Three pages are withheld in full pursuant to Exemption 1 FCJ3-OD 70 r3 JUN IV MEMORANDUM FOR Director of Operations Washington D C 20318--3000 J3 Joint Staff SUBJECT Interagency Assessment of Mexican Northern Border Response Force NBRF -After Action Report 1 U References a U Secret message American Embassy Mexico 242253Z Jan 90 Subject Northern Border Response Force Concept Further Elaboration U Encl 1 b U Secret message American Embassy Mexico 291515Z Jun 90 Subject 'Encl 2 C U Confidential message Joint Staff 1014111 May 91 Subject J-3 Counternarcotics CN Flag Officer 06 Conference r' Wrap-up Message U Encl 3 d U Confidential message FORSCOM 150008Z May 91 Subject Interagency Assessment Team for Mexico U Encl 4 e U Confidential message Joint Staff 151937Z May 91 Subject Interagency Assessment Team for Mexico U Encl 5 2 Mission Forces Command FORSCOM was tasked by reference 1c to assess the NBRF efforts in Mexico and ascertain how DOD can assist the NBRF now and in-the future 3 U General a U Mission In briefing was conducted with the Deputy Chief of b U Assessment was conducted at the American Embassy with the country team personnel A visit to the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic of Mexico PGR was conducted on the first day Mr Caldarone assistant to Mexican Drug Czar Jorge Carrilo Olea chaired the meeting and provided the Mexican overview c U Team composition visited are at enclosure 6-8 r agenda and in-country personnel Classified by JCS Declassify OADR q Man LP Ld UI L FCJ3-OD SUBJECT 4 Interagency Response Force U Background Assessment NBRF of Mexican-Northern Border a N in concert with Government of Mexico GOM officials the country team developed a concept for the establishment and implementation of ari NBRF' Encl 1 The NBRF was designed as a coordinated bilateral air interdiction program to use U S Government USG intelligence tracking assets and communications capabilities to support GOM interdiction teams based in seven country wide reaction sites Encl 9 Response teams are designed to react and interdict at the time smuggling aircraft land in Mexico for maximum seizures and-arrests The program consists of four separate but integrated parts acquisit on detection follow-through a tracking coordination and communication and response-and interdiction 5 a to be Despite U Threat a the According to a body significant-flow of cocaine continued successes of of to the reporting there continues the United States NBRF and record cocaine SS FE FC33-OD SUBJECT Interagency Assessment of Mexican Northern Border Response Force NBRF Moreover Mexico remains the primary conduit for U S bound cocaine while the role of Central America particularly Guatemala appears to-have increased b O indicates that general aviation aircraft remain the preferred method of'transporting cocaine to transshipment countries such as Mexico and Guatemala narco-traffickers continue to favor the Pacific air- route for their flights from Colombia to Mexico Central America High performance twin engine aircraft such as Gulfstream Turbacommander Heechcraft Super King Air and the comparable Cessna and Piper models remain the most commonly identified•aircraft using the Pacific air route United States Government detection and monitoring assets are currently detecting between 20-22 confirmed narcotics related flights per month into Mexico Central America ' C While initial offload -points in Mexico vary dramatically _JIndicates that the central and southern Mexican szates are currently preferred by narcotics related transportation groups as off load points for cocaine laden aircraft This shift in offload locations from the more traditional northern border states occurred for a variety of reasons Ito Gil A3 m x T 3 N The expansion of the cocaine trade in general d The adaptability and flexibility of the narcotics transportationgroups allows them to easily alter operating areas without giving lip old contacts and routes This is evidenced by this southerly shift and the increased use of Guatemala as a' transshipment country • Y 'i rinQUIA1 i• A S U 10 I i I T I FCJ3-OD SUBJECT 'Interagency Response e use as je of oa originating offloaded U S in increased GOM Force body law However in markets reliable sEeadlly estination South for America - large Guatemala Mexican reporting -increased cocaine enforcement a of Northern Border NBRF of uatemd33 a has an o the A Assessment This eventually over laden of the transits the that the last two years part due to aircraft increase capabilities majority indicates is on in the cocaine Mexico part of the that is enroute 71J to r real and that perceived 'use of to-play a law Mexico and significant the U S for that with the the enforcement Central role in foreseeable continued programs in seizure of preferred trafficker 'easily replaced of smaller narcotics from border Moreover the western Mexico coast with of a maritime reported option Colombia 15 future tons for of the and of NBRF a probably aircraft first probably continue narcotics especially aircraft will to will Additionally Mexico traffickers single-engine America We believe the movement of successes counterdrug capabilities for the staging points increase near the scuttling of narco-traffickers ' board not their shuttling air on continued commodity witnessed believe and other the ever cocaine we into use of the U S MR drop the off the M V Nordcapp highlights the narco-trafficking will b be based trends on and its radius patterns and the rotary of coverage Ae f 4 j s a J F aircraft F1 19 FCJ3-OD SUBJECT Interagency Assessment of Mexican Northern Border Response Force NBRF 7 U Current Capability of NBRF a U Government of Mexico Contribution i i r 4 efiffm M I illNVlt bm FCJ3-OD SUBJECT Interagency Response Force Assessment NBRF of Mexican Northern lb U Lk 6 Olyu Border a u tl uuf FCJ3-OD SUBJECT Interagency Response Force Assessment of Mexican Northern Border NBRF 1 i t i r i Ii i i s i 1 U Rh • y N i5 1ry3 e p rte' -' £ ' 1 FCJa-OD orthern Border 4i Response Force NBRF r d new U Maintenance Operations maintenance s been The projected the opening is July 1991 Concurrent and represents mai it of high the been dollar value items such dP i•iverPA will be the current mission due is capable to damaged being the facility opens must be current ensure that all SOF and Aviation distributed to the ance user facility is BHT$ being remains level left skid tube a µl P Ufl LIr FC33-OD SUBJECT Interagency Response e Force Status of 1 U ered at viewed as positive aw en orcem same er or a military the-firat 11 pilots s not by the GOM sc oo was conducted under the -bearing guidelines Their pilots are used for USG personnel 2 U The established an adequately satisfy instructor and only additional aircraft they 3 could U two currently one with transition training They because GOM aviator pilots training training Northern Border Training experience and Mexican ro cars an discipline military o Aviator Ru of NBRF The rainin Fort a Assessment training program requirements GOM from BHTS has that will Two U S instructors average aircraft dedicated easily assistance four is contract conduct the students per cycle available With to qual fication double the more than and refresher r output They 'have 9 fully quaL f iedr- 7 nt-s and four 8 to U Findings a use UH-1H and Recommendations Finding landing drop the helicopters to sites €r That has been original ppre concept of operation ension validated teams at Recommendation HULF FCJ3-OD SUBJECT Response Interagency Force Assessment NBRF of Mexican i t 10 SI North FCJ3-OD r SUBJECT - Interagency Assessment of Mexican Northern Border Response Force NBRF 9 U Conclusion a N The country team and GOM are aggressively pursuing a course of action that will bring the NBRF concept to fruition based upon perception that the President committed publicly to providing'21 UH-1H helicopters a b U A myriad of factors not least o£ which was'the condition configuration of the first nine aircraft have precluded proof of concept to date 161 A 01 A if UA DIFFERENTLY EXCISED VERSION FOLLOWS ENCLO U cela FCJ3-OD 70 3 MEMORANDUM FOR Director Washington SUBJECT U a Jan Further b 291515Z C Subject Wrap-up Operations J3 20318-3000 D C Interagency Force Response 1 of Assessment of NBRF -After U 90 Subject Elaboration U U Secret message Northern Border Encl 1 Secret Jun 90 U Message message Subject Encl Mexican Action U U Interagency Confidential Assessment e Subject U Interagency Confidential Assessment U In b U with the country team Attorney General of on the first day Czar Jorge Carrilo Mexican overview are Border message Team message Team Joint for 1014112 Officer 06 FORSCOM Mexico Joint for 2422532 Mexico Staff Flag CN Mexico Concept 1500082 U Staff Mexico May Encl 151937Z U j May 91 Conference 91 4 May Encl 91 5 f r General U C Northern Report Embassy 4 visited Staff American Embassy Response Force American 2 Confidential message Counternarcotics Encl 3 J-3 a Mission Joint 1991 References d Subject 3 JUN U at briefing was conducted with Assessment was conducted at personnel A visit to the Republic of Mexico Mr Caldarone assistant Olea chaired the meeting Team enclosure composition 6-8 agenda Classified Declassify B-1 the Deputy Chief of the American Embassy the Office of the PGR was conducted to Mexican Drug and provided the ánd in-country JCS OADR Enclosure personnel by B FCJ3-OD SUBJECT 4 U Interagency Response Force Assessment NBRF of Mexican Northern Background # Mal i E'_' ice _ - T j' jV T11 _ a Y SA W' i B-2 Enclosure Y B Border r FCJ3-OD SUBJECT Interagency Assessment of Mexican Northern Border Response Force NBRF b - L • - IG r w R mi e 41 ua a a - F - • J iW Se uWV Yk Ti if JaCi C k 0 Enclosure B #le B fik ritT FCJ3-OD SUBJECT 6 U Interagency Response Force NBRF Assessment NBRF Operational Concept of Mexican Northern Border FCJ3-OD SUBJECT Response t• 38 a r NU tÑl4 Interagency Force Assessment NBRF of Mexican Northern - - „ arww w 1e E 7 w iiií ti s - Y-i_ U a t tt a _«w x 'vú Current Capability U r Government k i• sr ú ts _ Y res _ i r_í#saá i 5w of Y aw r rr _ T _ r -_'k A • 1Y_S i ' _ _ a _ • NBRF of r _ d _ _ y Mexico Contribution qq r r ir y 7 r r - r'r cte 4 ñrS a» i r r• -r ' r t v 'wMw mk dYw4 á rás •Y Yt e -¡sala ciar limo hulirluen la ffm FCJ3-OD SUBJECT Response Interagency Force Hlrcratt Assessment NBRF of Mexican Northern Border B ó ar 1N 1 Enclosure B FCJ3-OD Response C U Force Command NBRF and Control F - J-170 r B FCJ3-OD SUBJECT Interagency Assessment of Mexican Northern Border Response Force NBRF d U Maintenance Operations 1 U The GOM is constructing a new maintenance facility in Guadalajara All major construction has been completed Basic utílities are all that remains The projected opening is July 1991 2 U Approximately 95 percent of the Concurrent Spare Parts CSP fine items have been received and represents nearly 83 percent of the total package value The majority of the high dollar value ítems such as engines -main transmissions and main rotor blades have not been delivered because of zero balances within the National Inventory Control Point NICP We do not believe that these items will be available for delivery prior to the expiration of the current 506 authority One aircraft is currently not mission capable due to damaged left skid tube n 3 U A' installed and is sche duledmtoebeioperat onalswhenis being opens the facility 4 1 A technical publication account must be established to ensure that publications are kept current 5 U -Provisions must be made to ensure that all sYstem Safety ActiondMessages s ASAM S are tprovided g and SOF and Aviation the user level distributed to 6 U Staffing of the maintenance facility remains the only concern of the PGR Maintenance training is being conducted by the Bell Helicoptar Textron Services BHTS contractor They have developed an 80 hour syllabus and are capable of handling eight stúdents per cycle To date 21 students have been graduated from this program including two Quality Control Inspectors Current plans are to continue to recruit and train both new hires and seasoned maintenance personnel They estimate that 30 more trained mechanics are needed to support the full complement of 21 UH-1Hs The contractor has added three individuals to their staff of advisors to address UH-1H maintenance and training The general impression within the-'Embassy Narcotics Affairs Sectíon NAS and Bell is that sufficient maintenance personnel can be trained to support the additional aircraft in six months but only if the GOM will identify and make personnel available B-8 f ya o' 1 Enclosure B V FCJ3-OD SUBJECT Interagency Assessment of Mexican Northern Bordar Response Force NBRF e íol 1 U The training program developed and administered at Fort Rucker for the first 11 pilots was not viewed as a positiva experience by the GOM Théir pilots are law enforcement officers and the school was conducted under the same discipline ánd military bearing guidelines used for USG military personnel establishedanaviator trransitionaprogramcthát o will T a more than adequately satisfy training requirements Two U S contráct instructor pilots and two GOM instructors conduct the training They currently average four students per cycle because only one training aircraft is available With additional aircraft dedicated to qualification and refresher training they could easily double their output 3 U They have 9 fully qualified pilots and Tour more in training The transition program varias from a minimum of 25 hours for Bell 212 pilots to a maximum of 100 hours for navigators undergoing transition Ground school is still being conducted in Mexi99 4£ity by BHTS y' 4 001 b er a _ r _ 7ar 2 _ v -- - r u rfw _ y á g • U Operational Results FY 90191 The results of TATMBRF 5uccessful interdictions for FY 90 and 91 are depicted at enclosures 18 and 19 8 U Findings and Recommendations '1 r _• YY-0•R Z %T y rN 3' 4 55 fi- i Is r y Fue if J 1 B-9 fM11 U t i Enclosure B FCJ3-OD SUBJECT Interagency Assessment Response Force NBRF of Mexican Northern Border b •A rC _ •' y C3 t'fYbbA Yi¢ K-s u$k v wi - Y 'G v á a • A B-10 Enclosure B FCJ3-OD SUBJECT Interagency Assessment of Mexican Northern Border Response Force NBRF - ser ip_ 2 i 1 m r Jh ¿y o3 Cá 1 9 U Conclusion - r b U A myriad of factors not condition configuration of the first precluded proof of concept to date least of which was the nine aircraft have B-11 mun Enclosure B 't a-y¡ I ft