FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ

TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2421

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 LA PAZ 000955

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: SNAR, AFIN, BL

SUBJECT: 2001. END USE MONITORING REPORT -PART II

REF: SECSTATE 222155

PROCEDURES

UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE NAS DIRECTOR, THE NAS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, IN COORDINATION WITH OTHER NAS STAFF MEMBERS AND OFFICIALS OF OTHER AGENCIES (DEA, MILGRP AND THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD), CONDUCTED REVIEWS TO ACCOUNT FOR AND VERIFY THE CONDITION AND USE OF EQUIPMENT AND PROPERTY PROVIDED BY THE USG TO THE USG-GOB COUNTER-NARCOTICS (CN) PROGRAM. NAS PROGRAM OFFICERS, REGIONAL DIRECTORS AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER CONDUCTED REGULAR ANNOUNCED AND UNANNOUNCED FIELD VISITS TO ALL PROJECTS. FIELD ASSISTANCE VISITS BY THE BUDGET AND AUDIT STAFFS RESULTED IN SPOT INSPECTIONS OF PROPERTY RECORDS, IMPREST FUND RECORD KEEPING USAGE REPORTS, AND FUEL MANAGEMENT. PROGRAM OFFICERS REQUIRE ADEQUATE JUSTIFICATION AND STRICT ACCOUNTABILITY PRIOR TO INITIATING NEW PROCUREMENT ACTIONS. A PROCUREMENT STATUS REPORT IS PREPARED MONTHLY AND DISTRIBUTED TO REGIONAL DIRECTORS AND PROGRAM OFFICERS FOR THEIR INFORMATION AND REVIEW.

DURING 2001, NAS/LA PAZ SUPPORTED TWENTY-EIGHT GOB CN PROJECTS TOTALING MORE THAN THIRTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS. THE BOLIVIAN CN EFFORT INVOLVES MORE THAN 4,000 PERSONS FROM THE NATIONAL POLICE, VARIOUS BRANCHES OF THE BOLIVIAN ARMED FORCES, AND GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. ASSETS INCLUDE SIX FIXED WING AIRCRAFT, SIXTEEN HELICOPTERS, MORE THAN 11 HUNDRED VEHICLES AND EIGHTY BOATS. TWO C-130BS, WITH A THIRD ONE TO BE DELIVERED EARLY IN CY 2002, TRANSPORT CARGO TO AND FROM THE U. S., AS WELL AS PERSONNEL AND CARGO THROUGHOUT BOLIVIA.

NAS/LA PAZ IS STAFFED BY SIX AMERICANS - FOUR DIRECT HIRES AND TWO PERSONAL SERVICES CONTRACTORS (PSCS). A SELECTION HAS BEEN MADE AND THE LOGISTICS OFFICER WILL BE ON BOARD BY FEBRUARY 25, 2002. THERE ARE FIVE AMERICAN PSCS, AND THREE PARTICIPATING AGENCY SUPPORT AGREEMENT (PASA) EMPLOYEES BASED IN SANTA CRUZ, COCHABAMBA, TRINIDAD AND CHIMORE. THIS STAFF SUPERVISES AND MONITORS ALL PROCUREMENT, WAREHOUSING, PERSONNEL,COMMUNICATIONS, TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE AND BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE USG-GOB CN PROGRAM.

NAS/LA PAZ OPERATES EIGHT WAREHOUSES: THREE IN LA PAZ, ONE IN EACH REGIONAL OFFICE AND ONE AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE GREEN DEVIL TASK FORCE (GDTF) IN SANTA CRUZ. AS RECOMMENDED BY THE OIG OF NOVEMBER 2000, ALL NAS PROGRAM OFFICERS, REGIONAL DIRECTORS, AND MOST FREQUENTLY, THE NAS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, CONDUCT SPOT CHECKS DURING PERIODIC VISITS TO THE FIELD. NAS/LA PAZ HAS A TWO PERSON AUDIT STAFF (ONE POSITION IS CURRENTLY VACANT, WHICH HAS BEEN ADVERTISED AND WILL BE FILLED EARLY MARCH 2002) THAT PERFORMS SPOT CHECKS AND UNDERTAKES SPECIAL REVIEWS OR AUDITS TO HELP ENSURE PROPER UTILIZATION AND CARE OF EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS PROVIDED BY THE USG. EACH AUDITOR REPORTS DIRECTLY AND INDEPENDENTLY TO THE NAS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER.

THE PROPERTY CONTROL OFFICER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RECEIVING ALL INCOMING PROPERTY, PREPARES RECEIVING AND INSPECTION REPORTS, AFFIXES BAR CODES (WHEN REQUIRED) AND ENTERS CONTROL INFORMATION INTO THE NEPA SYSTEM. WHEN PROPERTY IS DELIVERED TO THE RESPECTIVE REGIONAL OFFICES, ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION, ALONG WITH A COMPUTER FILE, IS CREATED. EACH MONTH, THE NAS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER PREPARES A COUNTRYWIDE RECONCILIATION REPORT, COPIES OF WHICH ARE MAINTAINED IN THE LA PAZ OFFICE.

AN INVENTORY OF PROPERTY UNDER THE DIRECT CONTROL OF ALL NAS PERSONNEL WAS CONDUCTED DURING SEP/OCT 2001. THE RECONCILIATION OF THE ACCOUNT IS IN PROCESS AND WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE BY MARCH 15, 2002.

THE COMPUTERIZED FUEL MONITORING SYSTEM THAT WAS FIELDED IN 2001 HAS BEEN MODIFIED TO ACCOMMODATE NEW AND INCREASED CONTROLS ON FUEL CONSUMPTION. FIELDING OF THE NEW VERSION AT ALL 28 CN PROJECTS AS WELL AS AT SEVERAL NEW OUTPOSTS WILL COMMENCE IN FEBRUARY 2002 WITH AN EXPECTED COMPLETION DATE OF THIRD QUARTER OF 2002. THE AUDITOR, TO ENSURE THAT CONSUMPTION IS WITHIN APPROVED LEVELS, REVIEWS ALL FUEL ACCOUNTABILITY REPORTS MONTHLY.

IN FY-0l NAS PROCURED ON BEHALF OF DEA $2.5 MILLION WORTH OF EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES, INCLUDING 2 OFF-ROAD VEHICLES, 10 MOTORCYCLES, AND ADVANCED TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT. IN MAY 2001, NAS RECEIVED 57 VEHICLES ORDERED IN CY 2000; THESE INCLUDED 38 4X4 CARS, 14 4X4 TRUCKS AND S SEDANS. NAS ALSO PROCURED AN ADDITIONAL 17 MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES AND 8 MOTORCYCLES PLUS CARS AND TRUCKS TO BE RECEIVED IN CY 2002, THE TOTAL VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $1.1 MILLION TO SUPPORT OTHER CN PROJECTS. THIS LATTER PURCHASE WAS THE THIRD PHASE OF A FIVE-YEAR VEHICLE REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. ADDITIONALLY, NAS AWARDED THE PURCHASE OF 47 NEW VEHICLES TO BE DELIVERED BY THE END OF MAR 2002, AND ASSIGNED TO THE VARIOUS GOB COUNTERNARCOTICS UNITS.

AVIATION

THE MAJORITY OF NAS-SUPPORTED AVIATION ASSETS ARE OPERATED BY THE BOLIVIAN AIR FORCE (FAB) PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO THE RED DEVIL TASK FORCE (RDTF), AND ARE SUPERVISED BY ONE U.S. PSC AND THREE U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL SERVING IN BOLIVIA UNDER PARTICIPATING AGENCY SUPPORT AGREEMENTS (PASA). THE RDTF INVENTORY INCLUDES SIXTEEN UH-1H HELICOPTERS, ONE B-55 BEECH BARON, THREE CESSNA 206S AND TWO CESSNA 2105. ALL ARE BASED IN SANTA CRUZ, WITH PERMANENT FORWARD OPERATING BASES IN TRINIDAD AND CHIMORE. MAINTENANCE OVERSIGHT AND TRAINING IS PROVIDED BY DYNCORP. IN ADDITION TO SERVING AS ADVISORS, THE PASAS MONITOR THE USE OF NAS-PROVIDED COMMODITIES TO ENSURE THEY ARE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR CN ACTIVITIES. ONLY THE NAS DIRECTOR OR DEPUTY DIRECTOR CAN AUTHORIZE NON-ROUTINE MISSIONS.

C-130B PROGRAM

NAS/LA PAZ ALSO HAS OPERATIONAL CONTROL OVER TWO C-130 AIRCRAFT. THESE AIRCRAFT WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE BOLIVIAN GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE DOD EXCESS DEFENSE ARTICLES (EDA) PROGRAM, TO BE USED IN SUPPORT OF THE CN PROGRAM; A THIRD C-130B AIRCRAFT IS SCHEDULED FOR DELIVERY BY THE END OF THE SECOND QUARTER, FISCAL YEAR 2002. PILOTS OF THE BOLIVIAN AIR FORCE, THE BLACK DEVIL TASK FORCE (BLKDTF), FLY THE C-130S UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF AN AMERICAN PSC AVIATION ADVISOR. THE FAB C-130B UNIT, THAT CONSISTS OF THIRTEEN PILOTS, COPILOTS AND NAVIGATORS, IN ADDITION TO 32 ENLISTED MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, FLY IN-COUNTRY LOGISTICS AND OVERSEAS CARGO MISSIONS IN SUPPORT OF BOLIVIA’S CN PROGRAMS.

THE C-130B PROGRAM IS ALSO SUPPORTED BY THREE THIRD COUNTRY CONTRACT MECHANICS THAT PROVIDE QUALITY ASSURANCE AND SUPERVISION FOR FAB MECHANICS. NAS ALSO EMPLOYS A LOCAL NATIONAL TO PROVIDE LOGISTICS SUPPORT AND MANAGE C-130 WAREHOUSE OPERATION, THUS GUARANTEEING IMPROVED ACCOUNTABILITY FOR C-130 PARTS AND EQUIPMENT. THE AVIATION ADVISOR, THE NAS DIRECTOR, AND DEPUTY

DIRECTOR, APPROVE ALL ROUTINE AND OPERATIONAL MISSIONS AND EXPENDITURES FOR THE C-130B PROGRAM, ONLY THE NAS DIRECTOR OR DEPUTY DIRECTOR CAN AUTHORIZE NON-ROUTINE MISSIONS.

USG PERSONNEL APPROVE ALL NARCOTICS-RELATED AIR MISSIONS. THE OPERATIONAL STATUS OF ALL NAS-SUPPORTED AVIATION ASSETS IS REPORTED TO THE NAS DIRECTOR OR DEPUTY DIRECTOR. NAS CONTRACT PERSONNEL AND RDTF PERSONNEL PARTICIPATE IN INVENTORY MANAGEMENT AND PROPERTY OVERSIGHT.

MILGROUP

DURING CY 2001, MILGRP SUPPLIED 280 M4 CARBINES, OF WHICH 20 ARE TO BE USED BY THE NAVY’S BLUE DEVIL TASK FORCE (BDTF) AND 260 BY THE NATIONAL POLICE UNITS ASSIGNED TO THE CN PROGRAM. THE FELCN HEADQUARTERS IN LA PAZ HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DISTRIBUTION, ACCOUNTABILITY, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF THE FIREARMS RECEIVED THROUGH THE FMF PROGRAM. MILGRP STAFF CONDUCTS PERIODIC INVENTORIES TO VERIFY THE USE AND SERVICEABILITY OF FIREARMS RELEASED TO THE FELCN.

BOLIVIAN NAVY

DURING CALENDAR YEARS 2000 - 2001, USMILGROUP PROVIDED THE BLUE DEVIL TASK FORCE (BDTF) WITH THE FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT IN SUPPORT OF CN RELATED RIVERINE OPERATIONS: 27 EA 150HP OUTBOARD MOTORS, 31 EA GPS UNITS, 10 EA HAND HELD RADIOS, 10 NIGHT VISION GOGGLES AND 2 SETS OF COMPUTER EQUIPMENT. USCG TRAINING TEAMS AND MILGROUP PERSONNEL CONDUCTED SPOT-CHECKS DURING 2001 AND DETERMINED THAT ALL ITEMS INSPECTED ARE IN SERVICEABLE CONDITION AND ARE BEING USED AS INTENDED.

BOLIVIAN AIR FORCE

THE U.S. MILGROUP DID NOT RECEIVE ANY FMFP SUPPLIES FOR THE BOLIVIAN AIR FORCE. ALL EQUIPMENT RECEIVED IN PREVIOUS YEARS IS BEING USED FOR CN OPERATIONS, AND IS INSPECTED REGULARLY BY MEMBERS OF THE U.S. MILGROUP AND/OR MTTS, AND REMAINS IN GOOD CONDITION.

BOLIVIAN ARMY TRANSPORTATION BATTALION

THE GREEN DEVIL TASK FORCE (GDTF) OPERATES AND SHARES A MILITARY POST WITH A LOGISTICS BATTALION IN SANTA CRUZ. THE GDTF PRIMARY MISSION IS TO TRANSPORT FUEL, CARGO AND PERSONNEL ANYWHERE IN BOLIVIA VIA GROUND IN SUPPORT OF THE USG-GOB CN STRATEGY. THE SECOND MISSION OF THE GDTF IS TO TRAIN BOLIVIAN ARMY PERSONNEL IN CONDUCTING ALL LEVELS OF SPECIALIZED VEHICLE MAINTENANCE, WAREHOUSING OPERATIONS, AND OPERATING HEAVY US MILITARY VEHICLES. CURRENTLY THERE ARE 101 MILITARY VEHICLES ACQUIRED THROUGH THE FMF PROGRAM MANAGED BY USMILGROUP. THE GDTF VEHICLE FLEET CONSISTS OF: 46 EA TRUCKS, CARGO 2-1/2 TON, M35A2C; 24 EA TRUCK, UTILITY, 1-1/4 HMMWV; 8 EA TRUCK, 5 TON DUMP; 5 EA TRUCK TRACTOR, 5 TON; 2 EA TRUCK, WRECKER, 5 TON; 3 EA TRUCK, FUEL TANK, 1200 GAL.; 2 EA TRUCK-SHOP, CONTACT MAINTENANCE; 2 EA TRAILER, FUEL TANK, 5000 GAL.; 2 EA TRAILER, CARGO 12 TON; 1 EA TRAILER, CARGO 40 TON; 4 EA TRAILER, WATER TANK, 600 GAL.; 1 EA FORKLIFT, 3000 LBS,; AND 1 EA FORKLIFT, 6000 LBS. ONE HUNDRED AND TWELVE BOLIVIAN ARMY PERSONNEL, COMMANDED BY A LIEUTENANT COLONEL, CURRENTLY STAFF THE GDTF. ALSO, A TOTAL OF 9 NAS PERSONNEL, SUPERVISED BY ONE U.S. PSC, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MAINTAINING OPERATIONAL READINESS. IN CY 2001 THE AVERAGE OPERATIONAL READINESS POSTURE WAS MAINTAINED AT ABOVE 98%.

JOINT ERADICATION TASK FORCE (JTF)

DURING 2001, THE JTF CONSISTED OF 1,563 MILITARY,POLICE AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL. ONE-HALF OF THE JTF ERADICATED ILLICIT COCA PLANTS, WHILE THE OTHER HALF PROVIDED SECURITY FOR THE CAMPS AND IN THE COCA FIELDS. NAS CONTINUES TO PROVIDE MEALS, BILLETING, FIELD EQUIPMENT (I.E. UNIFORMS, GENERAL SUPPLIES, TOOLS),OFFICE SUPPLIES AND TRANSPORTATION, FUEL AND MEDICAL SUPPORT FOR TASK FORCE PERSONNEL.

FEEDING THE JTF CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR UNDERTAKING. A FOOD SERVICE CONTRACT WAS ESTABLISHED ON DECEMBER 1,1999 WITH A ONE-YEAR RENEWABLE CONTRACT THAT HAS IMPROVED THE QUALITY OF FOOD, PROVIDED BETTER ACCOUNTABILITY AND REDUCED COSTS. ON DECEMBER 1, 2001, NAS EXERCISED THE OPTION YEAR 2 OF THE CONTRACT IN ORDER TO RENEW THE SERVICES FOR ANOTHER YEAR BASED ON THE RESULTS THAT THE CONTRACTOR ACCOMPLISHED DURING THE YEAR. ONE NAS FSN COR WAS DESIGNATED TO MONITOR THE CONTRACT. THE COR TRAVELED TO THE CHAPARE TWICE A MONTH TO CONDUCT SPOT CHECKS ON QUALITY, QUANTITY, SANITARY ASPECTS IN THE DIFFERENT BASE CAMPS. WHILE THE SIZE OF THE TASK FORCE IN THE CHAPARE HAD BEEN REDUCED IN THE PAST, MORE BASE CAMPS WERE ESTABLISHED TO ACCOMPLISH THE USG-GOB CN GOALS.

EXPEDITIONARY FORCE (FEC)

AN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE (FEC) WAS CREATED TO ASSIST THE ERADICATION PROCESS IN THE CHAPARE BY PATROLLING THE MAIN ACCESS ROUTE BETWEEN SANTA CRUZ AND COCHABAMBA.

THE FEC WAS A 500-PERSON UNIT FROM JANUARY 2001 TO JANUARY 2002, BUT AN ADDITIONAL 1,000 TROOPS WILL BE INTEGRATED TO THE UNIT FROM FEBRUARY TO JUNE 2002. NAS PROVIDES THE EXISTING FORCE, AND WILL PROVIDE THE ADDITIONAL TROOPS WITH FOOD, MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND BONOS. THE SAME CONTRACT VEHICLE THAT PROVIDES FOOD FOR THE JTF WAS CONTRACTED TO FEED THE FEC, AND NAS EXERCISES THE SAME QUALITY CONTROL OF THE SERVICE THROUGH THE FSN NAS COR.

RIVERINE

THE NAS-SUPPORTED BLUE DEVIL TASK FORCE (BDTF) IS A 160 MAN RIVERINE UNIT OF THE BOLIVIAN NAVY ORGANIZED INTO FIVE TASK GROUPS, A HEADQUARTERS, AND A RIVERINE TRAINING SCHOOL. THE BDTF HAS SIX MOTHER SHIPS, 32 BOSTON WHALER-TYPE PATROL BOATS AND 42 ZODIACS AND COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE MOTHER SHIP FLEET. THESE BOATS WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE BOLIVIAN NAVY VIA FMF FUNDING OR (IN THE CASE OF THE MOTHER SHIPS) CONSTRUCTED WITH INL MONEY. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, NAS BEGAN THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AGING ZODIAC. TASK GROUPS ARE LOCATED AT TRINIDAD, RIBERALTA, GUAYARAMERIN, LA HORQUILLA, AND PUERTO VILLAROEL. THE NAS REGIONAL OFFICE IN TRINIDAD SUPPORTS ALL TASK GROUPS (EXCEPT

THAT IN PUERTO VILLAROEL, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY NAS/CHIMORE), THE BDTF HEADQUARTERS AND THE RIVERINE SCHOOL. TDY USCG PERSONNEL UNDER NAS SUPERVISION ALSO PROVIDE LOGISTICS SUPPORT AND OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE. THE BDTF ALSO HAS ASSIGNED TO IT USG-PROVIDED: VEHICLES, COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, COMPUTER EQUIPMENT, UNIFORMS AND FIELD GEAR. NAS AND USCG PERSONNEL MONITOR EQUIPMENT ASSIGNED TO THE BDTF, AND CLOSELY SCREEN ALL REQUESTS FOR ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT BEFORE FORWARDING THE REQUEST TO THE PROGRAM OFFICER.

VEHICLES

NAS PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR MORE THAN 11 HUNDRED VEHICLES EITHER PROCURED OR DONATED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT OR OTHER DONOR GOVERNMENTS FOR USE IN BOLIVIA’S CN PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE HEAVY-DUTY TYPE VEHICLES ASSIGNED TO AND OPERATED BY THE GDTF. DEA PURCHASED 17 VEHICLES IN FY-0l, OF WHICH 12 HAVE ALREADY BEEN ASSIGNED AND DELIVERED TO THE NEW DIGECO PROGRAM, AND THE REMAINING 5 WERE ASSIGNED TO FELCN. ADDITIONAL VEHICLES WERE OBTAINED THROUGH SEIZURES DURING CN OPERATIONS. THESE VEHICLES ARE ASSIGNED TO TWENTY-THREE OF THE TWENTY-SIX CN PROJECTS THROUGHOUT BOLIVIA. NAS OPERATES REPAIR FACILITIES AND MAINTAINS A LARGE STOCK OF SPARE PARTS FOR ALL PROGRAM VEHICLES IN COCHABAMBA, SANTA CRUZ, VILLA TUNARI, TRINIDAD AND THE UMOPAR BASE CAMP IN CHIMORE. MAINTENANCE SUPERVISORS CLOSELY MONITOR THE ISSUANCE AND USE OF PARTS THROUGH VEHICLE WORK ORDERS, INVENTORY TRACKING CARDS, AND COMPUTERIZED INVENTORY PROGRAMS AND BY CONDUCTING SPOT CHECKS AT EACH LOCATION. IN ADDITION, CERTAIN TYPES OF PARTS SUCH AS TIRES AND BATTERIES ARE MARKED WITH IDENTIFYING NUMBERS OR SYMBOLS TO PREVENT IMPROPER EXCHANGE. FIELD ADVISORS, PROGRAM OFFICERS AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER MAKE FREQUENT UNANNOUNCED INSPECTIONS OF THESE FACILITIES TO ENSURE PROPER ACCOUNTABILITY. THE NAS AUDIT SECTION CONDUCTS PERIODIC REVIEWS OF COMMONLY USED PARTS, THOSE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO PILFERAGE, AS WELL AS THOSE ITEMS SUBJECT TO MISUSE OR THEFT SUCH AS FAN BELTS, FILTERS AND TUNE-UP KITS.

COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT

NAS HAS PROVIDED 616 SETS OF COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT INCLUDING REPEATERS, BASE STATIONS, MOBILE RADIOS, AND HAND-HELD RADIOS. THIS EQUIPMENT WAS PROVIDED TO THE FELCN, UMOPAR, INTELLIGENCE UNITS, AIROPS, RIVERINE AND ALL NAS REGIONAL OFFICES AS FOLLOWS: 1) LA PAZ - 170; 2) SANTA CRUZ - 125; 3) TRINIDAD - 59; 4) CHIMORE -165; 5) COCHABAMBA - 92; AND 6) ORURO - 5. NAS/LA PAZ

MAINTAINS A COMPREHENSIVE INVENTORY UNDER THE NEPA SYSTEM THAT IDENTIFIES LOCATION AND PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABLE IN EACH ORGANIZATION. NAS TECHNICIANS, NORMALLY IN THE NAS-CONTROLLED REPAIR FACILITY IN LA PAZ, PERFORM EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE. FREQUENT FIELD VISITS ARE MADE TO VERIFY CONDITION AND PROPER USE OF THE EQUIPMENT AS WELL AS TO PERFORM PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE. AS OF JANUARY 2001, 92 PERCENT OF THE EQUIPMENT WAS IN SERVICE. THE REMAINDER IS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS. FURTHERMORE, NAS PURCHASED COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT IN CY 2001 FOR INSTALLATION IN THE AREA OF THE YUNGAS AS PART OF A NATIONWIDE COMMUNICATIONS GRID THAT WILL BE CONCLUDED DURING CY 2002, AND WILL ENHANCE CURRENT CN EFFORTS.

SENSITIVE INVESTIGATIVE UNITS (SIU) OF DEA/LA PAZ CONDUCTED A THOROUGH INVENTORY OF ALL COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT PURCHASED BY NAS ON THEIR BEHALF WITH FY-97 FUNDS AND ALL EQUIPMENT WAS FOUND TO BE IN SERVICEABLE CONDITION. DEA/LA PAZ BEGAN A PHYSICAL INVENTORY OF FY-98 ACQUISITIONS FOR THE ANDEAN/SIU PROGRAMS IN ThE 2ND QUARTER OF FY- 2001. THE INVENTORY INCLUDES ALL TECHNICAL/COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES TRANSFERRED TO VARIOUS OFFICES AND DEA-SUPPORTED PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT BOLIVIA.

COMPUTER EQUIPMENT -

NAS HAS PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 175 COMPUTERS DURING CY 2001 TO GOB CN AGENCIES IN ITS 4 REGIONS. IN LA PAZ/ORURO AND YUNGAS: UNDUAVI, COROICO, IRUPANA, AND KM52. IN COCHABAMBA: CHIMORE AND PUERTO VILLAROEL. BENI/PANDO: TRINIDAD, RIBERALTA, GUAYARAMERIN, LA HORQUILLA AND COBIJA (PANDO); SANTA CRUZ/TARIJA: PUERTO

SUAREZ, PUERTO QUIJARRO, SAN IGNACIO, SAN MATIAS, TARIJA, YACUIBA. TO ALLEVIATE THE HIGH COST OF MAINTENANCE AND MINIMIZE PROBLEMS WITH THE LOCAL SERVICE PROVIDER, TWO SMALL COMPUTER REPAIR FACILITIES WERE ESTABLISHED IN SANTA CRUZ AND COCHABAMBA TO SERVE AS SATELLITES OF THE LA PAZ COMPUTER REPAIR FACILITY.

UNIFORMS AND FIELD GEAR

IN 2001, NAS PROCURED 13,000 SETS OF BDUS, BOOTS, HATS, AND VARIOUS FIELD GEAR SUCH AS WEB BELTS, FIELD PACKS, HAMMOCKS, TENTS AND ENTRENCHING TOOLS VALUED AT MORE THAN $2 MILLION IN SUPPORT OF 1,500 FELCN POLICE OFFICERS AND 2, 000 MILITARY PERSONNEL ASSIGNED TO VARIOUS CN PROJECTS. IN 1998 NAS BEGAN ISSUING UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT TO FELCN AND UMOPAR PERSONNEL TWICE PER YEAR, NORMALLY DURING THE MARCH THROUGH APRIL TIMEFRAME.

CONSTRUCTION

BEGINNING IN 2001, THE EMBASSY EMBARKED ON A MAJOR TWO-YEAR CN CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM DRAWING ON FUNDS FROM INL, DEA, MLGRP, AND SOUTHCOM. DURING THESE TWO YEARS, THE MISSION WILL UNDERTAKE OVER $3.5 MILLION IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS INCLUDING 14 NEW BASES, MAJOR EXPANSIONS TO 20 EXISTING FACILITIES, AND SIGNIFICANT REPAIRS AND UPGRADES OF ALL EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES. SOME OF THESE PROJECTS ARE: A NEW HOLDING FACILITY AT CHIMORE, AND A NEW BASE IN SAN IGNACIO AND PUERTO SUAREZ (CURRENTLY AT 75% COMPLETION); NEW UMOPAR BASES FOR LOCOTAL, RINCONADA, GUAYARAMERIN, YUCUMO, COBIJA AND YACUIBA; FINISHING OF THE NEW K-9 TRAINING CENTER; MAJOR EXPANSIONS OF THE UMOPAR, GARRAS AND BLUE DEVIL RIVERINE TRAINING FACILITIES; NEW OR UPGRADED K-9 SUPPORT FACILITIES AND OFFICES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, CONSTRUCTION OF ELEVEN DIGECO POSTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, A NEW C-130 HANGAR, AND THE CREATION OF A FELCN SPECIAL UNIT PERMANENT BASE IN SANTA CRUZ. IN ORDER TO ENSURE QUALITY CONTROL, NAS CONTRACTED THE SERVICES OF THREE CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERS/ARCHITECTS (ONE FSN AND TWO NON-PSC OF WHICH ONE MORE WILL BE CONVERTED TO FSN), AND UTILIZES ANOTHER ENGINEER FROM THE DIRECO PROJECT TO ADVISE, DESIGN, AND PROVIDE OVERSIGHT DURING THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PHASE OF CN PROJECTS. IN ADDITION, THE U.S. CORPS OF ENGINEER, THROUGH THE MILGROUP, MANAGES SEVERAL OF THE LARGE PROJECTS. APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THESE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS BEGUN IN FY 2000/01, THE OTHER HALF WILL BE STARTED IN FY 2001/02.

PROBLEMS

MISUSE OF VEHICLES

PERSONAL USE OF VEHICLES BY SENIOR BOLIVIAN OFFICIALS IN CERTAIN PROGRAMS AND CARELESS OPERATION CONTINUE TO BE A SERIOUS CONCERN. ALTHOUGH NAS MONITORS AND ATTEMPTS TO PREVENT PERSONAL USE OF OFFICIAL VEHICLES, BOLIVIAN OFFICIALS IN THE FIELD FREQUENTLY ABUSE THE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING A VEHICLE AND USE IT FOR PERSONAL TRAVEL. NAS TRAINING PROGRAMS HAVE HELPED REDUCE THE NUMBER OF SERIOUS VEHICLE ACCIDENTS. HOWEVER, TRAFFIC MISHAPS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NEGLIGENCE CONTINUE TO OCCUR. THE NAS POLICY OF REQUIRING MANDATORY RESTITUTION IN CASES INVOLVING NEGLIGENCE HAS BEEN A USEFUL, BUT NOT TOTALLY EFFECTIVE DETERRENT.

FUEL DISTRIBUTION

GIVEN THE REMOTE LOCATIONS OF SOME NAS-SUPPORTED CN PROJECTS AND THE PRIVATIZATION OF THE FUEL INDUSTRY IN BOLIVIA, FUEL DISTRIBUTION CONTINUES TO BE A MAJOR CONCERN. BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENTS (BPAS) HAVE BEEN SET UP IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS TO ELIMINATE THE NEED TO TRANSPORT LARGE QUANTITIES OF FUEL OVER LONG DISTANCES. ADDITIONALLY, A BRIDGE FUEL CONTRACT IS BEING WORKED AND SHOULD BE AWARDED IN EARLY CALENDAR YEAR 2002, WHICH SHOULD ALLEVIATE THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION PROBLEM. THIS BRIDGE CONTRACT WILL THEN BE FOLLOWED BY A MULTI-YEAR FUEL CONTRACT. FREQUENT AUDITS AND AN ENHANCED FUEL MONITORING SYSTEM HAVE IMPROVED THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF ALL TYPES OF FUEL. HOWEVER, SOME UNITS MUST STILL RELY ON PRIMITIVE MEANS TO MEASURE, STORE AND DISTRIBUTE FUEL. INACCURATE PUMP METERS AND MANUAL METHODS ACCOUNT FOR MOST OF THE DISCREPANCIES IN THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM. SAFE STORAGE FACILITIES CONTINUE TO BE OF GREAT CONCERN IN SOME AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. OPEN STORAGE WITH CONTAINERS BEING EXPOSED TO THE SUN AND OTHER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE COMMON

PROBLEMS.

PERSONNEL CHANGES

JTF PERSONNEL ARE ROTATED ON A QUARTERLY BASIS. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER USING GDTP ASSETS, COMMERCIAL BUSES AND C-130 TRANSPORT COORDINATE TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS. IN THE PAST, LARGE NUMBERS OF PERSONNEL ROTATED FROM VARIOUS PROGRAMS HAVE CREATED CONTINUITY PROBLEMS AS WELL AS INCREASED COSTS. NAS HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING FELCN AND SERVICE COMMANDERS TO STAGGER THE ROTATIONS SO THAT NO MORE THAN 20 PERCENT OF A PARTICULAR UNIT TRANSFERS IN ANY GIVEN YEAR.

PROPERTY ACCOUNTABILITY

AS BOLIVIA’S CN PROGRAM EXPANDS AND ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT AND DEFENSE ARTICLES ARE RECEIVED THROUGH THE 506 DRAWDOWN PROGRAM, IT WILL BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO PROPERLY TRACK THESE ITEMS. DESPITE TRAINING, THE FELCN’S RECORD KEEPING SYSTEM AND PROCEDURES IS NOT SOPHISTICATED ENOUGH TO TRACK PROPERTY FROM UNIT TO UNIT AND EVEN LESS CAPABLE OF TRACKING PROPERTY ISSUED FOR SPECIAL OPERATIONS. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT PROPERTY TITLE FOR MATERIAL ACQUIRED THROUGH THE FMFP AND THE FMS PROCESS, TRANSFERS TO THE HN AT THE TIME SHIPMENTS ARE PLACED IN TRANSPORTATION CHANNELS AT THE POINT OF ORIGIN. IN ADDITION, BY ACCEPTING THE STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS STIPULATED IN THE RESPECTIVE LOA, THE HN HAS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY AND END USE OF DEFENSE ARTICLES PURCHASED. IN A JOINT EFFORT TO ASSIST THE FELCN IN IMPROVING THEIR PROPERTY ACCOUNTING METHODS, NAS AND THE MILGROUP WILL EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF PROVIDING ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO LOGISTICS PERSONNEL OF THE FELCN.

IMPACT

A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE ERADICATION PROGRAM IN THE CHAPARE, BOLIVIA’S PRINCIPAL COCA-GROWING REGION, IS THE HALLMARK OF THE GOB CN STRATEGY. IN 2001, THE GOB REPORTED THAT 9,394 HECTARES OF COCA HAD BEEN ERADICATED. DUE TO THE MASSIVE REPLANTING IN THE CHAPARE AND INCREASED CULTIVATION IN THE YUNGAS, THE POTENTIAL COCAINE PRODUCTION IN BOLIVIA (ASSUMING THAT ALL COCA, INCLUDING LEGAL COCA, IS USED), INCREASED FROM AN ESTIMATED 43 METRIC TONS TO AN ESTIMATED 60 METRIC TONS. HOWEVER, CURRENT STUDIES ESTIMATE THAT 6,000 HECTARES OF COCA, OR ABOUT 17 METRIC TONS COCAINE EQUIVALENT, IS DEDICATED TO TRADITIONAL, LEGAL CONSUMPTION, REDUCING THE REAL POTENTIAL CAPACITY FOR ILLEGAL COCAINE PRODUCTION BY OVER 28% TO 43 METRIC TONS.

DURING 2001, FELCN ASSISTED BY DEA, SEIZED 4.46 METRIC TONS OF COCAINE DRUGS, 5.2 METRIC TONS OF MARIHUANA AND DESTROYED 878 COCAINE LABORATORIES. A TOTAL OF 165, 000 LITERS AND 46.8 METRIC TONS OF ESSENTIAL PRECURSORS WERE SEIZED AND DESTROYED. THE FELCN ALSO SUCCESSFULLY DISMANTLED NUMEROUS HIGH-PROFILE TRAFFICKING GROUPS AND SEIZED PROPERTY INCLUDING 284 VEHICLES, 23 REAL PROPERTIES, 1 AIRPLANE, 23 MOTORCYCLES, AND 118 WEAPONS, AND AN AMOUNT OF $US 834,910 IN CURRENCY. NAS LOGISTICS SUPPORT IN CONJUNCTION WITH DEA’S OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE ENABLED THE GOB INTERDICTION FORCES TO MAKE 1,674 ARRESTS.

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN THE BOLIVIAN ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE (AOJ) HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED, INCLUDING THE CREATION OF A PANEL OF 2 JUDGES AND 3 CITIZENS TO TRY CASES, INCLUDING DRUG RELATED CASES, WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE SYSTEM, INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PROSECUTIONS AND CONVICTIONS OF DRUG DEALERS, AND IMPROVE THE CREDIBILITY OF THE AOJ AS A WHOLE IN BOLIVIA.

DUDDY

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