Cablegate: Request for Source/Origin Waiver: Procurement of Vehicles

VZCZCXYZ0011
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHQT #0088 0261911
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 261910Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY QUITO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0688
INFO RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO

UNCLAS QUITO 000088

SIPDIS
FOR INL/RM TIM BARRY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR
SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR SOURCE/ORIGIN WAIVER: PROCUREMENT OF VEHICLES
FOR GOE DINAPEN POLICE UNIT

1. Issue: Post requests a source origin waiver from geographic
code 000 (United States only) to geographic code 935 (special free
world) to permit the procurement of vehicles in the Host Country
local market for operational use by the Ecuadorian National
Police's DINAPEN Guayaquil unit.

Cooperating Country: Ecuador

Authorizing document: LOA dated August 25, 2009.

Project: Migrant Smuggling Program

Nature of funding: FY-08 G-TIP Program

Description of commodity: Foreign-manufactured vehicles:

Quantity 3 - 4 door Sedan, 1.6 liter, manual transmission, air
conditioning

Approximate total value: USD $50,000.00

Origin: Special Free World

Source: Ecuador

Contracting agent: RPSO

2. Discussion: These vehicles are for operational use by the
DINAPEN Guayaquil police unit. DINAPEN is the Government of
Ecuador's human trafficking police unit which cooperates closely
with DHS/ICE office. Funding for these vehicles comes from the
migrant smuggling program. For the security of its personnel and
on-going operations, it is highly recommended for DINAPEN to use
nondescript vehicles that are locally common rather than the more
conspicuous and distinctive U.S.-made vehicles.

3. Recommendation: For the reasons stated above, we recommend
approval of this request for a source/origin waiver to permit
acquisition of these project vehicles in Ecuador.

4. Please expedite reply. Thank you.

5. Signed: Drew Schufletowski, NAS Director, Narcotics Affairs
Section, U.S. Embassy, Quito, Ecuador.

HODGES
HODGES

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