HONDURAN POLICE SEIZE ANOTHER 53 KILOS OF COCAINE,

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002841

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INL/LP, WHA/PPC, AND WHA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR KCRM KJUS PGOV HO
SUBJECT: HONDURAN POLICE SEIZE ANOTHER 53 KILOS OF COCAINE,
MAKING IT 5,000 KILOS IN 2003



1. On November 27, Honduran authorities seized approximately
53 kilos of cocaine from a truck in the remote northern town
of Bonito Oriental in the Department of Colon. The cocaine
valued at approximately USD two million was seized by the
Honduran Frontier Police, working in cooperation with the
National Preventive Police at approximately 10:00 a.m. Upon
being pulled over by authorities, the driver of the truck,
Norberto Reyes Zavala, was found to be extremely nervous.
Tipped off by Zavala's agitated demeanor the police searched
the truck, and only after a lengthy search did the
authorities discover the cocaine hidden in a rear compartment
covered by sawdust.


2. Zavala confessed to authorities that two individuals had
offered him USD 1,400 to transport the cocaine from Sico,
Colon to Danli, El Paraiso in southern Honduras. Later that
afternoon, nearly five hours after detaining Zavala, the
alleged "owner" of the drugs, Jose Daniel Pinto, was captured
by the police in Tocoa. The deputy investigator in Tocoa was
notified by informants that the same Mercedes truck driven by
Zavala had been seen earlier in Sico conversing with Pinto.
While this information led to Pinto's arrest, Honduran
authorities continue to investigate alleged links between
Pinto and Zavala. Pinto adamantly denies any connection
between him and the drugs (Note: The reason the police were
able to detain Pinto is the Honduran law "Affiliation with
Known Narcotraffickers", which gives authorities the legal
right to arrest anyone associated with narcotraffickers. End
Note.)


3. This latest seizure brings the total amount of cocaine
seized this year in Honduras to approximately 5,000 kilos.
This is more than what has been seized in the last five years
combined.
Palmer