TWO FAMILY MASSACRE BEGS DRUG TIES; GFTI-03-9276/QEZ1I; MONEY LAUNDERING CCX: TI-04-0003, RODRIGUEZ-LOZANO, JORGE

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002243 SIPDIS DEA HQS PLS PASS TO SARI; OEM/STEFFICK, BOND, HUTCHINSON, HARRINGTON, CEREN, CERNIGLIA, GARCIA, MENDEZ; SOD/OSM/BELOVICH DEA MEXICO FOR HOLIFIELD, BAEZA, GARAY AND WHITE STAT FOR INL/LP AND WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SUBJECT: TWO FAMILY MASSACRE BEGS DRUG TIES; GFTI-03-9276/QEZ1I; MONEY LAUNDERING CCX: TI-04-0003, RODRIGUEZ-LOZANO, JORGE REF: TEGUCIGALPA TWX 01379 DATED 171658ZJUN04 ¶1. (U) Within a five day period, Honduran police investigated two brutal murders in which two families (wives and children) were counted as victims. Honduran police believe the murders were perpetrated by criminal elements in retaliation for actions by the deceased. ¶2. (U) Both murders took place after the June 9, 2004, seizure of 1,460 kilos of cocaine near the small town of Bajamar on the Honduran north coast (see ref). The Honduran news media quickly associated the murders with the seizure, but hard connections have proved inconclusive. ¶3. (U) Honduran police discovered the first massacre at the residence of Edwin Edelvy REYES-Puerto (NADDIS NEGATIVE). REYES, along with his wife Nolia Ponce and three children, were found dead with their throats cut in La Colonia Jardines del Valle, San Pedro Sula, HD on June 17, 2004. ¶4. (U) A post investigation of the incident culminated in the seizure of $650,000 on June 28, 2004, from a safety deposit box attributed to REYES. ¶5. (U) On June 21, 2004, Police discovered another multiple homicide on a highway between Puerto Cortes and Choloma, HD in two vehicles. Mario GARAY (NADDIS NEGATIVE),along with his wife Nubia Judith Zelaya-Sanchez, their three year old son, and two other individuals identified as David Esmelin and Milton Castellanos, were found shot to death in a Nissan Sentra bearing Honduran plate PBN1983. A white Toyota Tacoma bearing Honduran plate PBL1054 was found abandoned 2.6 kilometers in front of the Nissan. The body of another victim identified as Allan Mejia was found some distance behind the Nissan. The victims were found bound and gagged. Police believe the killers drove both of these vehicles to the road side locations and executed them under cover of darkness, making their escape in accompanying vehicles. In the post investigation, Honduran authorities seized $115,650 from the house of an associate of GARAY. ¶6. (U) Police sources from El Centro de Informacion Conjunto (CEINCO) indicated that GARAY, in cooperation with four other unknown associates, stole $600,000 and 100 kilos of cocaine from Ruberman TABORA (NADDIS 5808405),who is a known drug trafficker in Honduras. TABORA was believed to have given GARAY an ultimatum to return the drugs and money. Criminal elements were believed to have kidnapped this group on Sunday evening and were subsequently discovered on Monday, June 21, ¶2004. In addition, GARAY was known to be involved in house robberies in the past. ¶7. (U) On June 24, 2004, Walter Flores Mencia, of La Direccion General de Investigacion Criminal (DGIC) in San Pedro Sula, HD, announced that both homicides were being investigated. The DGIC did not indicate that the homicides were related, but indicated that the murders likely involved organized crime. ¶8. (U) Questions concerning this cable can be directed to Acting C/A Ivan Rios or I/A John Domingue at (301)985-9321. ¶9. (U) Pursuant to the DEA Agents Manual, section 6242.11 this twx is submitted in lieu of a DEA-6. INDEXING ¶1. REYES-Puerto, Edwin Edelvy - NADDIS NEGATIVE DOB: December 11, 1970 Honduran ID Number: 1807-1970-01804 Address: Col Jardines del Valle, San Pedro Sula, HD Col Los Alpez, 5Cll, 3 Ave, BL 6, C-12, Amarilla Dos Plantas, San Pedro Sula, HD Family: Nolia Mabel Ponce (wife) Telephone Numbers: (504)982-5714, (504)979-6580, (504)551-5487 ¶2. GARAY, Mario - NADDIS NEGATIVE Pierce