Document: Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Program and Budget Guide, Fiscal Year 2010

Program: International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement

FY 2010 Programs

Interdiction

SIU - The SIU program that DEA and INL implemented with the DPF is the most successful counternarcotics initiative in Brazil. The vastness of Brazil and its borders necessitates an intelligence-based approach to combating narcotics that focuses on seaports, international airports, and major transit points. Currently, 66 DEA-trained DPF agents are stationed throughout 20 locations in Brazil, but not all locations are fully operational. In FY 2010 we will support 56 more agents to attend the full SIU training course in Quantico. Upon graduation, they will enable the 20 SIUs to become fully staffed and operational. The original three SIUs (Rio, Sao Paulo, and Brasilia) continue to produce significant information and large seizures. However, increasingly, some of the best results are coming from other ""satellite"" SIU locations, particularly in the vast North, growing North East, and states along the porous Bolivian and Paraguayan borders. The FY 2010 funding will continue to support the SIU program with training and equipment commensurate with the large increase in DEA- trained and vetted DPF SIU officers and to potentially convert one or two ""satellite SIUs"" into formal SIUs in strategic locations.

Airport Interdiction - The Airport Interdiction program with the DPF is the strategic and necessary counterpart to the intelligence-based approach of the SIUs. International airline routes to Brazil now have 16 international airports with a significant number of daily flights to Europe and the U.S., and that number will continue to grow. Three new direct routes to the U.S. were announced in March 2009 alone. FY 2010 funding will maintain the existing AI Units and provide additional support to the Airport Mobile Team as they begin to cover additional international airports.

Document: Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Program and Budget Guide, Fiscal Year 2010

Program: International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement

Program Objectives and Performance Indicators Assistance to the Government of Brazil (GOB) is focused on strengthening Brazil?s interagency law enforcement and drug interdiction operations. Support will also enhance federal, state, civil, and military law enforcement capabilities by providing operational support, training, and equipment to conduct more effective investigations and interdiction operations against international narcotics organizations. Specifically, assistance will:

• Enable the GOB to dismantle and/or disrupt major drug trafficking organizations that operate in and/or through Brazil and have criminal ties to the United States;
• Increase the number of bilateral and multilateral drug investigations that Brazil participates in, leading to an increase in drugs and assets seized by the Brazilian Federal Police;
• Provide training to enhance GOB port and airport security which will be reflected in an increase in the number of arrests and drug seizures;
• Improve the ability of federal and state law enforcement authorities to combat gang activities such as drug and weapons trafficking, as well as prison violence.

Document: PANAMAX: Teamwork against terrorism

Program: Exercises

Fuerzas Aliadas PANAMAX is an annual exercise tailored to the defense of the Panama Canal against transnational threats. PANAMAX 2009 is designed to address a spectrum of possible threats, including terrorist acts against the canal, to ensure a multinational force can respond to any request for support from the Government of Panama while respecting national sovereignty.

Fuerzas Aliadas PANAMAX is an annual exercise tailored to the defense of the Panama Canal against transnational threats. PANAMAX 2009 is designed to address a spectrum of possible threats, including terrorist acts against the canal, to ensure a multinational force can respond to any request for support from the Government of Panama while respecting national sovereignty.

Ultimately Fuerzas Aliadas PANAMAX is about working together and learning from each other in order to promote trust and foster willingness for continued collaboration and teamwork. PANAMAX offers the opportunity to strengthen the ability to operate together which ultimately strengthens security of the hemisphere.

Participants and observers include forces from Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the United States and Uruguay. The ground portion of the exercise is being conducted at Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis, both in San Antonio from Sept. 13-21.

Document: 2007 End-Use Monitoring Report

Program: International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement

Procedures

Since July 2006, NAS has not provided assistance to the Brazilian Federal Police (DPF) and has reduced assistance to other partners. However, post has maintained regular and frequent contact with the DPF, particularly their Drug Enforcement Division. Due to the reduction in funding support, many NAS-donated commodities are older and past their useful lives, although they are still being used by GOB counterparts. EUM procedures used in 2007 are not as effective as they could be. As the NAS finalizes its restructuring and resumes operations, more effective EUM procedures will be implemented along with stronger cooperation by GOB counterpart agencies.

Status

Vessels

The USG donated 14 Boston Whaler vessels to the DPF mostly dating from 1991. They are assigned to different areas in the northern region of Brazil. The DPF informed the NAS that four assigned to Manaus are all functioning on a daily basis and are in good condition; the one assigned to Foz do Iguacu was loaned to the Drug Enforcement Division in Curitiba, but it will be returned to Foz do Iguacu within the next three months; the two assigned to Proto Velho and Guajara-Mirim are not working due to electrical, motor, and instrument problems; the two assigned to Macapa need maintenance but are waiting for funds to be authorized. There are also three in Belem, one in Santarem and one in Tabatinga, but the DPF Drug Enforcement Division has been unable to provide their status. The NAS will include all Boston Whalers in the EUM visits in 2008.

The 36-foot patrol boat provided under the 506(A) drawdown was fully renovated by the Brazilian Police and inaugurated in May of 2001. The DPF installed GPS/VHS equipment, as well as a depth finder and a police siren. The vessel is used exclusively in harbor patrol crime prevention activities. It is currently in the water at Praca 15 de Novembro (Rio de Janeiro's city port). However, the vessel is not functioning due to a cracked hull and motor problems. The Federal Police have estimated a cost of $90,000 to repair the vessel.

Detector Dogs

During 2006, the NAS provided the DPF with five bomb detective dogs. The dogs were distributed to Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizons, Fortaleza and Porto Alegre. The DPF informed NAS that the dogs are alive and participated in operations during the Pan-American games held in Rio de Janeiro in July 2007 and during the Pope's visit in Sao Paulo and in Aparecida and Guarantingueta in May 2007. The dog located in Rio de Janeiro was transferred to Brasilia. The dog in the Brasilia kennel has produced 7 puppies; they are 1 year old now.

Computer Equipment

Desktop computers, monitors, printers and scanners donated in 2004 are being used as intended and are repaired when necessary.

In 2002, basic computer equipment, including monitors, CPU's, printers, webcams, keyboards, speakers, and UPS, were provided by the NAS through SENAD for use by the 26 Brazilian State Drug Councils (CONENS) as well as a connecting unit for SENAD and the CONEN of the Federal District. All of the equipment was observed in use and functioning, creating an "Antidrug Informational Network" connecting the State Drug Councils with SENAD in Brasilia.

Communications Equipment

Communication gear, including fax machines, Nextel cellular phones, pen drivers, webcams camcorders, digital cameras and accessories provided to the DPF's Drug Enforcement Division are being used as intended as are repaired when necessary.

On-site inspections and DPF/DRE reports indicate that most USG-donated communications gear, including two-way radios and fax machines, are operational, in good condition, and being used regularly in police counternarcotics operations.

Miscellaneous Equipment

In 2002, the NAS provided basic law enforcement equipment to the Civil Police Forces of nine Brazilian States in the Amazon Section through the Brazilian National Public Safety Secretariat (SENASP). The equipment includes computer equipment, narcotics kits, flashlights, bulletproof vests, first aid kits, CPR masks, life vests stearns, night vision goggles, handcuffs, gun cabinets, bolt cutters and bullet proof vests. The equipment was determined by post to have exceeded its useful life and was not monitored in 2007.

Problems

The NAS staff visited Sensitive Investigative Unit (SIU) bases in Rio de Janeiro and San Paulo, which produced notable results. Their successes have resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of new operations, which has also created a number of problems. The SIU bases are seriously understaffed and have outgrown their physical space. While they are using donated equipment effectively in their operations, the SIU's need new equipment including a server dedicated to handling the internet interception system. The SIU's would also benefit from upgrades to and maintenance of NAS-donated software.

Although the SIU's are successful in their operations and contribute to the NAS counter-narcotics missions, they are hindered by poor working conditions in their present facilities, understaffing, and a lack of updated and/or necessary equipment. The NAS has budgeted for counternarcotics cooperation between the GOB and USG.

Additionally, both bases requested NAS support to develop an "Internal Training Cadre" that would be available for in-country training on Brazil and Brazilian City-specific issues. The potential impact of such a training cadre would be a more highly skilled and more effective staff, thereby resulting in improvements to an already successful program.

Impact

The amount of funding and assistance given to the Federal Police accounts for a considerable percentage of their entire national anti-narcotics interdiction budget. This assistance, in the form of equipment, is vital to the anti-narcotics interdiction efforts in Brazil.

Document: Opening Ceremony Kicks Off FA PANAMAX 2009

Program: Exercises

More than 4,500 personnel from 20 countries began a 12-day exercise here Friday to train in a joint, multinational effort to ensure the security of the Panama Canal.

FA PANAMAX 2009 is one of the largest multinational training exercises in the world, and is taking place in the waters off the coasts of Panama from Sept. 11-22 with the participation of civil and military forces.

More than 20 vessels and a dozen aircraft are involved in the exercises. Participants are focusing on a variety of responses to any request from the Government of Panama to protect and guarantee safe passage of traffic through the Panama Canal, ensure its neutrality, and respect national sovereignty. Simulated ground forces are also participating at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.

The FA PANAMAX 2009 exercise scenario includes sea-based training devoted to maritime interdiction operations, including visit, boarding, search and seizure. Virtual land-based training in San Antonio, Texas, will focus on command and control, stability operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief operations.

FA PANAMAX 2009 participating nations include: Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, United States and Uruguay. France and Mexico are scheduled to participate as observers. The Conference of Central American Armies, the Organization of American States and the United Nations will also participate.

Document: Oak Hill Returns Home After Southern Partnership Station 2009

Program: Exercises

Oak Hill, based at Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, Va., departed June 3 for SPS 2009, a combined multinational naval and amphibious operation with Oak Hill and maritime forces from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay.

Oak Hill also supported the U.S. Marine Corps Forces South (USMARSOUTH) multinational amphibious exercise, Southern Exchange 2009.

During SPS 2009, Oak Hill embarked more than 20 partner nation liaison Sailors and Marines who worked and trained with the crew in daily shipboard operations. Embarked Sailors from the Expeditionary Training Command in Little Creek also shared their expertise in small boat operations; visit, board, search and seizure; and other areas during subject matter expert exchanges (SMEEs) with Sailors and Marines in Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.

Oak Hill Sailors who participated in SMEEs said they learned a lot from training with their Navy counterparts and enjoyed the experience.

Oak Hill also conducted joint maritime security operations with the Uruguayan Navy. Together the navies executed a swept channel mine avoidance exercise and conducted deck landing qualifications (DLQs) with Uruguayan helicopter pilots. The crew also conducted DLQs with Brazilian pilots flying a Brazilian Super Puma helicopter.

Document: Oak Hill Sailors Strengthen Partnership with Brazil

Program: Exercises

Sailors aboard dock-landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) brought the spirit of Southern Partnership Station (SPS) ´09 to Brazil July 13-24 welcoming Brazilian Sailors for tours and exchanges on various shipboard operations.
...
More than 150 sailors from the Brazilian Navy visited the ship to take part in joint training on wet well operations, basic first aid and medical response, damage control, and firefighting. The training gave both the U.S. and Brazilian navies a chance to come together and improve interoperability between the partner nations.
...
Shaw facilitated wet well operations training with the Brazilian sailors. After a presentation of the different types of amphibious craft Oak Hill is capable of embarking, he took them on a tour of the ship´s well deck. Shaw says there are a lot of similarities between the two amphibious fleets.
...
Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (SW/AW) Elizabeth Gracie facilitated the medical portion of the training and also found similarities. She said the Brazilian sailors had a lot to offer from their experiences.

Document: Multinational Southern Exchange 2009 Exercise Begins in Brazil

Program: Exercises

The multinational combined exercise is meant to train various countries’ forces together to effectively learn to operate as one force, as well as to bolster overall stability and security throughout the region. The countries participating this year are the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Uruguay.

Afterward, the row of the nations’ flags was raised simultaneously, symbolizing the official start of SE09. Seven countries will work as one over the next three weeks, learning from each other and training together.


During this two-phased exercise, Law of War and Human Rights classes will be taught daily, and training will be taught by various experts from each participating nation. Training will focus on fundamentals that are common amongst all Marine Corps' throughout the Americas: convoy operations, first aid, water survival, amphibious training, martial arts, patrolling, and checkpoint operations in order to enhance each nation’s peacekeeping and humanitarian disaster relief capabilities, should the need arise.


Phase two will culminate with a three-day final peace-keeping exercise in which participants will showcase the lessons learned and seize the opportunity to utilize the mission-focused knowledge and expertise shared amongst each other during the initial phase.

Document: U.S., Partner Nation Marines and Sailors Join for Southern Exchange Exercise in Brazil

Program: Exercises

Brazil’s Marine Corps, or Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais (CFN), will host approximately 1,000 Marines and Sailors from the United States, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia and Uruguay for exercise Southern Exchange 2009 (SE09), July 13-31 at the Divisão Anfibia and the island of Marambaia, Rio de Janeiro.

This year’s exercise is designed as a transparent, multinational exchange that focuses on enhancing proficiency and interoperability between partner nation Marine Corps’ forces.

SE09 helps to strengthen relationships resulting in improved stability and security throughout the region. The concept of operations is structured toward Marine fundamentals and focused on building partner nation capability to execute United Nations’ coalition missions such as Haiti and Congo.

During this two-phased exercise Law of War and Human Rights classes will be taught daily, and training will be taught by various experts representing each participating nation.

Training will focus on fundamentals that are common amongst all Marines throughout the Americas: convoy operations, first aid, water survival, amphibious training, martial arts, patrolling, and checkpoint operations in order to enhance each nation’s peacekeeping and humanitarian disaster relief capabilities.

Phase two will culminate with a three-day final peacekeeping exercise in which participants will showcase the lessons learned and seize the opportunity to utilize the mission-focused knowledge and expertise shared amongst each other during the initial phase.

Lt. Col. Miguel Ameigeiras, the MARFORSOUTH SE09 exercise director, says that he sees multinational combined exercises as the way of the future for U.S. Marine Corps involvement in South America.

Document: U.S. Ships Take Part in Operacion Multinacional Alianza Naval Exercise

Program: Exercises

Ships from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru and the United States are participating in Operacion Multinacional Alianza, a post-UNITAS Gold naval exercise hosted by Colombia, from May 8 to 14.

Participating ships are BNS Constituicao (F-42), CS Blanco Encalada (CF-15), ARC Almirante Padilla (FM-51), ARC Cartagena De Indias (BL-161), BAP Aguirre (FM-55), USS Doyle (FFG-39) and USS Kauffman (FFG-59).

During the exercise, participants will practice Maritime Interdiction Operations, ship formations, anti-submarine warfare, air attack exercises and practice firing.