

Currently released so far... 12689 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AF
ASEC
AR
AEMR
AMGT
AE
AU
AID
AORC
APER
AS
AM
AFIN
AMED
AJ
AGR
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
ABLD
AL
AA
APECO
AGAO
AY
AGMT
APEC
AINF
AG
ACS
AECL
AFFAIRS
ABUD
ASUP
ADANA
AADP
AMCHAMS
ARF
ASEAN
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
APCS
ADCO
ACAO
AORG
AROC
AO
AODE
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ASCH
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
ADM
AN
AIT
BU
BR
BL
BO
BA
BB
BG
BM
BBSR
BH
BEXP
BK
BD
BTIO
BT
BE
BY
BF
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BILAT
BIDEN
BC
BMGT
BWC
BN
BTIU
CH
CG
CF
CU
CE
CVIS
CASC
CO
CS
CA
CIDA
CBW
CW
CMGT
CI
CODEL
CY
CPAS
CJAN
CD
CWC
CDG
CIA
CL
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CT
CR
CBSA
CEUDA
COM
CFED
CV
CACS
CARSON
CLINTON
CN
CONS
CM
CAC
CIC
COPUOS
CDC
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
COUNTER
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CARICOM
CB
CSW
CITT
CACM
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
CNARC
CIS
EG
EZ
EUN
ECON
ETRD
ECPS
EFIN
ENRG
ETTC
EPET
EINV
EAID
EAIR
EWWT
EU
EAGR
EC
ELAB
EIND
EN
EMIN
ESENV
ENNP
EFIS
ELTN
ET
ECIN
EFTA
ES
EINT
EI
ENGR
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENVI
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECINECONCS
ELN
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXTERNAL
EXIM
ETRO
ENIV
ESA
ER
EK
EUR
EFINECONCS
EUMEM
EUREM
EPA
ERNG
ENERG
ECA
ETRC
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
EAIG
EUC
ERD
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
IS
IZ
IR
IC
IO
IN
ID
IGAD
IT
ILC
IAEA
ITU
ICAO
IMO
IBRD
IMF
ICJ
IAHRC
ITF
INRA
INRO
IWC
IQ
IV
ICRC
ICTY
INRB
IEFIN
ILO
ITRA
ITALY
IBET
ISRAELI
IL
INTELSAT
IRC
IDP
ICTR
IRAQI
IPR
IIP
INMARSAT
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
IRS
IA
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ISRAEL
IACI
INDO
IDA
ISLAMISTS
KSPR
KNNP
KWBG
KAWK
KISL
KPAO
KN
KS
KIPR
KCRM
KDEM
KIRF
KJUS
KHLS
KSCA
KOMC
KAWC
KV
KFRD
KWMN
KTIP
KPWR
KSUM
KGHG
KTIA
KTFN
KIRC
KCOR
KACT
KMDR
KGIC
KOLY
KUNR
KIDE
KMPI
KPKO
KCFE
KVPR
KRAD
KPAL
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KTEX
KTDB
KFSC
KZ
KSEP
KFLU
KE
KU
KPLS
KRVC
KRIM
KSTH
KG
KFLO
KPOA
KICC
KDDG
KPRV
KTBT
KBCT
KSAF
KMOC
KDRG
KBIO
KREC
KSTC
KVRP
KBTR
KMIG
KENV
KNSD
KCGC
KWAC
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KWMM
KPRP
KNEI
KPAI
KO
KVIR
KX
KMCA
KCRS
KMFO
KID
KCIP
KNAR
KR
KCRCM
KBTS
KSEO
KHDP
KFIN
KOCI
KGIT
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KSCI
KTLA
KHIV
KCSY
KTRD
KMRS
KNPP
KJUST
KCMR
KTER
KRCM
KCFC
KSAC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KCOM
KLIG
KDEMAF
KAID
KGCC
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KRGY
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
KOMS
KHSA
MPOS
MOPS
MARR
MTCR
MNUC
MASS
MX
MCAP
MAR
MTRE
MASC
MK
MG
MTCRE
MI
MD
MA
MO
MY
MU
ML
MRCRE
MAS
MEDIA
MC
MR
MIL
MW
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPN
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MT
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
MEPP
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
NATO
NG
NL
NZ
NT
NW
NO
NU
NS
NPT
NASA
NI
NK
NSG
NE
NORAD
NAFTA
NP
NATIONAL
NSSP
NSF
NA
NGO
NV
NR
NDP
NIPP
NZUS
NH
NC
NEW
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
NPG
NSC
NPA
NSFO
OPDC
OPRC
OEXC
OTRA
ODIP
OIIP
OVIP
OPIC
OPCW
OAS
OREP
OSCE
OSCI
OES
OFDP
OECD
OCS
OIC
OPAD
OVP
OHUM
OFFICIALS
OIE
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OBSP
OFDA
ON
OCII
PREL
PGOV
PARM
PINR
PTER
PHUM
PK
PREF
PM
PHSA
PA
PINS
PE
PBTS
PCI
PO
PL
POGOV
PAK
PEL
PGIV
PROP
PP
PBIO
POL
POLITICS
POLICY
PINL
PBT
PMIL
POV
PTBS
PG
POSTS
PALESTINIAN
PROV
PNAT
PINF
PRL
PAS
PDOV
PRAM
PREO
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PAO
PREFA
PSI
POLITICAL
PAIGH
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PGOC
PY
PLN
PHUH
PF
PHUS
PU
PARTIES
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RW
REACTION
RCMP
RSO
RO
RP
ROOD
RM
ROBERT
RICE
REGION
RSP
RF
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RELATIONS
RFE
REPORT
SY
SP
SOCI
SMIG
SNAR
SCUL
SC
SU
SO
SI
SENV
SZ
SW
SA
SR
SF
SEVN
SN
STEINBERG
SEN
SG
SYR
SWE
SK
SH
SNARCS
SAARC
SNARIZ
SPCE
SARS
SNARN
SCRS
SYRIA
SL
SENVKGHG
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SANC
SHI
SHUM
SIPRS
TSPA
TSPL
TU
TBIO
TRGY
TPHY
TS
TP
TW
TBID
TI
TF
TZ
TD
TT
TN
TNGD
TC
TX
TH
TL
TIP
THPY
TV
TK
TERRORISM
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TINT
TFIN
TAGS
TR
US
UNSC
UNGA
UK
UP
UNCHC
UN
UNMIK
UNCSD
UY
USTR
USOAS
UNHRC
UNFCYP
UG
UNAUS
UNESCO
UNIDROIT
UNO
UV
UNHCR
USUN
UZ
USNC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNEP
USEU
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNDP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
UNPUOS
UNDC
UNICEF
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 05LIMA1246, OPIUM STRATEGY PROGRESS REPORT
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05LIMA1246.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
05LIMA1246 | 2005-03-14 21:05 | 2011-05-18 00:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Lima |
Appears in these articles: elcomercio.pe |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LIMA 001246
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR INL/LP, WHA/AND
DEPT FOR ONDCP FOR D. GETTINGS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2015
TAGS: SNAR EAID PGOV PREL PE
SUBJECT: OPIUM STRATEGY PROGRESS REPORT
REF: A. A...
id: 28747
date: 3/14/2005 21:05
refid: 05LIMA1246
origin: Embassy Lima
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination: 05LIMA4
header:
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
----------------- header ends ----------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 LIMA 001246
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR INL/LP, WHA/AND
DEPT FOR ONDCP FOR D. GETTINGS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/14/2015
TAGS: SNAR EAID PGOV PREL PE
SUBJECT: OPIUM STRATEGY PROGRESS REPORT
REF: A. A. LIMA 0004
¶B. B. LIMA 579
¶C. C. QUITO 149
Classified By: Classified by J. Curtis Struble, Ambassador, Reason 1.4
A
(C) BEGIN SUMMARY: In the first two months of 2005, the
Mission concentrated its resources and efforts to implement
its opium strategy set forth in REF A. Working with the
Peruvian police, the effort has resulted in eradication of 53
hectares of poppy fields and a reinvigorated intelligence
collection program. Trips to Quito (REF C) and the Amazonas
region (REF B) have spurred greater attention to collecting
information on the emerging opium poppy industry in Peru and
trafficking routes. The Peruvian police are actively
recruiting Peruvian government employees who live in or
travel to opium growing to provide information on poppy
cultivation and trafficking. Plans are to reassess the
Mission strategy in June and adjust our efforts accordingly.
END SUMMARY
¶1. (C) The Mission strategy to combat opium production and
trafficking in Peru was laid out in REF A in January. Since
then, Embassy agencies including the Narcotics Affairs
Section (NAS), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and
the Military Assistance Group (MAAG) have been aggressively
pursing their elements of the strategy including eradication,
interdiction, intelligence collection and regional
cooperation.
----------------------
INTELLIGENCE-GATHERING
----------------------
¶2. (C) Collecting human intelligence is key to an effective
eradication campaign. The GOP acknowledges it has very few
informants, and information that comes in does not have exact
coordinates, so that there is a high degree of uncertainty.
As an initial step, NAS has supported the formation of a PNP
opium eradication task force. Members include DIRANDRO
Office of Intelligence (OINT), DIRANDRO operations, regional
police offices (DIVANDRO) and anti-drug prosecutors in opium
growing zones to develop and exploit human intelligence on
poppy. The OINT has planned a series of meetings with
representatives of the Ministries of Education, Health and
Agriculture in the regions of Cajamarca, Amazonas and San
Martin to recruit their employees who travel or live in opium
growing areas to provide information. The OINT will also
meet with regional and local political and law enforcement
authorities to gain their cooperation. DIRANDRO has also
tasked PNP regional offices (DIVANDRO's) in suspect opium
producing areas to concentrate their efforts in providing
timely information on opium plantations. DIRANDRO
intelligence and operational officers will be assigned to
selected DIVANDRO's to energize and supervise the production
efforts. All intelligence about opium acquired by DIRANDRO
and DIVANDRO units is channeled through OINT for verification
and mapping.
------------------------ -------------------------
INTERDICTION, REGIONAL COOPERATION AND ERADICATION
------------------------ -------------------------
¶3. (C) Interdicting opium latex is a key part of our Mission
strategy. DEA has deployed its investigators to northern
Peru as part of its Northern Border Initiative. These agents
are in regular contact with PNP counterparts responsible for
the Loreto Department to coordinate investigative activities.
DEA plans to establish an undercover presence to identify
individuals and organizations involved in latex trafficking.
Progress was made to start-up a drug hotline program. The
Mission Military Information Support Team (MIST) is providing
publicity support for a rewards program tied to the hotline.
They have developed a radio spot and posters that will be
distributed in towns close to poppy growing zones and
trafficking routes.
¶4. (SBU) Based on information from an informant, the PNP,
with DEA support, seized 76.8 kilos of opium latex from
Peruvian traffickers in city of Pucallpa on January 24. The
traffickers were not associated with any identifiable drug
trafficking organization. They did not have established
buyers. Samples were sent to DEA headquarters to test their
purity and to compare them to samples of latex from other
producer countries. Current information suggests that all
latex sold in Peru is destined for other countries where it
will be processed into heroin although there is some evidence
that morphine is being produced in Peru. Demand for heroin
in Peru is not evident.
¶5. (SBU) Regional cooperation on opium trafficking was
addressed when Lima Country Team members met with their
counterparts in Quito on January 18-19 to discuss areas of
cooperation and coordination (REF C). The meeting served to
heighten awareness of nascent threat of opium latex
trafficking in Peru and Southern Ecuador. Both Embassies are
mobilizing to gather more intelligence on this issue and to
coordinate our efforts. DEA and their police counterparts in
both countries are organizing an officer-exchange program in
Guayaquil and Piura. DEA hosted a regional police meeting
in Iquitos from Feb. 21- 24 attended by representatives from
Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Venezuela and the
U.S. The main themes were international terrorism and
illicit trafficking. Although coca dominated the drug
trafficking discussions, the expansion of poppy plantations
in presentations by Colombia, Peru and Ecuador provided
convincing evidence of an increase in latex trafficking and
the nexus between subversive movements (FARC and Sendero
Luminoso) and illicit trafficking. Conference attendees
signed a multilateral agreement to develop and implement an
effective regional law enforcement collaborative program,
with support from DEA.
¶6. (SBU) An Embassy group led by the DCM traveled in late
January to the capital of Amazonas region to discuss opium
trafficking with regional authorities (REF C). The
authorities acknowledged ongoing cultivation and trafficking
but noted they have few resources to combat it. NAS police
advisor will travel to Cajamarca this month with his PNP
counterpart to meet with local PNP officials to discuss their
participation in opium poppy operations.
¶7. (SBU) On the eradication front, the PNP found and
destroyed a total of 53 hectares of opium poppy from January
1 to March 11. These efforts include 10 hectares of opium in
Yarowilca, Huanuco on January 28, 18 hectares in Cayern,
Huanuco on March 1, and 25 hectares of opium poppy near Jaen,
in Cajamarca on March 11. The PNP is increasing the size of
the NAS-funded Special Operations Group (GOES), the troops
used to eradicate poppy, from the present twenty-five members
to a total of sixty officers, tripling its operational
capacity and enabling the unit to operate in different
production areas simultaneously. NAS will continue to
provide logistic support to the PNP to eradicate poppy
whenever it is found.
¶8. (SBU) Peruvian law requires the presence of an anti-drug
prosecutor from the GOP Public Ministry for all drug
operations carried out by the PNP. The shortage of
qualified prosecutors presents a potential bottleneck to
mounting an increased number of counternarcotics operations
in opium growing areas. To overcome this shortfall, NAS is
sponsoring a drug prosecutor's training program to prepare
local and regional prosecutors in the northern areas of Peru
to participate in anti-opium operations.
-------------
SUPPORT NEEDS
-------------
¶9. (SBU) We are counting on INL to provide aircraft better
suited for this type of mission than the Cessna C208.
Reconnaissance methods that require pilots to "eyeball" opium
poppy fields are risky to the pilots and unreliable in
locating fields. Besides poor flying conditions in the
mountains, pilots must fly at and above 13,000 feet because
of high terrain and winds, while trying to identify poppy
fields on mountainous slopes. Timing of the deployment of
INL aircraft is critical to success. The window of
opportunity to catch opium when it is in flower is in
March-April and September-October. Post has requested INL/A
to send 2 reconnaissance aircraft to Peru in early April but
this is not yet confirmed (REF D).
¶10. (SBU) CONCLUSION: The basis of our efforts has to be
better intelligence collection through the police, and this
is where we will focus our efforts. The Mission will
continue to actively implement our opium strategy in the
coming months even as we enter full swing into coca
eradication and interdiction operations. We plan to
reassess our strategy in June, when we will refine our
estimates of operational requirements and identify what
additional resources might be needed.
STRUBLE
=======================CABLE ENDS============================