

Currently released so far... 12478 / 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
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
AU
ASEC
AE
AF
AORC
AEMR
AMGT
ABUD
AFFAIRS
APER
AS
AMED
AY
AG
AR
AJ
AL
AID
AM
AODE
ABLD
AMG
AFIN
ATRN
AGAO
AFU
AN
AA
ALOW
APECO
ADM
ARF
ASEAN
APEC
AMBASSADOR
AO
ASUP
AZ
AADP
ACOA
ANET
AMCHAMS
ACABQ
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APCS
AGMT
AINF
AIT
AORL
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ACBAQ
AFGHANISTAN
ADANA
ADPM
AX
ADCO
AECL
AMEX
ACAO
ASCH
AORG
AGR
AROC
ASIG
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
BL
BR
BO
BA
BD
BM
BK
BG
BU
BB
BH
BTIO
BY
BEXP
BP
BE
BRUSSELS
BF
BIDEN
BT
BX
BC
BILAT
BN
BBSR
BTIU
BWC
BMGT
CA
CASC
CVIS
CM
CH
CO
CU
CD
CWC
CI
CS
CY
CMGT
CF
CG
CR
CB
CV
CW
CE
CBW
CT
CPAS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CJAN
CODEL
CIDA
CDG
CDC
CIA
CTR
CNARC
CSW
CN
CONS
CLINTON
COE
CROS
CARICOM
CONDOLEEZZA
COUNTER
CL
COM
CICTE
CIS
CFED
COUNTRY
CJUS
CBSA
CEUDA
CLMT
CAC
COPUOS
CIC
CBE
CHR
CTM
CVR
CITEL
CLEARANCE
CACS
CAN
CITT
CARSON
CACM
CDB
CAPC
CKGR
CBC
EC
EG
EPET
ECON
ETRD
EFIN
EIND
EMIN
ENRG
EAID
EAGR
EUN
ETTC
EAIR
ENIV
ES
EU
EINV
ELAB
ECIN
EFIS
ELTN
EWWT
ECPS
ECONOMIC
ENGR
EN
EINT
EPA
ELN
ESA
EZ
ER
ET
EFTA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
EXTERNAL
EI
EUR
EK
ERNG
ENGY
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENERG
EINVEFIN
ENVR
ECA
ELECTIONS
ETC
EUREM
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EURN
ECINECONCS
EEPET
EXIM
ERD
ENVI
ETRC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ETRO
EDU
ETRN
EAIG
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
EIAR
EXBS
ECUN
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ESENV
ECONEFIN
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINVETC
IZ
IT
IR
IS
IN
IC
IAEA
IO
ICAO
IWC
ID
IV
ISRAEL
IAHRC
IQ
ICTR
IMF
IRS
IDP
IGAD
ICRC
ICTY
IMO
IL
INRA
INRO
ICJ
ITU
IBRD
INMARSAT
IIP
ITALY
IEFIN
IACI
ILO
INTELSAT
ILC
ITRA
IDA
INRB
IRC
INTERPOL
IA
IPR
IRAQI
ISRAELI
INTERNAL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IBET
INR
IEA
IZPREL
IRAJ
ITF
IF
KDEM
KU
KPAL
KNNP
KCRM
KZ
KN
KS
KJUS
KTFN
KSCA
KV
KISL
KPAO
KPKO
KIRF
KTIA
KIPR
KFLO
KFRD
KTIP
KAWC
KSUM
KCOM
KAID
KE
KTDB
KMDR
KOMC
KWBG
KDRG
KVPR
KTEX
KGIC
KWMN
KSCI
KCOR
KACT
KDDG
KHLS
KSAF
KFLU
KSEO
KMRS
KSPR
KOLY
KSEP
KVIR
KGHG
KIRC
KUNR
KIFR
KCIP
KMCA
KMPI
KBCT
KHSA
KICC
KIDE
KCRS
KMFO
KRVC
KRGY
KR
KAWK
KG
KFIN
KHIV
KBIO
KOCI
KBTR
KNEI
KPOA
KCFE
KPLS
KSTC
KHDP
KPRP
KCRCM
KLIG
KCFC
KTER
KREC
KTBT
KPRV
KSTH
KRIM
KRAD
KWAC
KWMM
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KOMS
KX
KMIG
KRCM
KVRP
KBTS
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNAR
KPWR
KNPP
KDEMAF
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KGIT
KPAI
KTLA
KFSC
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KID
KOM
KMOC
KJUST
KGCC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KO
KNSD
KHUM
KSEC
KCMR
KCHG
KICA
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KCGC
KWWMN
KPAK
KWNM
KWMNCS
KRFD
MOPS
MCAP
MPOS
MARR
MO
MNUC
MX
MASS
MG
MY
MU
ML
MR
MILITARY
MTCRE
MT
MEPP
MA
MDC
MP
MAR
MASSMNUC
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MD
MI
MEETINGS
MK
MCC
MEPN
MRCRE
MAS
MIL
MASC
MC
MV
MTCR
MIK
MUCN
MEDIA
MERCOSUR
MW
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTRE
MEPI
MQADHAFI
MAPS
NO
NATO
NL
NP
NZ
NSF
NI
NH
NG
NAFTA
NU
NASA
NR
NATOPREL
NSSP
NSG
NA
NT
NW
NK
NPT
NPA
NATIONAL
NPG
NSFO
NS
NSC
NE
NGO
NDP
NIPP
NRR
NEW
NZUS
NC
NAR
NV
NORAD
OTRA
OPCW
OVIP
OAS
OREP
OPIC
OIIP
OPRC
ODIP
OEXC
OPDC
OSCE
OIC
OSCI
OECD
OFDP
OFDA
OMIG
OPAD
OFFICIALS
OVP
OIE
OHUM
OCS
OBSP
OTR
OSAC
ON
OCII
OES
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PTER
PINS
PINR
PREF
PK
PROP
PA
PARM
PBTS
PMAR
PM
PGIV
PE
PRAM
PHUH
PHSA
PL
PNAT
PO
PLN
PAO
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PF
PEL
PBIO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PAS
POL
PREO
PAHO
PMIL
POGOV
POV
PAK
PNR
PRL
PG
PREFA
PSI
PINL
PU
PARMS
PRGOV
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POSTS
PROG
PORG
PTBS
PUNE
POLICY
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PP
PS
PY
PTERE
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PRELP
PSEPC
PGOVE
PINF
PNG
PGOC
PFOR
PCUL
POLINT
PGGV
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PGOVLO
PHUS
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RELATIONS
RW
RO
RM
RP
ROOD
RICE
RUPREL
RSO
RCMP
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RIGHTS
RF
RFE
RSP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
SU
SCUL
SNAR
SOCI
SF
SA
SHUM
SENV
SP
SR
SY
SANC
SC
SMIG
SZ
SARS
SW
SEVN
SO
SEN
SL
SNARCS
SNARN
SI
SG
SN
SH
SYR
SAARC
SPCE
SHI
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SYRIA
SWE
STEINBERG
SIPRS
ST
SNARIZ
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SIPDIS
SAN
TC
TI
TBIO
TH
TSPL
TRGY
TSPA
TPHY
TU
TW
TS
TAGS
TK
TX
TNGD
TZ
TF
TL
TV
TN
TD
TIP
TR
TP
TO
TT
TFIN
THPY
TERRORISM
TINT
TRSY
TURKEY
TBID
US
UK
UNGA
UP
UZ
UNMIK
USTR
UNO
UNSC
UN
UNESCO
UNAUS
UNHRC
UY
UG
UNHCR
UNCND
USOAS
USEU
UNICEF
UNEP
UV
UNPUOS
UNCSD
USUN
UNCHR
UNDC
USNC
UE
UNDP
UNC
USPS
USAID
UNVIE
UAE
UNFICYP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNCHC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 10SANJOSE182, COSTA RICA: Merida Monthly Report January 2010
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. #10SANJOSE182.
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHSJ #0182/01 0401945
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 091938Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0361
INFO RHMFIUU/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC
RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000182
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR INL/LP AND WHA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR MASS PGOV PREL CS
SUBJECT: COSTA RICA: Merida Monthly Report January 2010
REF: 09 STATE 114752; SAN JOSE 130; 09 SAN JOSE 1156; SAN JOSE 19
¶1. (U) Per Ref A, Post submits the following report detailing
Embassy San Jose's Merida activities for January 2010.
Issues for Washington
¶2. (U) Due to the amount of preparation and work that goes into
producing the annual End-Use Monitoring (EUM) Report, due on
February 1 (see Ref B; our EUM report), Post was unable to do any
Merida procurements in the month of January. Although we conduct
EUM all year long, January is our last chance to complete it and to
prepare this lengthy report. We expect to continue with our Merida
procurements in February.
¶3. (U) We are experiencing some delays ordering armored vests due
to the requirement to answer bidders' questions on "FedBid." What
happens is this: We submit the vests for bid and then bidders come
back with oftentimes difficult to understand questions that Post
has 10 days to answer; if we cannot answer the questions in a
timely manner, then we have to re-open the bid. We have done this
three times so far since early January. Following is an example of
the kinds of "difficult to understand" questions that we receive:
FOLLOW UP FROM AN INTERESTED SELLER:
External Ballistic Vests....what ballistics do you want for the
vests?...you state you want the plates in the vest and then add
more plates later...do you want twice as many plates of the 2 types
or just the vest cover and the L3 plates or some ballistic package
AND the L3 plates OR some ballistics and NOT the plates AND
substitute the L4 plates later listed as different specifications?
Just to confirm, you want plates that are rated "In Conjunction
With"...(ICW) to make the soft ballistics level 3A to become level
4?...right....the ICW plates are IN ADDITION TO the 626 + 184 stand
alone Level 4 plates?????....again, for clarification purposes,
level 4 stabd alone plates are level 4 all by themselves and do not
need any other ballistics...you want them AND the soft level 3 WITH
the In Conjunction With plates???.... thus the vests WITH the
plates will be level 4 PLUS level 4 plates....please confirm
¶4. (U) As a follow-up to our November/December Merida report (Ref
C), we are currently in the Computer Assisted Job Evaluation (CAJE)
step of the process of hiring an Eligible Family Member (EFM) to
assist in staffing to better support Merida in Costa Rica.
Internal Developments
¶5. (SBU) Citizen security was the number one theme for Costa Rica's
February 7 national elections, and President-elect Laura
Chinchilla of the National Liberation Party (PLN) promised to make
improving citizen security her top priority. Chinchilla told us
during the campaign that she would seek U.S. assistance in her
efforts to strengthen citizen security, particularly in improving
the recruitment and training of uniformed police officers. Though
the Government of Costa Rica almost doubled the public security
budget over the past two years, Chinchilla has promised to add an
additional $100 million per year for police funding. Among other
initiatives, she plans to establish a senior position focused on
combating organized crime and narcotics, expand gang prevention
program , and open a new police academy. Chinchilla comes into
office with a strong background in citizen security issues; in
addition to her experience as Vice Minister and Minister of Public
Security, she has written a number of papers on police reform and
justice administration. She has attended security seminars in the
U.S., including a National Security Plan development seminar run by
the Center for Hemispheric Studies in 2007.
¶6. (U) The Costa Rican Ministry of Public Security (MPS) released
some initial statistics from 2009 that show that there was a slight
dip in the number of homicides in 2009 compared to 2008. While the
homicide rate has been going up about 20 percent per year during
the Arias Administration, this reduction is nevertheless good news:
-The homicide rate per 100,000 in 2008 was 11, in 2009
it was 10.3.
-The total number of homicides in 2008 was 482, in 2009
it was 472.
Implementation Activities
¶7. (SBU) The following implementation activities took place in
January 2009:
-On January 6, we had our first Merida quarterly
review with all Costa Rican entities that are receiving or will
receive assistance via the Merida Initiative. We provided a brief
summary of Merida activities such as:
-Equipment already donated (one GPS to the
Drug Control Police-PCD);
-Equipment ordered to date (three
counternarcotics contraband detection kits valued at more than
$51,000; all of the equipment requested by the Costa Rican Air Wing
valued at $130,000);
-Equipment that we are about to order
(armored vests valued at $250,000; radios and radio workshop
equipment valued at $1.5 million USD;)
-Three assessment visits already completed
(Information Technology assessment in August 2009; FBI fingerprint
database assessment in September 2009; and prison assessment visit
in October 2009);
-Status of FMF maritime interdiction
support (we expect to receive two SAFE boats in summer 2010 and
repair work will begin on Costa Rica's three 82-foot patrol boats
in May 2010); and
-Finally, a brief on what we expect FY09
Merida programs to be.
¶8. (U) The Costa Ricans appreciated the Merida update brief and
provided the following feedback:
-Asked when they could expect to receive eTrace
training (NOTE: currently scheduled for March 18-19. END NOTE);
-Recommended including Costa Rica on any Drug Abuse
Resistance Education (DARE) funds that might come available via
Merida (NOTE: In the FY10 project CARSI funds, there may be $80,000
for Costa Rica. END NOTE); and
-The Costa Rican Judicial Police (OIJ- equivalent to
U.S. Federal agents) asked if we could purchase an "IBIS" type of
ballistic analysis tool with our Merida police equipment fund.
Although we do not have a quote for this particular item of
equipment, a rough estimate is about $1 million.
¶9. (SBU) On January 27-28, DEA and the Narcotics Affairs Officer
(NAO) coordinated further training on use of the CT-30 drug
detection kit in Liberia, Costa Rica near the border with
Nicaragua. The Costa Ricans received specific training on hidden
compartments and were taught how to look for contraband in those
areas. This training is being immediately followed up by a road
interdiction operation by the Costa Rican PCD in early February.
¶10. (U) We sent six Costa Rican law enforcement officials to the
ILEA Law Enforcement Management Development Program from January
18-February 26.
¶11. (U) We meet as a Law Enforcement Group, which also serves as
our Merida Initiative meeting group, usually every Monday. In
January we met on January 4 and January 25.
Significant Merida Supported Host Nation Seizures
¶12. (SBU) In January there were no significant host nation seizures
of drugs; however, there was a total of 327 kilos of cocaine
seized, over $250,000 of bulk cash seized, 729 dosages of crack
cocaine seized, and 253 marijuana plants.
The Month Ahead
¶13. (SBU) Below are Post's activities for February:
-February 3: Recently arrived Ambassador Anne S.
Andrew met with Minister of Public Security Janina Del Vecchio for
their first formal meeting, which included a brief overview of
Merida and other USG security assistance programs in Costa Rica.
-ILEA: Ten Costa Ricans are attending the Law
Enforcement Safety and Training Survival course at ILEA from
February 8-12, 2010.
-February 8-12: Four members from Post are
participating in the Merida workshop in Guatemala.
-We 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.
Other significant security/law enforcement activities
¶14. (U) In this section we are adding additional information on
other forms of USG citizen security assistance/law enforcement
cooperation that are not necessarily linked to the Merida
Initiative.
¶15. (SBU) On January 29, Emboffs met with Costa Rican Drug
Institute (ICD) Director Mauricio Boraschi, who provided us an
update on Costa Rica's national cellular telephone interdiction
project. USG support for this program started in 2006, but little
progress could be made until the GOCR reformed some laws and
dedicated serious resources to develop a modern wiretap facility.
In 2009, Costa Rica passed a strengthened organized crime law that
provided more tools for prosecutors to use telephone interdiction
and authorized the construction of a new wiretap facility.
Boraschi's update on the wiretap facility included the following
(powerpoint attachment is included with cable):
-Expect wiretap facility, located in OIJ's San Joaquin
de Flores facility near San Jose, to be completely operational by
June.
-Four judges will be dedicated full-time to listening
to intercepted communications (in Costa Rica, only judges are
authorized to listen in).
- In January 2009, Huawei, a Chinese communications
company, won a USD 235 million 3G cellular telephone contract in
Costa Rica, which includes all the equipment necessary for
telephone interdiction. (Septel will provide more information.)
¶16. (SBU) Embassy support to the GOCR's wiretap facility includes
$100,000 of INCLE funds as well as $250,000 of DEA funds (that have
been converted to INCLE). This $350,000 will be used to finish the
equipping of the wiretap facility with the following items:
-Electrical network;
-Air Conditioning system;
-Fire alarm and fire supression system;
-Generator back-up for the facility;
-Security system for the facility, including cameras;
and
-Furniture and possibly standard desktop computers.
¶17. (U) In January, a total of seven Costa Ricans were sent to the
Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (WHINSEC)
using IMET funds to attend the following courses:
-Two officers are attending the Counter Narco-Terrorism
Information Analysis Course;
-Three officers are attending a Medical Assistance
Course; and
-Two officers are attending the Counterdrug Operations
Course (one of these officers will take a follow-on
instructor-level training for this course).
¶18. (U) During our EUM (Ref B), we noted some success stories with
previously donated equipment. Below is an excerpt from one of
these success stories:
-With advanced audio/visual equipment donated since
2006, the OIJ has been able to record drug transactions in dark
environments where they were not able to operate before. The unit
reported that the donated equipment has contributed to enhancing
the response capacity, improved the quality and definition of the
evidence gathered for prosecuting drug and sex crimes as well as
reduced costs.
¶19. (U) Post's Office of Defense Representative (ODR), via its
Traditional Commanders Activities (TCA) program, took several
senior-ranking Costa Rican uniformed police officers, including the
Chief of Police Erick Lacayo, to New Mexico to discuss future
events for our State Partnership Program (SPP).
¶20. (U) Beginning on February 22, ODR will be coordinating Special
Forces training (JCET) for Costa Rican law enforcement special
units at Murcielago, Guanacaste province. We expect 40 Costa
Ricans to receive advanced tactical training during this event.
BRENNAN