US-funded Counter Narcotics Training Center Inaugurated in Cambodia

Photo By Capt. Kali Pinckney | Embassy Chargé d'Affaires, Piper A.W. Campbell, cuts the ribbon on the new training facility.  

CAMBODIA

08.20.2007

Story by Capt. Kali Pinckney 

Joint Interagency Task Force West

CAMBODIA - The U.S. Embassy's Chargé d'Affaires, Piper A. W. Campbell, was on hand to cut the ribbon on a new facility that will be used to provide counter-narcotics training to Cambodian military and police personnel.

The Joint Interagency Task Force West funded the site's $324,590 construction costs. The facility can accommodate up to 100 students and 12 instructors and consists of three buildings, each outfitted with a complete set of furniture. In addition to the new buildings, JIATF West also upgraded the facility's water supply and electrical system, not only for the new buildings, but also with an eye to future growth at the site.

In her remarks, Campbell said that this new facility was a sign of Cambodia's "increased capacity to detect and stop drug trafficking." She added, "The U.S. and Cambodia can -- and are -- working together to counter global threats."

At the request of the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh, JIATF West has been supporting counter-drug interdiction training in Cambodia since 2004. The training is designed to improve the skills needed to safely perform all aspects of planning, preparation and execution of counter-drug operations. There are two types of training conducted in Cambodia: land-based and maritime-based. The maritime training has been performed in Koh Kong, Phnom Penh and Stung Treng with participants from the Royal Cambodian navy, border security forces and Gendarmerie. The land-based training has been conducted in Battambang and provided to the Royal Cambodian armed forces, border security forces and national police.

JIATF West is tasked with improving the capability and capacity of partner nations' forces that are engaged in counter-drug operations. Counter-drug capacity development refers to activities designed to enhance partner nations' capacity to detect, disrupt and dismantle drug-related threats. Capacity development includes skill training for partner nation counter-drug law enforcement forces and developing information management, command and control, and interdiction operations. To this end, JIATF West supports the improvement of infrastructures of the units undergoing training.

The facilities in Battambang were supporting very valuable training, but a larger facility with more current equipment was needed. The U.S. Embassy forwarded this request to JIATF West, which conducted a survey of the region. The Sub-Operational Zone 5 in Sisophon was visited and proved to be very supportive of a new training facility that could be used by both military and law enforcement personnel. Coordination through the U.S. Embassy’s Office of Defense Cooperation and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration allowed the training facility in Sisophon to become reality.

JIATF West will move the land-based interdiction training from Battambang to this new training facility starting next year. With the increase in trafficking through Cambodia utilizing the Mekong River, JIATF West and the U.S. Embassy, along with relevant Cambodian partners, will be assessing the requirements for future facilities in or around the areas of Stung Treng, Preah Vihear and Koh Kong.

• Date Taken: 08.20.2007
• Date Posted: 02.23.2011 12:58
• Story ID: 65942
• Location: KH