TAMPA AIRLINES REVISITED

S E C R E T BOGOTA 001928 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2015 TAGS: EAIR CO SUBJECT: TAMPA AIRLINES REVISITED REF: REFTEL A: 04 BOGOTA 12835 Classified By: Ambassador William B. Wood for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) As stated previously in Reftel A, Post again has no objection to Ex-Im Bank's financing of a Boeing 767-300F cargo aircraft for Tampa Airlines based on currently available information. A noteworthy change in the last two months has been the involvement of Tampa Airlines' security offices with Colombian and USG law enforcement agencies regarding security measures to prevent the flow of drugs via commercial aircraft. ¶2. (S) Regarding concerns expressed about potential law enforcement investigations of Tampa Airlines, at this time, DEA Bogota is not investigating Tampa's management, board of directors, or the airline as a whole. DEA Bogota is now working with Tampa's security offices regarding certain internal operations at Tampa Airlines with a focus on some mid-level managers. Over the last two months, the level of cooperation between Tampa Airlines and law enforcement agencies in Colombia has remained relatively high. Tampa Airlines' management is being proactive with its security measures as well as with its communication with DEA Bogota and Colombian law enforcement agencies. WOOD