Wiretap & Weapons Advisor Sought For U.S. Embassy-Bogota

The Narcotics Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Bogota yesterday launched a search to employ and deploy such an advisor. The selected candidate will coordinate purchases of electronic surveillance equipment and weapons for CNP, and also will be responsible for ensuring that Colombian police and soldiers are properly trained to use the new gear. The State Dept. on Monday began its recruitment drive for what it's referring to as a “Commo/Weapons Advisor.” According to a June 27 notice that State added to the federal electronic posting system, the position will focus on the technical and hardware aspects of U.S.-supported intelligence gathering and logistics for low-intensity, drug-related conflicts. In military/spook talk, it is what is commonly known as Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence, or C4I, plus weapons added to the list.

In short, State created the position to help assess the wiretap-technology and weapons-acquisition needs of the CNP’s anti-narcotics directorate (DIRAN), particularly for its respective intelligence, judicial, and Air Service components.

The Commo/Weapons Advisor will coordinate efforts with the Air Service Advisor, and also will design “a communications strategy to monitor/maintain contact with CNP aircraft operating throughout Colombian airspace.” Ensuring the compatibility of new equipment “with the secure communications equipment used by the CNP/COLMIL ground elements to maximum extent possible” is another area of concern, the notice said.

The person who fills this slot also will work “closely” with the Drug Enforcement Administration and various intelligence agencies to ensure that acquisitions of surveillance and intelligence equipment do not violate U.S. export regulations and technology transfer restrictions, according to the notice.

Public recruitment for the new advisor position comes less than a week after the State Dept. issued a call to the high-tech sector to submit bids for the sale of an advanced “semi-portable” wiretapping system. The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs specifically is interested in buying an electronic surveillance unit capable of intercepting data-transfers and conversations taking place via 30 digital communications lines and 32 traditional copper-wire phone lines simultaneously. The “place of performance” for this wiretap-technology contract is Bogota.