10. HOW HAS THE DIVERSION OF COAST GUARD RESOURCES TO SOUTH FLORIDA AFFECTED

A:

YOUR DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES IN OTHER AREAS, PARTICULARLY ALONG
THE MID-ATLANTIC AND NORTH-ATLANTIC COASTS?

Our basic strategy is to interdict traffickers as far away from arrival areas and at, or as close to, departure areas as possible. In the Atlantic, therefore, the net adverse effect overall on our drug interdiction mission has been minimized as major resources were deployed to patrol the traditional routes of the traffickers. We retain several large cutters as interdiction assets offshore to the North, including our Cadet Practice Squadron of cruising cutters which were very effective this summer. As a backup, we have patrol boats and small boats capable of effecting interdiction within the arrival zones of the Mid and North Atlantic coastal regions.

Drug enforcement activities in the Southeast United States (SEUS) area have resulted in diversions of drug traffic particularly along the Atlantic Coast. Our statistics for 1982 show an increase (over 1981 levels) in vessel seizures of 69 percent, an increase in marijuana seized of 352 percent and an increase in arrests of 152 percent for the Atlantic coast region north of South Carolina (Districts 1, 3, and 5). Similar trends are already apparent for 1983. These Some

increases may not all be due to diversion from the Caribbean area. portion of the increase is most certainly due to increasing levels of effectiveness. A precise breakout of the increase due to diversion is impossible because of the clandestine nature of smuggling in general.

Aggregate statistics for Districts 1, 3, and 5 are as follows:

11. HOW HAS YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE SOUTH FLORIDA TASK FORCE AFFECTED OTHER AREAS OF THE COAST GUARD'S OPERATIONS?

A:

Το

Drugs transitting the South Florida and Caribbean areas are also destined for markets further north; so deploying units from other East Coast and Gulf Coast ports to interdiction operations further to the south, also stem the flow of drugs further north. Thus the Coast Guard participation in the South Florida Task Force has had varying effects on other Coast Guard operations. improve efficiency, two Medium Endurance cutters (WMECs) were transferred to Florida from the Northwest Atlantic so that they would be closer to their primary operating area, and ocean-going buoy tenders have been doing more law enforcement. Additional deployments of High and Medium Endurance Cutters to the Southeast United States (SEUS) area increased the patrol time by one cutter year. As a result the level of patrol time available for fisheries law enforcement in the Northwest Atlantic was reduced. This loss was partially offset by redesignating CGC EVERGREEN from an Oceanographic Cutter (WAGO) to a WMEC, and deploying her on offshore law enforcement patrols off the Mid-Atlantic and New England Coasts. When CGC RELIANCE was tranferred from Yorktown, VA, to Port Canaveral, FL, it was redesignated from a reserve training ship (WTR) to a WMEC. As a result, reserve training was shifted to a smaller cutter. Other impacts were apparent when personnel were initially assigned on temporary duty to fill several of the Southeast United States' positions. Scheduling of cadet cruise cutters for operational law enforcement missions has resulted in more cutter days for drug law enforcement while providing effective training for cadets. We have no evidence indicating that other primary missions such as search and rescue (SAR), that rely on many of the same resources, have been adversely impacted by increased emphasis on drug interdiction in South Florida.

12. DESCRIBE THE INTERDICTION OPERATIONS INFORMATION CENTER (IOIC) IN MIAMI.

A:

(a) WHAT AGENCIES PARTICIPATE AND AT WHAT LEVEL OF RESOURCES?

The following agencies participated in the IOIC, now known as the Operations Information Center, or OIC, and it is part of the Southeast Region, National Narcotics Border Interdiction System (NNBIS) Regional Center:

A:

A:

A:

(c) WHICH AGENCY IS IN CHARGE OF THE CENTER?

The Coast Guard is in charge of the OIC as the Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District, Miami, has been designated as the NNBIS Regional Coordinator for the Southeast Region.

(d) WHAT DOES THE CENTER DO?

Originally a part of the Vice President's Southeast U.S. Task Force, the OIC serves as a focal point for gathering, evaluating and disseminating pertinent information of tactical value to intelligence operations and all agencies with resources which are, or might be made, available to interdict drugs intended for the southeastern portion of the United States.

(e) TO WHAT EXTENT HAS INFORMATION GATHERED BY THE CENTER ASSISTED THE COAST GUARD AND OTHER PARTICIPATING AGENCIES INTERDICTING DRUGS AND APPREHENDING PERSONS INVOLVED IN THE SOUTH FLORIDA DRUG TRADE?

The information gathered by the OIC provides a much broader and very rapid mechanism for optimizing the use of available resources and information than existed prior to 1982. The OIC in Miami allows rapid coordination of the various law enforcement agencies and DOD resources to effectively track and interdict suspect vessels. The Coast Guard has been impressed with the results of the OIC concept as a key element of the new National Narcotics Border Interdiction System. Through the coordination attained by a joint center, the combined resources of all involved agencies are more effectively brought to bear on the smugglers. The OIC acts as a force multiplier and will continue to have an enhanced impact on the drug trafficking problem.

30-598 0-84--12

13.

A:

HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE THE DEGREE OF COOPERATION AMONG THE FEDERAL
AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE SOUTH FLORIDA TASK FORCE?

Interagency efforts in South Florida have been very good. By way of illustration, as of June 1983, the Coast Guard had assisted U. S. Customs in 23 cases in South Florida since the task force's inception in February 1982, resulting in 60 arrests, 16 vessels seized, 1 aircraft seizure, and over 84,160 pounds of marijuana, 1,184 pounds of cocaine and 18 pounds of hash being seized. The Coast Guard routinely transfers custody of seized vessels and much of the contraband to Customs upon arrival in port.

14.

THE BRIEFING MATERIALS PROVIDED TO THE COMMITTEE PRIOR TO THE HEARING NOTE
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TACTICAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TEAM (TACLET) IN MIAMI AS
PART OF YOUR EXPANSION OF DRUG ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN
UNITED STATES (SEUS).

A:

(a) WHAT RESOURCES ARE COMMITTED TO THE MIAMI TACLET?

The TACLET has no capital equipment of its own. A 15 person team, consisting
of four officers and eleven enlisted members is split into mobile, highly
trained detachments of professional law enforcement personnel capable of
providing a full range of maritime law enforcement services on short
notice.

A:

A:

3.

Training teams.

4.

Custody crews.

5.

6.

7.

Participants in interagency law enforcement operations.
Intelligence collection and dissemination teams (pre-
deployment briefings/post-patrol debriefings).
Operational readiness inspectors.

HOW EFFECTIVE IS IT?

The program has been very effective. They are the key that allows us
effective utilization of Navy ships. Without them, the Navy would be
hampered in their involvement in law enforcement actions. Since their
establishment, the TACLETS aboard Navy units have seized 11 vessels,
arrested 115 persons, and interdicted 412,222 pounds of marijuana.
So far this year, these teams have been deployed aboard Navy vessels
a total of 98 days. They have been aboard PHMs, minesweepers, LSTs,
frigates, destroyers, cruisers, and aircraft carriers. They have
efficiently provided a range of enhanced law enforcement capability
from training P-3 aircrews in how to identify profile drug traffickers
to keeping transiting Coast Guard, as well as Navy, units abreast of
drug trafficking trends and ongoing special operations.

(c) WHERE ELSE ARE TACLETS ESTABLISHED?

We have detailed personnel to form a TACLET on the west coast to utilize the surface assets of the Navy's Pacific Fleet.

15. THE BRIEFING MATERIALS ALSO NOTE THE OPERATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT DETACHMENTS (LEDETS) IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

(a) WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF LEDETS AND HOW DO THEY OPERATE?

A: LEDETS were formed to provide additional U.S. Coast Guard boarding teams aboard Navy vessels.

(b) HOW DO THEY DIFFER FROM TACLETS?

A: Whereas LEDETS fulfill a very specific need for boarding capability and provide incidental training, the TACLETs involve more personnel (15 vice 5-8 for a LEDET) and provide a wider mix of professional capabilities. The TACLETS have intelligence specialists, special agents, and are under the leadership of a more senior officer. The TACLETS average experience level is higher and they are used as the experts to fill immediate needs for a wider range of activities including boardings (at least two 7-man teams), training (incidental and special) and expert witnessing, as well as those duties described in response to question #14.

A:

A:

A:

(c)

HOW MANY LEDETS ARE OPERATING IN SUPPORT OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA TASK
FORCE?

There are presently two LEDETS assigned to Key West, FL, and Roosevelt Roads, PR.

(d) WHAT RESOURCES ARE COMMITTED TO THE LEDETS?

The LEDETS have no capital equipment assigned them per se. They are assigned to Navy vessels during transits of high interest areas.

(e) HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THEY?

As stated previously for TACLETS, they have been very effective. Without the addition of the LEDETS, the use of Navy platforms for boardings would be restricted.

A:

We have a LEDET permanently assigned to San Francisco, CA. We have also detailed personnel to form a TACLET on the West Coast to further utilize the surface assets of the Navy's Pacific Fleet and other DOD resources.