INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Exbs: Thailand/Vietnam Advisor Monthly Reporting

Published: Fri 8 Feb 2008 05:49 AM
VZCZCXRO2709
RR RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHBK #0411 0390549
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080549Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1753
RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHDC
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUCNEXC/EXPORT CONTROL AND RELATED BORDER SECURITY
UNCLAS BANGKOK 000411
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR ISN/ECC YWONG, ACHURCH, KCROUCH, ROWEN, EAP/MLS
DRICHELSOPH, BBLACKSHAW
CBP/INA FOR RWATT
DEPT OF ENERGY FOR NNSA TPERRY
AMEMBASSY HANOI FOR PECKSTROM
AMEMBASSY KUALA LUMPUR FOR RMOODY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KNNP KSTC MNUC PARM PREL TH VN
SUBJECT: EXBS: THAILAND/VIETNAM ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING
CABLE - JANUARY 2008
REF: SECSTATE 10479
SUMMARY
1. (U) CBP conducted an International Seaport Interdiction
Training (ISIT II) course at Laem Chabang port, Thailand,
January 7-11. A planning session and System Administrator
training for the Tracker licensing system was conducted in
Hanoi, January 14-18. EXBS Advisor visited Bangkok Port on
January 29. Three CT-30 inspection kits and fourteen
Personal Radiation Detectors (PRDs) were transferred to Royal
Thai Customs. Imminent training includes an ISIT II in
Vietnam and ICE Export Enforcement training in Thailand.
SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS
2. (U) EXBS Advisor visited the Port of Bangkok on January
29. Because of draft limitations, Bangkok is a regional
port, handling trade with Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the
Philippines and other Asian ports. Port capacity is 1.5
million TEU's (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) per year. The
Thai Port Authority operates the port. Customs officials
said that the most common violations include Intellectual
Property Rights violations (shipment of counterfeit goods),
shipment of illegal logs, and avoidance of customs duties.
TRAINING CONDUCTED
3. (U) U.S. Customs and Border Protection conducted an
International Seaport Interdiction Training (ISIT II) course
at Laem Chabang port, Thailand, January 7-11. Laem Chabang
is Thailand's largest port, and one of the twenty busiest in
the world. It also is a participating site in the Container
Security Initiative (CSI) and Megaports program. Twenty five
Thai officials participated, including representatives from
Customs, the Navy, Marine Police, Port Authority, the Vessel
Traffic Control and Maritime Security Center, and Immigration.
4. (U) Commonwealth Trading Partners (CTP) conducted a
planning session and System Administrator training for the
Tracker licensing system in Hanoi, January 14-18.
Participants included the Vietnam Radiation Protection and
Nuclear Safety Authority (VARANSAC) and the Ministry of
Industry and Trade (MOIT). Representatives from Customs and
the Ministry of Defense observed. VARANSAC and MOIT intend
to move forward with customizing and implementing the system
as soon as possible. Customs requested a Tracker terminal
for the VARANSAC system and is considering one linked to the
MOIT system as well. Additional details reported REFTEL.
EQUIPMENT DELIVERED
5. (U) In conjunction with the ISIT training, EXBS Advisor
delivered two CT-30 Inspection Kits and eight Personal
Radiation Detectors (PRDs) to the Laem Chabang Customs
Bureau. Advisor also delivered one CT-30 kit and six PRD's
to the Port of Bangkok Customs Bureau (Bangkok Customs
officials had attended the Laem Chabang training).
IMMINENT TRAINING/EQUIPMENT UPDATE
6. (U) U.S. Customs and Border Protection will conduct an
International Seaport Interdiction Training (ISIT II) course
at Ho Chi Minh City port, March 3-7. U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement will conduct an Export Control
Enforcement Training course in Bangkok, March 10-14.
SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS
7. (U) None.
JOHN
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