US embassy cable - 05LIMA4897

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 LIMA 004897 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR INL/LP 
STATE FOR WHA/PPC 
ONDCP FOR D. GEDDINGS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR, KCRM, ASEC, PREL, PE 
SUBJECT: PERU: NARCOTICS AFFAIRS SECTION, OCTOBER 2005 
 
REF: A. LIMA 4501 
     B. LIMA 4639 
     C. LIMA 4512 
     D. LIMA 4514 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (SBU) The eradication/interdiction juggernaut moved to 
San Gaban on October 4 and we are well on our way to 
surpassing our 8,000 hectare goal for this year.  Opposition 
continues to be light thanks to a large contingent of PNP 
drug police (DIRANDRO) and a proactive community outreach 
program by the GOP Ministry of Interior's eradication agency 
(CORAH).  In support of the eradication effort in San Gaban, 
DIRANDRO troops destroyed 21 cocaine-base labs.  To date, 
interdiction operations from the Palma Pampa base have 
destroyed 734 cocaine-base labs in the Apurimac/Ene River 
Valley (VRAE).  The addition of the B-1900D aircraft and the 
two Peruvian Air Force C-26 aircraft have afforded additional 
airlift support to the CN effort.  The Maritime Port/Riverine 
Program is ramping up its activities at sea and air ports as 
well as the Peruvian Postal Service.  The K-9 program is 
being revitalized and large-scale x-ray units have been 
ordered by NAS to use to examine maritime containers. 
Seizures are becoming a regular event at the ports, and 
cooperation with DEA on controlled delivery operations have 
resulted in seizures as far away as Estonia.  Six community 
anti-drug coalitions started this month.  (END SUMMARY) 
 
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SAN GABAN ERADICATION IN FULL SWING 
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2.  (U) A total of 390 police and eradicators started 
operations in the San Gaban area in Puno Department on 
October 4.  The police were met by a group of rock-throwing 
protesters who dispersed when their leader was arrested.   As 
of October 31, CORAH has eradicated 609 hectares in this area 
plus 3,355 square meters of seedbeds.  Total eradication for 
the year is 7,670 hectares.  Eradicators are not as 
productive as they were in the Pizana-Polvora area because of 
the intense heat and heavy rains and more significantly due 
to encountering a substantial number of thick, older coca 
plants with deep roots that require extra effort to extract 
(Ref A). 
 
3.  (SBU) NAS prompted CORAH to broadcast a series of 
programs for the local radio audience in San Gaban to inform 
local residents about the interdiction/eradication operations 
and to counter cocalero-sponsored disinformation.  NAS also 
outfitted CORAH with cameras, microphones, and related 
communications to provide photos/videos of area activities, 
including speeches by cocalero leaders, for the national 
media. 
 
4.  (U) NAS continues to discuss the 2006 eradication plan 
with GOP counterparts.  A Cocaine Production Averted (CPA) 
formula is still being developed.  The formula seeks to 
translate the number of hectares eradicated into the amount 
of cocaine HCL that was not produced as a result. In an 
effort to refine the CPA formula, a group of ICT and CADA 
engineers traveled to Masuco on October 18-20 to measure coca 
plant densities and take leaf samples in order to determine 
the alkaloid content of the plants in the San Gaban area. 
ICT also trained the CADA engineers on making density 
measurements.  There was consensus to use it as one of the 
ways to state the eradication goal for 2006. 
 
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POLICE PROGRAM: INTERDICTION AND ERADICATION SECURITY 
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5.  (U) DIRANDRO's Special Operations Group continues to 
provide security for eradication and helicopter operations. 
Prior to the start of eradication in San Gaban, DIRANDRO 
destroyed 21 cocaine-base laboratories around San Gaban.  As 
eradication started, prompt action by the DIRANDRO Special 
Operations Group defused a cocalero protest and arrested the 
local cocalero leader.  The DIRANDRO Road Interdiction Unit 
continues operations in the Ayacucho area.  Interdiction 
operations continue in Palma Pampa where, since October 2004, 
734 cocaine-base laboratories have been destroyed.  Seizures 
so far this year total 4.39 tons of cocaine base and 10.08 
tons of cocaine HCL.  A total of 598 tons of precursor 
chemicals have been destroyed and 72.24 tons seized. 
Regarding opium, 92.50 hectares of opium poppies have been 
eradicated and 468 kg of opium latex seized. 
 
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AVIATION SUPPORT AND TRAINING COSTS CONTINUE TO RISE 
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6.  (SBU) NAS Aviation maintained a complex air bridge from 
Lima through the Main Operating Base (MOB) in Pucallpa 
through Puerto Maldonado to the Masuco base camp and, 
finally, to support eradication operations in San Gaban.  The 
cost of aviation fuel has skyrocketed.  NAS projected a cost 
of USD 2.00 to 2.50 a gallon.  It now costs approximately USD 
4.74 delivered to Masuco. 
 
7.  (SBU) Six PNP officers will graduate from initial entry 
rotor-wing flight training at Titusville, Florida on October 
24.  NAS had been sending the PNP aviators to Fort Rucker 
until the Army closed the school. 
 
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C-26B AIRCRAFT DEDICATED TO CN MISSIONS 
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8.  (SBU) Two C-26 aircraft, donated to the Peruvian Air 
Force (FAP) by the USG in 1997, were officially handed over 
to the GOP in a ceremony attended by the Ambassador and 
senior Peruvian officials (Ref B).  Both aircraft will be 
dedicated to CN purposes. 
 
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NEW B-1900D AIRCRAFT SHOWS ITS VALUE IMMEDIATELY 
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9.  (SBU) The new B-1900D aircraft, in its first month, has 
transported 219 passengers and 16,665 lbs of cargo in support 
of CN operations.  NAS and contractor personnel can now 
rotate in one day to and from forward-operating locations and 
on a flexible schedule.  Rotations took two to three days 
when we depended on commercial aviation.  The SOUTHCOM team 
scheduled to assess the Regional Aerial Interdiction 
Initiatives (RAII) for Peru in late October was delayed until 
November 15-17.  NAS-Lima representatives will participate in 
the assessment. 
 
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SEAPORT SECURITY PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO EXPAND 
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10.  (U) The NAS Maritime Port/Riverine Program is still 
waiting for the Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA) 
between US Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) and Peruvian 
Customs (SUNAT-Customs) to be signed by the GOP.  The CMAA 
should improve joint investigations, operations, and 
information flow between USCBP and SUNAT-Customs. 
 
11.  (U) NAS expects to receive to mobile x-ray vans in April 
2006.  It is also leasing an x-ray machine to inspect 
international-bound cargo at primary air and seaports 
throughout Peru.  We are also expanding the SUNAT-Customs and 
DIRANDRO canine program.  Canine handlers and managers begin 
a training program in the U.S. in November.  This training 
will double the number of handlers and dogs available to 
SUNAT-Customs and DIRANDRO.  The x-ray equipment and K-9 
teams will also be used at the Peruvian Postal Service 
(SERPOST). 
 
12.  (SBU) USCBP officers are working closely with the 
Business Anti-Smuggling Coalition (BASC - an association of 
Peruvian export companies, shipping firms, and sea/air 
terminal representatives) and SUNAT-A.  These efforts have 
already produced a 100 percent increase of HUMINT on suspect 
cargo. 
 
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DRUG SEIZURES INCREASE IN PERU'S SEA AND AIR PORTS 
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13.  (SBU) In October, 97 kg of cocaine and 1.5 kg of heroin 
latex were seized after inspections of packages of outgoing 
international mail at the Peruvian Postal distribution center 
(SERPOST) (Ref C).  Several international 
controlled-deliveries are planned based on the seizures. 
Addresses are serving as an intelligence windfall.  At the 
Lima airport, 18 kg were found in passenger luggage.  The MRU 
in the Port of Callao assisted DEA in a controlled-delivery 
operation that resulted in eight arrests in Estonia and Peru. 
 The 40 kg of cocaine seized in Estonia was the largest 
seizure in that country's history.  These seizures highlight 
NAS's initiative to strengthen the GOP control over 
contraband at sea and airports (Ref D). 
 
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COMMUNITY ANTI-DRUG COALITIONS BEGIN IN OCTOBER 
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14. (U)  Six community anti-drug coalitions (CAC) initiated 
their programs this month.  Each CAC is staffed by a 4-person 
team drawn from different Demand Reduction NGOs.  Each team 
is working in a different municipality in the Lima 
metropolitan area.  On October 24-27, the U.S.-based NGO 
Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) held a 
one-day workshop on CAC-style community outreach.  It was 
followed by three days of field work where CADCA and NAS 
staff met with community representatives and demonstrated how 
to mobilize the community by knocking on doors.  The "knock 
and talk" strategy so familiar to Americans and a key element 
in CACs is a new concept in Peru. 
 
15. (U)  The community response has been overwhelmingly 
positive.  The CACs emphasize using community resources 
whenever possible, and, despite some initial skepticism by 
the teams, two communities have already donated free office 
space to the CACs.  NAS is holding an all CAC-team meeting at 
least once a month for training, sharing ideas, and 
coordinating efforts.  The teams are developing a joint CAC 
logo and a communications (or social marketing) plan that 
would include posters, brochures, manuals, community events, 
and radio spots. 
STRUBLE