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