Cablegate: Relocating Dea Personnel From Bolivia: Chile

VZCZCXYZ0451
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #1105 3511947
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 161947Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4142
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION PRIORITY 3677
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 0584
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES PRIORITY 1190
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ DEC 6045
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 5857
RUEHSG/ALL AMERICAN REPUBLIC DIPLOMATIC POSTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 001105

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR AR BO BR CI PA
SUBJECT: RELOCATING DEA PERSONNEL FROM BOLIVIA: CHILE
ONBOARD

REF: A. STATE 130239
B. MCMULLEN 11/03/08 E-MAIL

Classified By: Ambassador Paul E. Simons for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

1. (C) The Ambassador used a December 16 meeting of visiting
CODEL Meeks to raise with Interior Minister (and Acting
President) Edmundo Perez Yoma ref A demarche. The Ambassador
- as well as Representatives Meeks (D-NY) and Hinojosa (D-TX)
- noted to Perez Yoma the increased risk of narcotics flows
into and throughout the region as a result of the Morales'
government's decision to expel DEA agents from La Paz. The
Ambassador asked Perez Yoma - whose Ministry is in charge of
law enforcement matters in Chile - if the GOC could accept
the relocation of two DEA personnel into Chile, noting that
the Embassy had raised informally the possibility with
working level contacts, who seemed amenable. Perez Yoma
replied twice that he "saw no problem" with the request.
Based on Perez Yoma's response, the Embassy will return to
working level contacts to put the process of bringing the two
DEA personnel into Chile, as requested ref A.

2. (C) Keyed to the action request in para r reftel, Post
notes: a) The GOC has informally accepted the relocation of
the specified number of DEA personnel to Chile; b) Post is
willing and able to accept the number of DEA positions listed
reftel; and, 3) Post is willing and able to accept such
personnel (and dependents) for reassignment prior to January
29, 2009.
SIMONS

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