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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT, MARCH 1996
United States Department of State
Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
OTHER USG ASSISTANCE PROVIDED
UNITED STATES CUSTOMS SERVICE
International drug interdiction training is a vital segment of the
activities, interests, and mission of the US Customs Service. Training
is funded and approved by the Department of State and provided to drug
control agencies with an interdiction responsibility in countries
considered significant to US narcotics control enforcement efforts.
During FY 1995, 57 programs (excluding the International Visitor
Program) were conducted. These programs involved 55 participants in the
US and 1,904 participants in 38 foreign countries. This annual schedule
included 8 Executive Observation Programs (EOP); 18 Overseas Enforcement
Training (OET) Programs for individual countries; 3 Regional Overseas
Enforcement Training (ROET) Programs for two or more countries; 8 Train-
the-Trainer Workshops (T3W) for individual countries; 3 Regional Train-
the-Trainer Workshops (RT3W) for two or more countries; 4 Contraband
Enforcement Team (CET) Training Programs - 3 with 3 separate phases; 1
Mid-Management Seminar (MMS) and 2 Money Laundering Seminars (MLS).
In addition to the normal schedule of International Narcotics Control
Training programs conducted under the auspices of INL, US Customs has
carried out a number of narcotics control projects making use of funds
outside of the annual INL allocation. These programs, many of which
required considerable development efforts, were in response to high
priority concerns. Among these are the following:
- A CET Training Program was supported and funded by the US
Embassy in Jamaica. This program expanded on other CET Training
Programs which have been presented in-country, the results of which have
been the establishment of a highly effective Contraband Enforcement Team
in Jamaica.
- 4 OET Programs were conducted in Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia
and Romania (respectively) using funds provided by Peace Keeping
Operations. These programs concentrated on drug interdiction at land
border points of entry and exit.
- UNDCP funding was utilized to conduct an OET Program for
Yemen.
- A regional Port Security Seminar was conducted in the
Caribbean, using OAS funds. This seminar was attended by 45
participants from ten countries.
- The presentation of 16 Money Laundering Seminars using funds
from the Department of Treasury Asset Forfeiture Fund. In total, 15
individual seminars were presented in 14 countries and one regional
seminar was presented which included participation by 21 countries.
- Both a self-funded OET Program and T3W were conducted in
Kuwait.
- The development of a video training program addressing the
methods and techniques for the search of rail cars. This video is
unique in that it is specially designed for the use of foreign drug
interdiction officers, having been filmed on the Polish-German border.
FY 1995 was the fifth year in which INL has funded training in narcotics
security techniques provided by US Customs to managers and employees of
commercial transportation companies under the Carrier Initiative Program
(CIP). During FY 1995, INL-funded CIP training was presented to 966
employees in 11 programs. These programs were offered in the following
countries: Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic,
El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Philippines and Thailand.
Costs relating to these programs are partially offset by the sponsoring
commercial transportation companies. In addition, CIP training (funded
by Northwest Airlines) was conducted in Japan for 64 employees of the
airline and a site survey (post-funded) was conducted in Guatemala.
Particularly noteworthy in assessing the past year's program are the
significant seizures and cooperative efforts which were reported and are
attributed directly to the training programs. For example:
- Measurable Results: Following a seizure of 75 kilograms of heroin
by the Customs Service of Cambodia, the post reported that "The Customs
drug seizure and continuing activity in the national and municipal
police anti-narcotics units show that the RCG is making good use of the
training received from the US.."
- Measurable Results: Following the presentation of an OET Program
in Benin, the post reported that "The USG's sponsorship of this
seminar...pays dividends in our bilateral efforts to fight the narcotics
trade. One result is that the Government of Benin officials have been
very cooperative in individual drug cases where we have asked for their
assistance. Post is encouraged by the Government of Benin's response to
the OET Program..."
In FY 1995, our international training efforts have, as in the past,
also emphasized cooperation with other US Government drug enforcement
agencies. FY 1995 saw the presentation of a joint US Customs-DEA
training program. In addition, cooperation was also emphasized with
other nations and international bodies. We maintain an extensive
network of drug control liaison contacts in the US, as well as with a
number of major donor countries and international organizations,
enabling us, among other things, to avoid duplication of training.
In FY 1995, the US Customs Service shared financial assets on 12
occasions:
Exam. Magistrate Canton of Zurich 39,996.25
Fed. Off. for Police Matters Bern 39,996.25
Metropolitan Police Dept., New Scotland Yard 530,049.32
Metropolitan Police Dept., New Scotland Yard 140,000.00
Metropolitan Toronto Police 1,064.44
Office Attorney General Mexico 1,260,000.00
Office Attorney General Mexico 4,770,443.86
Province of British Columbia 111,371.00
Receiver General of Canada 7,510.00
Royal Bahamian Police 342,215.94
Royal Canadian Mounted Police 8,100.00
Vancouver PD 49,549.60
TOTAL 7,300,296.66
TRAINING STATISTICS: US Customs Service
Participants Programs
Training in the US:
Executive Observation Program 38 8
International Visitor Program 516 131
Mid-Management Seminar 17 1
Training in host countries:
Overseas Enforcement Training 581 21
Contraband Enforcement Team 127 4
Train-the-Trainer Workshop 140 11
Money Laundering Seminar 90 2
Carrier Initiative Program 966 11
SUBTOTAL 2,475 189
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