Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 5441 / 251,287

### Articles

Brazil Sri Lanka United Kingdom Sweden Editorial United States Latin America Egypt Yemen Jordan

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
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

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 86 88 89 90 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1986/05
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/07 2001/10
2002/02 2002/03 2002/11
2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Amsterdam 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 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 Casablanca Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamburg
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan
Embassy New Delhi Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State 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 Shenyang Consulate Shanghai 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
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Consulate Vladivostok
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AR ASEC AEMR AORC AJ AF AMGT ACOA AO AE AU AFIN AX AMED ADCO AG AODE APER AFFAIRS AC AS AM AL ASIG ABLD ABUD AA AFU ASUP AROC ATFN AVERY APCS AER ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AEC APECO AGMT ATRN
BA BR BL BO BH BTIO BEXP BU BIDEN BM BK BY BG BE BF BB BC BBSR BMGT BRUSSELS BTIU BILAT BX
CO CS CH COUNTER CVIS CASC CDG CI CU CIS CA CBW CF CM CLINTON CMGT CN CE CJAN CONDOLEEZZA COE CR CY CG CD CTM COUNTRY CLEARANCE CPAS CWC CT CKGR CB CACS COM CJUS CARSON CL COUNTERTERRORISM CIA CACM CDB CV CAN
DR DA DHS DOE DEA DK DJ DISENGAGEMENT DS DTRA DOD DEAX
ETTC EG ECON EINV EFIN ETRD EAGR ELAB ENRG ECPS EWWT EUN EAID EU EAIR ECIN EPET ER EINT EIND EMIN ELTN EFIS EI EN ES EC EXTERNAL EINVETC ENVR ENIV EZ EINN ENGR EUR ECA ET ESA ELN ENERG EK ENGY ETRO ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ETRDEINVTINTCS ESENV ENVI EFTA ELECTIONS ECUN EINVEFIN ECIP EINDETRD EUC EREL ECONEFIN
FR FAO FTAA FREEDOM FI FARC FBI FJ FMLN FINR
GE GG GR GM GH GTIP GV GT GOI GCC GAZA GZ GA GANGS GTMO
HUMAN HILLARY HO HA HYMPSK HR HU HURI HK HSTC
IS IAEA IC IZ IR IT ITPHUM IV IPR IWC IQ IN IO ID ICTY ISRAELI IRAQI IIP ICRC ICAO IMO IF ILC IEFIN INRB INTELSAT IL IA IBRD IMF INR IRC ITALY ITALIAN INTERPOL IRAJ INRA INRO
JOSEPH JA JO JP JOHNNIE JUS JAMES
KCRM KPAL KDEM KE KWMN KPAO KNNP KJUS KGHG KN KS KISL KTIP KDRG KSCA KCOR KIPR KTLA KIRF KV KCFC KHLS KGIC KRAD KSPR KG KZ KTFN KTIA KHIV KWBG KACT KPRP KU KAWC KOLY KCIP KCFE KOCI KPKO KTDB KMRS KFRD KLIG KBCT KICC KMCA KGIT KSTC KMDR KUNR KPAK KNEI KSEP KPOA KFLU KNUP KNNPMNUC KVPR KOMC KAWK KO KTER KSUM KHUM KRFD KBIO KBTR KDDG KWWMN KFLO KSAF KBTS KPRV KMPI KHDP KNPP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNAR KWMM KERG KFIN KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KTBT KCRS KRVC KSTH KREL KIRC KNSD KTEX KPAI KHSA KPLS KR KPWR KWAC KMIG KSEC KIFR KDEMAF KGCC KPIN KNUC KCOM KDEV
LY LE LG LH LI LU LO LOG LT
MASS MNUC MEPP MOPS MARR MTCRE MK MTRE MX MU MCAP ML MO MP MA MY MIL MDC MTCR MAR MEPI MRCRE MI MT MR MQADHAFI MD MAPS MUCN MASC MASSMNUC MERCOSUR MC MPOS MZ MOPPS MAPP MG MCC
NATO NE NS NPT NL NAR NO NI NIPP NZ NU NPG NK NSG NA NT NASA NG NGO NP NSF NATIONAL
OPDC OREP ODIP OTRA OVIP OSCE OPRC OAS OFDP OPIC OIIP OEXC OECD OPCW OSCI OIE OIC OTR OVP OFFICIALS OSAC
PGOV PTER PREL PHUM PINR PINS PARM PREF PBTS PARMS PORG PE PK PHSA PROP PO PA PM PMIL PL PTERE POL PF PALESTINIAN PY PGGV PNR POV PAK PAO PFOR PHALANAGE PARTY PRGOV PNAT PROV PEL PINF PGOVE POLINT PRL PRAM PMAR PGOVLO PHUMBA PHUS PHUMPREL PG POLITICS PEPR PSI PINT PSOE PU POLITICAL PARTIES PBIO PECON POGOV PINL PKFK PGOF
QA
RS RU RO RIGHTS RW RICE ROBERT RF RFE RP REGION
SMIG SNAR SENV SOCI SCUL SY SO SP SA SW SHUM SR SF SZ SU SL SYR ST SANC SC SAN SIPRS SK SH SI SNARCS STEINBERG SN SG
TERRORISM TSPA TH TU TO TBIO TW TX TFIN TD TRGY TSPL TZ TIP TPHY TS TK TNGD TI TC TINT TRSY TP TR TT
UNGA UNSC UK UNESCO UN UP UZ UY UE UAE UNO UNEP UG US USTR UNHCR UNMIK UNDP UNHRC USAID UNCHS UNAUS USUN USEU UNCHC UV
VE VT VM VZ VTPREL VN
WZ WMO WI WTRO WTRQ WHO WWARD WB WBG WEU WHA WTO WA
XF XM XA XL XZ XW XR XH XG XT XC XY XD XE XK XS
YM YI YE
ZI ZP ZK ZF ZB ZANU ZOELLICK ZR ZU ZA ZO ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 09SANJOSE1156, Embassy San Jose: December 2009 Merida 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.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
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. #09SANJOSE1156.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09SANJOSE1156 | 2009-12-17 21:09 | 2011-03-08 16:04 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy San Jose

Appears in these articles:
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-06/Investigacion/NotasDestacadas/Investigacion2702320.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-06/Investigacion/NotaPrincipal/Investigacion2702324.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-06/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2702325.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-06/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2702326.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-06/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2702327.aspx

`

    VZCZCXYZ0000
    RR RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHSJ #1156/01 3512114
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 172112Z DEC 09
    FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0132
    INFO WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE
    RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
    RHEFHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
    RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
    RHMFIUU/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
    RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
    RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC
    RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
    RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC
    RUEADRO/HQ ICE DRO WASHINGTON DC
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
    RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
    RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
    RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 0118
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

` `

    UNCLAS SAN JOSE 001156

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: SNAR CS PGOV
    SUBJECT: Embassy San Jose: December 2009 Merida Report

    REF: STATE 114752; SAN JOSE 994; SAN JOSE 978

    ¶1. Per Ref A, Post submits the following report detailing Embassy
    San Jose's Merida activities for November and December 2009.

    Issues for Washington

    ¶2. Post appreciates the support that we have received from NAS
    Mexico in their role as certifier of funds for all Merida
    Initiative-related support.  However, if possible we would
    appreciate a set standard of service reaction time on the
    certification of funds from NAS Mexico.  Response times have varied
    and sometimes have taken up to a week.  Although it has not been a
    limiting factor yet, this potentially could add to our bureaucratic
    wait time to order equipment and arrange training.

    ¶3. Embassy San Jose does not have a fully-equipped Narcotics
    Affairs Section (NAS).  Instead, we have a political officer who is
    double-hatted as a Narcotics Affairs Officer (NAO) with two locally
    engaged staff (LES).  Handling a $10 million+ budget for Merida is
    challenging, and without proper staffing, Post's ability to
    implement Merida in a timely manner is limited.  Anticipating
    staffing issues, we requested an additional Pol/NAO officer in our
    FY2011 MSP.  In the absence of a Pol/NAO officer, we will attempt
    to recruit an Eligible Family Member (EFM) to assist in staffing.
    Also, INL is currently working to hire a Personal Service
    Contractor (PSC) to assist us with our Merida maritime support.

    ¶4. The NAO and two LES dedicate an enormous amount of time to
    Merida.  Combined with the number of reports that must be done
    (including International Narcotics Control and Strategy Report,
    End-Use Monitoring, Operational Plan, Mission Strategic Plan,
    Performance Plan and Report, Merida Monthly Reports, etc.) and the
    support that must be provided for visiting Merida evaluation teams
    (such as FBI fingerprint team, prison expert, communications
    expert, CBP border inspection team, etc.), the task of ordering
    police equipment for the various GOCR agencies takes a long time.
    We estimate that for each item that we order, a staff member spends
    at least one hour of time to do the research, obtain quotes, verify
    the item is what the host nation requires, procure, receive, and
    finally do the donation document.  This does not take into account
    the staff time that our General Services Office (GSO) and Budget
    and Finance Office (B&F) here and at NAS Mexico spend on each
    individual item.  We currently have over 150 separate line items
    that Post is in the process of ordering for Merida equipment.

    ¶5. Post may be requesting an additional LES hire to help us
    accomplish our Merida tasks over the next 2-3 years.  Although the
    political section has office space for an additional political
    officer/EFM and a maritime PSC in the Controlled Access Area, there
    is little room at Post for another LES in the unclassified portion
    of the Embassy.

    Internal Developments

    ¶6. On December 14, President Oscar Arias highlighted some recent
    improved security developments in Costa Rica, possibly showing at

    least a short-term positive trend on various indices measuring
    criminal activity.  For instance:

                    -The budget for the Ministry of Public Security has
    nearly doubled since 2006.  In 2006, the budget was approximately
    $111 million.  For 2010, it will be approximately $220 million.

                    -January to November crime statistic indicators
    comparing 2009 with 2008 show a slight decrease nation-wide,
    thanks to increased police presence on the streets and the
    Ministry's new "Community Policing" program.  For example, in 2008,
    the total number of murders nation-wide from January to November
    was 396; in 2009 the number slightly dropped to 383.  Additionally,
    the number of homicides in the violence-prone province of Limon has
    dropped from an average of two murders per week in 2008 to only
    three murders between July and November 2009.  However, the
    dramatic decrease in Limon has been largely due to increased police
    operations there that will not be able to be maintained
    indefinitely.   Post still assesses that, per Ref C, while Costa
    Rica is not as dangerous as the rest of Central America, it is not
    safe.

                    -The political campaigning season is in full stride
    with national elections taking place on February 7, 2010.  In Costa
    Rica, in addition to a complete change of the executive branch,
    every seat in the Legislative Assembly will change as there are no
    consecutive terms here.  While we assess that our law enforcement
    and security relationship with Costa Rica will remain dynamic no
    matter which of the major parties captures the presidency and the
    Assembly, there could be continuity issues that might delay
    implementation of cooperation projects such as Merida in 2010.

    Implementation Activities

    ¶7.  The following implementation activities took place in November
    and December 2009:

                    -Per Ref B, from November 2-13, Post coordinated
    Merida supported U.S. Marshal Service-provided prisoner transfer
    training.  This expert team instructed 68 Costa Rican law
    enforcement officers on officer safety, defensive tactics, and
    prisoner handling techniques.  At the end of the training, we
    donated over 70 pairs of prisoner restraint devices such as
    hand-cuffs and leg-irons.  The event received positive local media
    coverage.

                    -Also per Ref B, from November 4-6, Post arranged
    for two trainers from CSECO (Campbell/Harris Security Equipment
    Company) to teach 26 Costa Rican law enforcement officers to
    properly use the CT-30 drug detection kit.  We conducted this
    training at the northern border with Nicaragua at Penas Blancas.
    At the end of the training, we donated six of these kits to the
    Costa Ricans; these kits should enable the GOCR to better detect
    drugs in hidden compartments of tractor trailers and shipping
    containers.

                    -All FMF-related maritime letters of agreement have
    been signed.  Repair parts and engine-rebuild kits have been
    ordered for Costa Rica's three 82-foot patrol boats.  We expect the
    first overhaul of 82-foot patrol boats to occur in March, 2010.
    Additionally, we have on order three USCG-approved SAFE boats via
    the FMF process; though we do not expect to receive them before the

    second quarter of CY2010.

                    -In November and December, we ordered approximately
    $130,000 worth of police equipment, primarily for Costa Rica's Air
    Wing that included equipment such as advanced avionics for several
    aircraft as well as basic police equipment for their ground support
    units.

                    -ILEA: 10 Costa Ricans attended the ILEA course
    Personnel and Facility Security Course from 9-20 November.

                    -We meet as a Law Enforcement Group, which also
    serves as our Merida Initiative meeting group, every Monday.  In
    November we met on November 9 and November 30.  In December we met
    on December 7 and December 14.

    Significant Merida Supported Host Nation Seizures

    ¶8. On December 8, the Costa Rican Drug Control Police (PCD), using
    equipment and training provided under the Merida Initiative, seized
    256 kilograms (approximately 563 pounds) of cocaine at the Penas
    Blancas border (on the northern border with Nicaragua).  The
    interdiction involved a 1998 Freightliner truck.  An inspection of
    the tires of the tractor-trailer revealed  approximately sixteen
    kilograms of cocaine in each tire (16 tires) for a total of
    approximately 256 kilograms of cocaine.  This case was
    independently developed by PCD agents based on targeting indicators
    and random inspections of outbound commercial cargo.

    The PCD agents utilized Merida-supplied CT-30 drug detection kits
    (which cost approximately $17K each) that contain fiber optic
    inspection scopes, probes, density meters, etc.  The CT-30 kit was
    provided to the PCD in November 2009, and PCD agents were trained
    in the use of the kit by representatives from the Embassy San Jose
    DEA Country Office and Narcotics Affairs Office.

    The Month Ahead

    ¶9. Below are Post's planned activities for January:

                    -January 6: Quarterly Merida meeting between
    Embassy Merida representatives and GOCR law enforcement agencies
    that benefit from Merida Assistance.  This meeting is in accordance
    with Merida Letter of Agreement requirements to have quarterly
    meetings with the host nation to review progress on Merida goals.

                    -ILEA: Seven Costa Ricans will attend the Law
    Enforcement Management Development Program at ILEA from January
    18-February 26, 2010.

                    -Mid-January: We expect the new ambassador to
    arrive and will provide in-depth briefings on Merida Initiative and
    other counter-narcotics related activities.

                    -We plan to advertise an EFM position to assist the
    Pol/NAO officer in Merida-related management.

    -Continue to place police equipment orders for
    Costa Rican law enforcement agencies.

                    -From February 16-26, 2010, a two person team from
    U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be travelling to Costa Rica
    as part of the Merida Initiative to assess Costa Rica's land
    borders and provide the GOCR with 10 additional CT-30 drug
    detection kits, as well as related training. The CBP visit will
    support the Penas Blancas border, as well as border points on the
    porous southern border region with Panama in the Paso Canoas area.
    BRENNAN

`