Chumphon Checkpoint Dedication - Thailand On the 11th of December 2012, RDML James Rendon attended the

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1 A l l S t a f f N e w s l e t t e r V o l u m e 2 I s s u e 1 J a n u a r y Chumphon Checkpoint Dedication - Thailand On the 11th of December 2012, RDML James Rendon attended the building dedication ceremony of the Chumphon Vehicle Inspection Point in Chumphon Thailand. This checkpoint is the third of three checkpoints in Thailand sponsored by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and executed by JIATF West. The three North, East, and South vehicle checkpoints built by JIATF West are located in the cities of Phayuha Khiri in the Northern Province of Nakhon Sawan, Sikhio in the Eastern Province of Nakhon Ratchasima, and Tha-Sea in the Southern Province of Chumphon. This Issue Chumphon Checkpoint p. 1 JIATF West in Vietnam p. 6 Detection & Monitoring p. 10 RADM Anne Cullère visit p. 11 SSgt Katrina Gonzales Promotion p. 12 The construction on the Chumphon Province checkpoint began in 2007 and was completed in According to a Royal Thai Police media release, the facility was turned over to the Royal Thai Police from JIATF West on the 19th of May 2011, but could not become operational until Parliament passed a resolution for its use on the 20th of March Shown above are General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit of the Royal Thai Police and Rear Admiral James Rendon at the dedication ceremony for a new vehicle checkpoint in Thailand s Southern province of Chumphon - 11 Dec 2012, Photo by Royal Thai Police

2 Chumphon Checkpoint Dedication - Thailand The long awaited ceremony was well attended by Thai Police, Law Enforcement, Government and media. The ceremony included a traditional Buddhist blessing, color guard performance by the Royal Thai Narcotics Suppression Bureau, and Thai and U.S. national anthems performed by a local high school marching band. Large tents were set up on the lawn of the checkpoint s administrative building to house the over three hundred people in attendance. General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit, one of four Royal Thai Police 4-star generals, was the presiding senior official with RDML Rendon as the senior U.S. official. JIATF West members accompanying RDML Rendon included Task Force Representative, Mr. Lance McInnis; and Senior Law Enforcement Advisor, Mr. Peter Won. In attendance representing the DEA was Assistant Regional Director Mr. Peter Shigeta. Below, the administrative building of the vehicle check point lavishly decorated in preparation for the dedication ceremony Dec 2012, Photo by Royal Thai Police

3 Chumphon Checkpoint Dedication - Thailand Royal Thai Police color guard - 11 Dec 2012, Photo by Royal Thai Police With the checkpoint having been operational for nine months at the time of the dedication ceremony, there were many positive things said regarding successful interdictions at the Chumphon checkpoint. Both General Watcharapol and RDML Rendon spoke and presented awards at the ceremony. After the dedication ceremony, the Royal Thai Police Narcotic Suppression Bureau gave a demonstration of a vehicle inspection and mock interdiction. The checkpoint is located between kilometer markers 466 and 477 off of Petchkasem Road, the main transport route between Thailand and Malaysia located in the Tha-Sea district of Chumphon Province. The Chumphon checkpoint is comprised of an office building, three vehicle inspection stations, a dining hall and dormitory. Vehicle search demonstration - 11 Dec 2012, Photo by Royal Thai Police

4 Chumphon Checkpoint Dedication - Thailand According to a December 2012 Royal Thai Media release, of all of the narcotics trafficked into Thailand by vehicle, 70% enter from the Northwest, 20% from the Northeast, and 10% from the East. However, most of the drugs smuggled out of Thailand to Malaysia transit through the Southern region of Thailand which includes Chumphon Province. Above, RDML Rendon speaks at the Chumphon Checkpoint dedication ceremony. Below left, RDML Rendon, Mr. Peter Won, DEA assistant Regional Director Mr. Peter Shigeta and Mr. Lance Mcinnis. Above right, RDML Rendon receives a plaque of recognition from Royal Thai Police General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit Dec 2012, Photo by Royal Thai Police

5 Chumphon Checkpoint Dedication - Thailand Royal Thai Police General Watcharapol Prasarnrajkit and RDML Rendon cutting the ceremonial ribbon for the new Chumphon Vehicle Inspection Point in Chumphon Thailand. Below, a salute to the color guard Dec 2012, Photo by Royal Thai Police The Chumphon checkpoint is truly an interagency facility. Work at the checkpoint is coordinated between several agencies including but not limited to: The Department of Land Transport, Narcotic Suppression Division 4, Department of Livestock Development, Provincial Police Region 8, Thai Excise Department, Border Patrol Police, Customs, and the Office of Narcotics Control Bureau (ONCB). --

6 JIATF West in Vietnam New Counter Narcotics Police Training Facility - Vinh, Vietnam In 2009, JIATF West began planning for the construction of a counter narcotics police training facility near the city of Vinh in Northern Vietnam for the Ministry of Public Security. Previously in Vietnam, JIATF West has organized medical training and missions with the Small Craft Maintenance Training Team, but this was the first ever JIATF West base development project. The idea behind the project came from a need identified by the DEA Country Attaché in Hanoi Vietnam, Jeff Wanner, in late Naval Facilities Engineering Command Resident Officer in Charge of Construction, headquartered in Bangkok Thailand provided project oversight and awarded the construction project to the AAC Construction and Technology Architecture Consultants of Vietnam on the 26th of September One year later the construction project was completed on the 29th of November The building, first of its kind for the Ministry of Public Security, is located in the town of Cua Lo Town, Nge An Province (near the city of Vinh in Northern Vietnam) and will be used for training by their counterdrug police known as the C-47. From far right to left, Scott Hawman, Major General Nguyen An Tuan, representatives from the Ministry of Public Security, and DEA Regional Director Joe Reagan with police officers at the ribbon cutting ceremony and dedication of the newly built Counter Narcotics Police Training Facility near Vinh Vietnam (Photo, Mike Asuka, 17 Jan 2013, courtesy of NAVFAC)

7 JIATF West in Vietnam The two-story reinforced concrete building was built complete with supporting facilities including a guard house, garbage shed, water pump house, internal road and parking lot, concrete pad for outdoor training and a perimeter fence. The interior of the facility includes 42 two-person furnished barracks, dining hall, kitchen area, offices for administration, rest rooms, conference room, classroom, and computer training room. According to JIATF W e s t s Infrastructure Coordinator, Mr. Scott Hawman, the project was on time and within budget. Scott was also impressed with the quality of the work, We were pleased with the outcome of the construction. We were pleased with the outcome of the construction - Scott Hawman Above, a 3D drawing of the proposed building before the construction followed by a snap shot of the actual building built by AAC Construction and Technology Architecture Consultants of Vietnam. Bottom right, furnished cubicles for office administration support. -(Photo, Mike Asuka, 17 Jan 2013, courtesy of NAVFAC)

8 JIATF West in Vietnam Officers of the Vietnamese Counter Drug Force, known as C-47 watch as Mr. Scott Hawman cuts the ceremonial red ribbon at the dedication of the Ministry of Public Security s new Counter Narcotics Police Training Facility built by JIATF West. Left, a police officer in traditional Vietnamese dress (Ao dai) Jan 2013, NAVFAC The building was turned over to the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security on the 13th of December 2012 and a dedication ceremony was held on the 17th of January In attendance at the ceremony from JIATF West were; Base Development Program Manager, Mr. Scott Hawman; Training Liaison Officers Mr. Derek Gapol, and Capt Paul Trower, USMC. Also in attendance were DEA East Asia Regional Director Joe Reagan as the senior U.S. official, and Assistant DEA Country Attaché, Steve Cutler. Numerous Vietnamese Police Officers and members of the Ministry of Public Security participated in the ceremony. Major General Nguyen Anh Tuan, head of the National Narcotics Police, was the attending senior Vietnamese official. Police Officers dressed in traditional Ao dai dress sang their national anthem and held the giant red ribbon for the cutting ceremony. The C-47 and U.S. DEA have a productive and cooperative relationship in Vietnam and will be putting the newlyconstructed training facility to use soon.

9 JIATF West in Vietnam JIATF West Training Liaison Officers Derek Gapol and Capt Trower conducted a Pre-Deployment Site Survey (PDSS) the week of the ceremony for an upcoming joint CNT training event taking place this year. This first ever JIATF West infrastructure project in Vietnam will benefit counternarcotics efforts between the DEA and C-47 for years to come. -- A computer training room for up to 40 Police Officers. Derek Gapol, Scott Hawman, and DEA Special Agent Steve Cutler enjoy a traditional Vietnamese meal inside the facilities dining hall post ceremony. 17 Jan 2013 One of the 42 two man dorm rooms at the training facility.

10 Command Detection & Monitoring Efforts for 2012 During the past year, the Illicit Tracking Cell identified and reported on 91 cased detection and monitoring events. The commodities of these trafficking events ranged from methamphetamine precursor chemicals, finished product methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. The efforts resulted in the below break-out totals displayed in both calendar and fiscal year. During Jul 2012, JIATF West tipped LEA to a 76 metric ton interdiction of mono-methylamine a key precursor to the P2P methamphetamine production process. This interdiction prevented the production of over 60 metric tons of methamphetamines. During Aug 2012, JIATF West tipped LEA to an 80 kilogram interdiction of heroin. This event was the largest interdiction of heroin by a partner nation for the past 10 years, as well as resulted in 7 arrests including a low-level politician. The overall command detection and monitoring efforts additionally drove traffickers to alter their modus operandi. The increased sophistication of trafficking operations will continue to require a deeper understanding and focus on unraveling criminal networks associated with them. -- Drug Calendar Year Total Fiscal Year Total Meth Precursors metric tons metric tons Meth Converted Totals 82 metric tons metric tons Meth Finished Product 400 kilograms None Cocaine 405 kilograms 200 kilograms Heroin 80 kilograms 80 kilograms Methamphetamine in its various forms

11 RADM Anne Cullère Visit - By LT Brian Sattler RADM Anne Cullère, Commander of Joint Armed Forces in French Polynesia and Commander of French Maritime Forces in the Pacific, visited JIATF West on the 11th of January, as part of her introduction to U.S. counterparts headquartered in Hawaii. RADM Cullère joined the French Navy in 1981 and began her service at sea in 1993 when females were first allowed to serve aboard ships. Prior to making Flag rank, RADM Cullère was the Chief of Asia-Pacific relations bureau at the Joint Staff in Paris. Above, RDML Rendon and RADM Anne Cullère. She is the first woman to be appointed as the head of France s armed forces in French Polynesia. -11 Jan 2013 Her AOR includes nearly all of the PACOM AOR, but also includes the west coast of Central and South America. She specifically requested to meet with JIATF West to get our perspective on the narcotics threat in the region. During discussion she affirmed France s commitment to the region and provided insight into the capabilities of the French forces stationed throughout the AOR. -- French Polynesia - Photo by meretmarine.com

12 SSgt Katrina Gonzales Promotion and Re-Enlistment Above, RDML Rendon, SSgt Katrina Gonzales and husband, Tomas, at their re-enlistment ceremony. -29 Jan 2013 Below, Lt Col Patrick Godfrey congratulates Katrina for her promotion to Staff Sergeant -7 Jan 2013 On the 7th of January 2013, a promotion ceremony was held in honor of Air Force member Katrina Gonzales for her promotion from Senior Airman (SrA) to Staff Sergeant (SSgt). SSgt Gonzales is an active duty member of the Air Force along with her husband, Tomas, who is also a Staff Sergeant. SSgt Gonzales has served in the Air Force for approximately six years and began working at JIATF West in February of 2010 as a help desk technician. SSgt Gonzales also performed the duties of JIATF West's Morale Welfare and Recreation President from 2012 to Outside of work and school she is an avid volunteer for the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), enjoys taking care of her three dogs, and is a talented Latino dancer. Congratulations to SSgt Gonzales for her promotion, re-enlistment, and for her soon to arrive baby girl. Later on the 29th of January, a second ceremony was held for SSgt Gonzales' re-enlistment, where she and her husband both re-enlisted together. SSgt Gonzales is from Brooklyn, New York; she has an Associate s in Information Technology, and is currently working toward a B.S. in Computer Science with a minor in Marine Biology.

13 Thank you for reading... This e-newsletter was produced by J5 Strategic Communications. For questions, comments, or story ideas, please contact Mr. Shawn Parrish Joint Interagency Task Force West Box Camp H.M. Smith, HI