US embassy cable - 05SANSALVADOR3013

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SAN SALVADOR 003013 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL/PC LAURA MCKECHNIE 
EMBASSIES FOR INL OR NARCOR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR, ES, PINR, PINS, PREL, KCRM, INL 
SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR: RESULTS OF MINI-DUBLIN GROUP MEETING 
2005 
 
REF: SECSTATE 200169 
 
1. (U) On November 4, 2005, Post convened a meeting of the 
Salvadoran Mini-Dublin Group (MDG).  In attendance were 
representatives from the Embassies of Canada, Japan, France, 
Germany, Spain, and Italy.  The following provides 
information requested in Reftel and a summary of MDG 
bilateral, counter-narcotics support to El Salvador. 
 
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General Drug Situation 
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2. (U) El Salvador is a transit country for narcotics, mainly 
cocaine and heroin.  Cocaine from Colombia typically transits 
El Salvador via the Pan-American Highway and via maritime 
routes off the country's Pacific coast. Heroin from Colombia 
usually goes through Panama, then via courier on a commercial 
passenger flight to El Salvador to another commercial flight 
to Honduras and then by bus to Guatemala. The Pan-American 
and Littoral Highways are the land routes preferred by 
traffickers. As in the rest of Central America, there has 
been a notable increase in the amount of heroin transiting 
both the international airport and land ports of entry. Both 
heroin and cocaine also transit by sea off the Salvadoran 
coast as well as through Salvadoran airspace. 
 
3. (U) Climate and soil conditions do not favor the 
cultivation of coca plants. Small quantities of cannabis are 
produced in the mountainous regions along the border with 
Guatemala and 
Honduras. However, the cannabis is of poor quality and is 
consumed domestically.  Precursor chemical production and 
transit either do not exist, or occur at undetectable levels. 
 
4. (U) According to a study conducted by Salvadoran NGO 
FundaSalva, six percent of males and one percent of females 
use drugs at least once a month.  The vast majority of these 
individuals are between the ages of 18 and 34.  Marijuana is 
the most popular drug, with 22 percent of men and four 
percent of women trying the drug at least once in their life. 
 
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El Salvador's Anti-Narcotics Strategy 
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5. (U) In November 2003, the government enacted a new 
counter-narcotics law that contains a stronger and more 
well-defined conspiracy provision, increases the penalties 
for a broad range of drug-related offenses, and includes 
additional aggravating circumstances that can further enhance 
penalties.  It also punishes simple possession of illegal 
drugs and better defines procedures for the use of undercover 
agents, undercover buys, controlled deliveries, and 
confidential informants. 
 
SIPDIS 
 
6. (U) Salvadoran law enforcement efforts are still hindered 
by constitutional prohibitions on investigative tools such as 
wiretapping.  The government gives a very high priority to 
counter-narcotics law enforcement, but its available 
resources are inadequate to achieve all of its 
counter-narcotics objectives.  Nevertheless, from January to 
September 2005, the Anti-Narcotics Police seized 400 
kilograms (kg) of marijuana, 27 kg of cocaine, 20 kg of 
heroin, and five kg of crack, with a total street value of 
USD $2.7 million. 
 
7. (U) El Salvador is a party to the following conventions: 
1988 UN Drug Convention; 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic 
Substances; 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs as 
amended by the 1972 Protocol; UN Convention against 
Transnational Organized Crime; Central American convention 
for the Prevention of Money Laundering Related to 
Drug-Trafficking and Similar Crimes; Central American Mutual 
Legal Assistance Agreement; Inter-American Convention on 
Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters 
 
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Bilateral Counter-Narcotics Assistance 
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8. (U) The United States is the only Mini-Dublin Group (MDG) 
member to provide bilateral counter-narcotics assistance to 
El Salvador.  The other MDG members contribute aid through 
the United Nations, the OAS, or the European Union.  All 
provide funding for after school programs for at-risk youths. 
 France, Germany, and Italy provide support to Central 
America as a region, rather than focusing on any particular 
country.  Japan sponsors Salvadoran NGO House of Youth (Casa 
de Juventud), and offers training on public security.  Canada 
plans to offer police training on solving complex cases and 
on crime scene management.  Spain sponsors two 
gang-prevention programs, as well as Salvadoran NGO Carisma 
(Charisma).  All emphasized the importance of funding social 
programs to prevent substance abuse and violence.  Their 
efforts are laudable, and Post officers appreciated hearing 
their views on global counter-narcotics endeavors.  This 
cable has been cleared by the other members of the MDG. 
Barclay