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### Viewing cable 08SANJOSE881, COSTA RICA INCSR REPORT 2008-2009 PART I, DRUGS AND

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08SANJOSE881 | 2008-11-12 22:10 | 2011-03-07 18:06 | 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/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2702325.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-06/Investigacion/NotaPrincipal/Investigacion2702324.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-06/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2702326.aspx
http://www.nacion.com/2011-03-06/Investigacion/NotasSecundarias/Investigacion2702327.aspx

`

    VZCZCXYZ0000
    PP RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHSJ #0881/01 3172207
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    P 122207Z NOV 08
    FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0254
    INFO RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
    RUEABND/DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMIN HQ WASHINGTON DC
    RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC

` `

    UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000881

    SIPDIS

    DEPT FOR INL JOHN LYLE AND WHA/CEN
    JUSTICE FOR OIA, AFMLS, NDDS
    TREASURY FOR FINCEN
    DEA FOR OILS AND OFFICE OF DIVERSION CONTROL

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: SNAR CS
    SUBJECT: COSTA RICA INCSR REPORT 2008-2009 PART I, DRUGS AND
    CHEMICAL CONTROL

    REF: STATE 100970

    ¶1. (U) The text of Costa Rica's 2008-2009 INCSR Part I is below.
    Costa Rica
    ¶I. Summary
    Costa Rica continues to be an increasingly important transit point
    for narcotics destined for the United States and Europe.  Drug
    seizures for 2008, though not as high as 2007, remain high during
    the third year of the Arias administration. Local consumption of
    illicit narcotics, particularly crack, is growing at an alarming
    rate, along with the continued rise in drug-related violent crimes.
    In 2008 the Costa Rican Coast Guard (SNGC), with minimal INL
    investments in their communication and navigation ability,
    capitalized on their increased coordination capabilities to make
    several key interdictions with USG assistance.  Costa Rica is a
    party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention.
    II. Status of Country
    Costa Rica's position on the isthmus linking Colombia with the
    United States, its long Atlantic and Pacific coastlines, and its
    jurisdiction over the Cocos Islands make it vulnerable to drug
    transshipment for South American cocaine and heroin destined
    primarily for the United States.  The Government of Costa Rica
    (GOCR) closely and effectively cooperates with the USG in combating
    narcotics trafficked by land, sea, and air.  Costa Rica also has a
    stringent governmental licensing process for the importation and
    distribution of controlled precursor chemicals.
    III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 2008
    Policy Initiatives.  The Arias Administration named a new Minister
    of Public Security (MPS) in 2008.  Under the new leadership, the MPS
    continued its effective cooperation with the USG to interdict
    narcotics.  Of note, the Ministry has begun a National Plan to
    Combat Crack consumption in Costa Rica.  In July and August, the MPS
    initiated the first stage of this plan with impressive interdiction
    results of 22,765 doses of crack, 11,871 marijuana plants, 218 kilos
    of cocaine, and 12,104 arrests.  The Ministry, with USG assistance,
    has also begun a container inspection program at the Caribbean port
    of Limon.  Additionally, the executive branch has sent organized
    crime bill legislation to the GOCR's national assembly for
    consideration.  Finally, the SNGC, albeit with USG assistance, made
    some progress in addressing communications and navigations gaps.
    Accomplishments.  Continued close bilateral cooperation and improved
    intra-GOCR coordination yielded impressive counternarcotics
    successes in 2008.  Costa Rican authorities seized 16 metric tons
    (MT) of cocaine, of which 4 MT were seized on land or air and 12 MT
    seized in joint maritime interdiction operations with U.S. law
    enforcement.  The GOCR also seized over 79,000 doses of crack
    cocaine, 33.1 kilograms (kg) of heroin, 4.5 tons of processed
    marijuana, and eradicated over 1.3 million marijuana plants.
    Additionally, Costa Rican authorities confiscated nearly $2 million
    in U.S. and local currency.  Though fewer than in 2007, the nearly
    13,000 drug-related arrests made in 2008 are more than twice the
    amount made three years ago during the previous administration.
    While no methamphetamine laboratories were detected in 2008, the
    GOCR has been active in trying to verify the identity of chemical
    precursor importers to ensure legitimacy.  In a case carried over
    from 2007, the government cancelled a shipment of chemical
    precursors due to irregularities in the importing company and the
    lack of proper documentation and permits.
    Law Enforcement Efforts.  Costa Rican counternarcotics efforts are
    carried out by both the judicial branch (Judicial Investigative
    Police-OIJ) and the executive (Ministry of Public Security's Drug
    Control Police-PCD).  Although the Arias Administration's plan to
    add 4000 new police officers to its force generated temporary
    increases in the numbers of cops on the street, the total number of
    police in the force at the end of 2008 stands at just above 10,000,
    similar to the level of 2007.  Retention problems continue to plague
    the over-stretched force, with recruiting just keeping pace with
    retirement and attrition.  The national legislature is expected to
    pass terrorist financing and reformed money laundering legislation
    by early 2009.
    Corruption.  As a matter of policy, no senior GOCR official or the
    GOCR itself, encourages or facilitates the illicit production or
    distribution of narcotic or psychotropic drugs or other controlled
    substances, or the laundering of proceeds from illegal drug
    transactions.  A strict law against illicit enrichment was enacted
    in 2006 in response to unprecedented corruption scandals involving
    three ex-presidents.  Although only one of the ex-presidents' cases
    (which date from 2004) has reached trial, Costa Rican authorities
    appear committed to combating public corruption.  The GOCR
    conscientiously investigates allegations of official corruption or
    abuse.
    Agreements and Treaties.  Costa Rica is a party to the 1988 UN Drug
    Convention, the 1961 Single Convention as amended by its 1972
    Protocol, and the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances.  Costa
    Rica is also a party to the UN Convention against Transnational

    Organized Crime and its three protocols, the UN Convention against
    Corruption, the Inter-American Convention against Corruption, the
    Inter-American Convention on Extradition, the Inter-American
    Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, the
    Inter-American Convention against Terrorism, and the Inter-American
    Convention against Trafficking in Illegal Firearms.  The 1999
    bilateral Maritime Counter Drug Cooperation Agreement, and its
    Ship-Rider program resulted in large seizures at sea during 2008.
    The 1991 United States-Costa Rican extradition treaty was again
    actively used in 2008.  Costa Rica ratified a bilateral stolen
    vehicles treaty in 2002.  Costa Rica and the United States are also
    parties to bilateral drug information and intelligence sharing
    agreements dating from 1975 and 1976.  Costa Rica is a member of the
    Caribbean Financial Action Task Force and the Egmont Group, but must
    pass a terrorist financing law before March 2009 to remain in the
    Egmont Group.  It is a member of the Inter-American Drug Abuse
    Control Commission of the Organization of American States
    (OAS/CICAD).  Costa Rica signed the Caribbean regional maritime
    counter narcotics agreement in April 2003, and is currently taking
    the steps necessary to bring the agreement into force.  In 2008,
    Costa Rica also played an active role in developing and implementing
    the regional security strategy developed by the Central American
    Security Commission.

    Cultivation/Production.  Costa Rica produces low quality marijuana
    but no other illicit drug crops or synthetic drugs.  However, the
    GOCR estimates there are 400,000 marijuana users in the country.
    Drug Flow/Transit.  In 2008, smaller land-based shipments of 50-500
    kg of cocaine continued, as did the number of larger shipments
    (500-1500 kg).  Trafficking of narcotics by maritime routes remained
    steady with nearly 12 MT (slightly lower than last year's amount) of
    cocaine seized at sea during joint GOCR-USG operations.  Traffickers
    continue to use Costa Rican-flagged fishing boats to smuggle
    multi-ton shipments of drugs and to provide fuel for go-fast boats,
    with continued emphasis on the Pacific routes.  Traffickers have
    also continued the smuggling of drugs through the postal system,
    international courier services and via individual passengers
    ("mules") on international flights in/out of the country.
    Domestic Programs/Demand Reduction.  The Prevention Unit of the
    Instituto Costarricense sobre Drogas (ICD) oversees drug prevention
    efforts and educational programs throughout the country.  The ICD
    and the Ministry of Education continued to distribute updated
    demand-reduction materials to all school children in 2008.  In 2008,
    PCD continued to publicize its special phone-in number (176) in
    their demand-reduction materials, to encourage citizens to report
    drug-related activity in their neighborhoods while remaining safely
    anonymous.  The PCD considers the 176 phone-in program to be an
    excellent source of information that is analyzed and often leads to
    arrests.
    IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs
    The Merida Initiative.  With the funds approved for the first year
    of the three-year Merida Initiative, Costa Rica will receive $4.3
    million in direct bilateral assistance to improve drug interdiction
    and law enforcement capabilities, with an emphasis on increased
    regional cooperation.  More than half of the FY 2008 funds will go
    to modernizing or renovating the aging SNGC.  A significant amount
    of money will go to improving police communications and movement
    capabilities, while border inspection equipment will be purchased to
    help detect drugs in vehicles and trailers.  Costa Rica will also
    receive regional Merida assistance in areas such as firearms
    tracing, gang prevention, and educational and cultural exchanges.
    Bilateral Cooperation.  While land-based interdiction, especially
    effective use of border checkpoints, remains important to U.S.
    strategy, U.S. assistance has focused resources on interdicting
    maritime-based narcotics shipments.  The U.S. supported the SNGC's
    efforts to improve interdiction by providing technical assistance
    and equipment.  The U.S. is also supporting reforms in police
    training.
    The Road Ahead.  In the year ahead, Costa Rica intends to attack
    maritime trafficking both through its own direct efforts and through
    continued collaboration with the USG.  The projected increase in
    number and improved training of police should enable the GOCR to
    more successfully fight crime, including trafficking.
    CIANCHETTE

`