopters provided crucial support to joint 
operations with the Colombian Army Counter-Narcotics Brigade 
(CD BDE) and the Colombian Departmento Administrativo de 
Seguridad (DAS) in which Colombian authorities captured the 
second in command of the FARC's 44th Front.  PCHP aircraft 
also provided reconnaissance support during a successful 
hostage rescue mission. 
 
7. (SBU) Interdiction:  On June 9, elements of the Colombian 
Army Counter-Narcotics Brigade (CD BDE) conducted an 
operation to capture suspected narco-terrorists drug storage 
sites.  The CD BDE uncovered 18 drug deposit locations on 
the road between Tumaco and Ipiales in Narino Department and 
captured nearly 1.5 tons of cocaine HCL, as well as weapons 
and precursor chemicals. 
 
Air Bridge Denial (ABD) 
----------------------- 
 
8. (SBU) GOC assets tracked 4326 aircraft contacts over 
Colombia in the month of June; 36 were declared 
Unidentified, Assumed Suspect (UAS).  Of these, the GOC 
intercepted two, but Colombian pursuit stopped when the 
aircraft reached the national borders.  One of the aircraft 
landed at Maiquetia airport in Venezuela, where Venezuelan 
police arrested the four occupants. 
 
CNP AVIATION 
------------ 
 
9. (SBU) In June, the CNP aviation operational tempo was 
almost twice that of the previous month.  The three largest 
components of ARAVI's fleet clocked 2,677 mission hours. The 
UH-1HII helicopters flew 784 mission hours with an 
operational readiness (O.R.) rate of 47 percent.  Thirty-one 
percent of the UH-1HII helicopters require depot-level 
structural repairs.  Bell 212 helicopters flew 367 mission 
hours with an operational readiness rate of 66 percent, and 
UH-60L helicopters flew 230 mission hours with an 
operational readiness rate of 68 percent. 
 
DIRAN 
----- 
 
10. (SBU) During June, DIRAN destroyed four cocaine HCL 
laboratories and captured nine metric tons of cocaine, one 
ton of cocaine base, and 70 kilos of heroin. 
 
11. (SBU) On June 16, joint operations with the Colombian 
Air Force and a DIRAN Task Force attacked a FARC 16th Front 
camp 117 miles east of San Jose del Guaviare in an attempt 
to capture Comandante Negro Acacio.  Colombian forces killed 
four FARC guerrillas and captured two M4 carbines (with M203 
grenade launchers), one AK47, and a 9mm pistol.  DIRAN 
reported no casualties.  Several computers were also seized, 
but Negro Acacio was not captured. 
 
12. (SBU) On June 17, a US Coast Guard aerial platform 
detected a go-fast boat and initiated a Firewall event.  A 
Colombian Navy Casa 235 continued to track the boat while a 
Colombian Air Force UH1-HII, from Barranquilla, Atlantico 
Department, flew to the Santa Marta DIRAN base and picked up 
seven DIRAN Jungla Commandos.  The COLAF UH1-HII intercepted 
the Go-fast with over 1.6 tons of cocaine, and the Junglas, 
with the help of the Police ARAVI helicopters, captured all 
five crew members.  The USG-provided Firewall communications 
net was employed throughout the event. 
 
13.(SBU) From June 29 thru July 1, a CNP Task Force of 100 
Junglas, 300 Carabineros, and support aircraft conducted 
operations in Valle de Cauca department against Diego 
Montoya, the Cartel del Norte de Valle, and the AUC. 
Colombian forces surrounded and searched suspected camps and 
farms, but only documents and one AUC member were seized. 
 
Law Enforcement/Public Security 
------------------------------- 
 
14. (SBU) Training: At the Espinal Training Center, 55 
students graduated from the four-month Jungla Basic Course. 
Three new Carabinero Mobile Squadrons began their seven-week 
training course, and NAS sent 55 DIRAN students, four 
Carabineros, and 12 Colombian Army students to training in 
the United States. 
 
15. (SBU) Seaport Security Program:  DIRAN's new 12-member 
polygraph unit, established to ensure the integrity of 
police working in the airports and seaports, began 
examinations of Bogota DIRAN and airport police personnel 
June 27.   After months of training and orientation, they 
are beginning a period of "on-the-job training" with 
guidance from a U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement (ICE) polygraph examiner.  Airport personnel 
examinations will last into August. 
 
Environment 
----------- 
 
16. (SBU) In June, the spray complaints group received 92 
complaints and is investigating 15 other cases.  Three new 
complaints were paid during June, bringing the total 
complaints paid to 15.  The environmental office will do a 
verification trip accompanied by representatives from the 
United Nations (SIMCI), Organization of American States 
(CICAD), and the U.S. ONDCP. 
 
WOOD