Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04TEGUCIGALPA2243
2004-10-07 17:42:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:  

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

Tags:  HO NOTAG 
pdf how-to read a cable
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
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

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