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

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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

`