VZCZCXRO5804
PP RUEHRG
DE RUEHBR #1893/01 2761908
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 031908Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0098
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6318
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 4336
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 5029
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 3804
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 5661
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 7038
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2297
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 6449
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 7190
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 5197
RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 0907
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHOND/DIR ONDCP WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRASILIA 001893
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INL, WHA/BSC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR EAID KCRM PREL BR
SUBJECT: NAS BRASILIA REPORT FOR SEPTEMBER 2007
Sensitive but unclassified -- please protect accordingly.
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: NAS-supported activities during September --
though still limited in size and scope -- continued to produce
results. In particular, two key NAS and DEA-supported operations
carried out by the Brazilian Federal Police (DPF) resulted in
several arrests and the seizure of significant amounts of illicit
drugs, weapons, vehicles, and other contraband. More importantly,
these operations contributed to disrupting a plan to establish a
country-wide drug distribution center and to preventing explosives
and weapons from reaching the Primeiro Commando da Capital (PCC) --
one of Brazil's most powerful organized criminal gangs. Despite
several high-level changes in personnel at the DPF stemming from the
arrival of the new Director General, Luiz Fernando Correa, NAS has
continued to enjoy a very good relationship with the DPF, and signed
the INL Implementing Arrangement, which will improve the
transparency and efficiency of our financial cooperation. Finally,
on the demand reduction front, the GOB has begun to explore
expanding the Brazilian version of the DARE program to reach a wider
segment of youth. END SUMMARY.
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POLICE OPERATIONS DISRUPT CRIMINAL PLANS
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2. (SBU) NAS Brasilia's continued support for DEA-vetted Sensitive
Investigative Units (SIUs) has facilitated Brazilian Federal Police
(DPF) investigations and operations. In particular, the DPF
concluded two successful operations in September, which resulted in
the capture of high-level drug traffickers and the seizure of
illicit contraband that was ultimately destined for use in other,
more nefarious, criminal activity:
A. On September 21, Federal Police in the Brazilian state of Goias,
acting on SIU-developed intelligence, seized approximately 1.3 tons
of marijuana that was hidden in two tractor trailers normally used
for transporting livestock. The marijuana was of Paraguayan origin
and was destined for a farm in the Brazilian city of Marrinhos in
the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, where an international drug
trafficking organization with operations in Brazil, Suriname,
Guyana, and Colombia planned to establish a Brazil-wide marijuana
distribution center. The DPF seized the two trucks, two other
vehicles, and a .22 caliber rifle, and arrested five people, which
included the leader of the group. These individuals are facing
prison terms of up to 15 years for violation of international drug
trafficking laws.
B. The same day, the DPF also effectively utilized SIU intelligence
in a task force operation, involving DPF and Brazilian Military
Police Officers, which resulted in two arrests and the seizure of
three vehicles, two motorcycles, an arsenal of explosives, firearms,
and approximately 432 kilograms of cocaine base in the city of
Ribeirao Preto, in the state of Sao Paulo. Brazilian Civil Police
at the Presidente Venceslau (P2) Prison, which houses 760 members of
the Primeiro Commando da Capital (PCC) gang, provided intelligence
on the gang's ongoing and planned operations. Federal Police
learned that the PCC had arranged for Bolivian cocaine base and
Paraguayan furnished weapons and explosives to be smuggled into
Brazil via aircraft to the city of Ribeirao Preto. Moreover, the
seized arms and explosives were to be used by the PCC in a series of
attacks on armored car operators and eventually target aircraft in
Sao Paulo. It remains unclear whether the PCC merely ordered the
purchase of the drugs or whether the PCC's influence and operational
capability have extended to Paraguay and Bolivia. What is clear to
the DPF from this investigation is that trafficking drugs and
munitions is increasingly becoming a part of the PCC's modus
operandi.
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NAS-DPF IMPLEMENTING ARRANGEMENT
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3. (SBU) On September 19, NAS and the DPF signed an Implementing
Arrangement (IA) for the administration of narcotics control and law
BRASILIA 00001893 002 OF 002
enforcement funds. (Note: The signed original has been sent to
INL/LP. End note.) The IA defines procedures for governing an
operational expense account and establishes a more transparent and
efficient system for providing and accounting for INL funds. Luiz
Fernando Correa, the new Director General, and Delegado Roberto
Troncon, the new Director of the DPF's Organized Crime Division,
both expressed their appreciation for NAS cooperation, and conveyed
their desire to maintain "our excellent partnership." (Bio note:
Correa was previously the head of National Public Safety
Secretariat, SENASP, and Troncon headed the DPF's Financial Crimes
SIPDIS
Section in Sao Paulo. End bio note.)
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DEMAND REDUCTION -- DARE TO EXPAND
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4. (U) The Brazilian National Anti-drug Secretariat (SENAD) and the
National Public Safety Secretariat (SENASP) have begun to re-examine
the U.S.-based Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program (DARE) or as
it is known in Brazil, PROERD. Paulo Roberto Uchoa, the National
Anti-drug Secretary (the Brazilian Drug Czar), told NAS Director on
September 27 that although Brazil successfully implemented the DARE
program in all of Brazil's 26 states and the Federal District, the
GOB would like to expand the program in order to reach a broader and
older audience, especially adolescents most prone to fall victim to
drug abuse and violence. NAS will continue to follow these efforts
and report via septel.
SOBEL