US embassy cable - 05GUATEMALA2641

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 002641 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP, AIMEE MARTIN 
DEPARTMENT FOR INL/PC, LAURA MCKECHNIE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR, KCRM, GT 
SUBJECT:  EMBASSY GUATEMALA HOSTS MINI-DUBLIN MEETING 
 
REF:  A) STATE 200169  B) MCKECHNIE EMAIL 10/13/05 
 
Pursuant to instructions reftel, post convened a mini- 
Dublin group meeting on November 8.  Following is post?s 
report in the format forwarded in the referenced McKechnie 
email: 
 
Status:  Guatemala remains a major drug transit country for 
South American cocaine and heroin en route to the United 
States and Europe.  Large shipments regularly move through 
Guatemala by air, road and sea, with recent trends showing 
maritime routes becoming relatively more active.  In 2004, 
Guatemalan law enforcement agencies seized 4.5 metric toms 
of cocaine; they have seized 4.1 metric tons through 
October 31 of 2005.  Guatemalan police have good 
cooperation with international partners, but effective 
police work continues to be impeded by inadequate 
resources, corruption and lack of an effective middle 
management cadre.  Gang crime is also a growing social 
problem, with organized street gangs controlling the street 
level distribution of cocaine and crack in Guatemala?s 
urban areas.  Guatemala grows marijuana for local 
consumption and the cultivation of opium poppy is growing, 
particularly in the western highlands bordering Mexico. 
There are also indications that trafficking in precursor 
chemicals is a problem. 
 
In November 2003 the GOG approved an updated counterdrug 
master-plan for the period 2003-8, replacing the previous 
five-year plan.  This strategy includes two important 
principles: community participation and the 
decentralization of counterdrug actions.  It describes 
specific objectives for both demand and supply reduction 
and their corresponding criteria for measuring 
effectiveness.  In addition, the government has created a 
multi-agency working group to focus their counterdrug 
efforts, coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 
 
The United States supports Guatemalan programs to combat 
narcotrafficking and organized crime, including street 
gangs.  The European Commission, France, Italy and Spain 
have no specific counterdrug programs, but do have programs 
that support the police and judicial sectors.  The French 
government sponsored regional training in Martinique for 
local police officers, and Canada has provided crime scene 
investigation assistance, with satisfactory results.  Great 
Britain has no bilateral funds designated for counterdrug 
purposes, but does have a regional program which is 
administered from their mission in Panama.  While most 
mini-Dublin Group members do not have sizable assistance 
programs in Guatemala, they are open to using available 
resources in complementary ways. 
 
Recommendations:  Participants agreed that Guatemala lacks 
modern tools to fight organized crime and agreed to follow 
the progress of GOG-sponsored crime control legislation, 
noting that the politics and parliamentary procedures of 
Guatemala?s congress could hinder or delay the passage of 
such legislation.  All agreed that Guatemala?s police, 
prosecutors and courts need substantial improvement so that 
cases can be successfully investigated and prosecuted.  The 
group noted that the problems of corruption and 
intimidation make it difficult for witnesses to come 
forward or for honest public officials to do their jobs 
with any sort of efficiency or initiative.  The group also 
noted with concern the resumption of opium poppy 
cultivation in the western highlands and agreed to follow 
this issue.  This is especially important given that in 
some parts of the country, notably sections of the Peten, 
the western highlands and the Pacific coast, traffickers 
and their associates have become the de-facto local 
authorities. 
 
The group recommended continued engagement with the 
Guatemalan government on the importance of strong 
leadership and increased resource allocation in the police 
and Ministry of Government.  The group will continue to 
encourage the GOG to increase wages paid to Guatemalan 
police, so that a better quality applicant can be attracted 
who will be less vulnerable to corruption.  The group also 
agreed to encourage members of Guatemala?s congress to 
review its quorum rules, so that worthwhile legislation is 
not held hostage to the failure of congressional deputies 
to attend sessions. 
 
DERHAM