HUMAN INTELLIGENCE THREAT REVIEW FOR U.S. EMBASSY

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 SAN JOSE 002565

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR DS/ICI/CI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2030
TAGS: ASEC
SUBJECT: HUMAN INTELLIGENCE THREAT REVIEW FOR U.S. EMBASSY
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA

REF: SECSTATE 197763

Classified By: (U)Charge Russell Frisbie; Reason 1.4(c,d)


1. (S/NF) Per request in reftel, Charge chaired a meeting of
the Counter Intelligence Working Group (CIWG) to review and
discuss the Human Intelligence (HUMINT) threat level at Post.
Attending the CIWG were Charge, A/DCM, RSO, DEA Country
Attache, ODR Chief and SIMO Chief. CIWG agrees that the
current LOW HUMINT threat level for Post is appropriate.

(U) CIWG is providing responses to questions asked in reftel
in the order asked:


A. Bilateral relations between the GOCR and the United
States: Embassy San Jose enjoys a strong and positive
bilateral relationship with our Costa Rican counterparts,
especially in the areas of Intelligence and Law Enforcement.



B. (S/NF) Are there security or defense agreements between
the two nations? No


C. (S/NF) Liaison exchanges in intelligence or law
enforcement? Liaison exchanges exist with Costa Rican
intelligence and law enforcement entities.


D. (S/NF) Do the host country law enforcement and security
services cooperate in protecting U.S. facilities? Both host
country intelligence and law enforcement are very cooperative
in the protection of all U.S. facilities.

(U) From questions asked in reftel, from January 2002 to
11/01/2005, Post is providing the following responses:


1. (S/NF) Physical surveillance - No


2. (S/NF) Audio-Video surveillance - No


3. (S/NF) Harassment - No


4. (S/NF) Clandestine entries - No


5. (S/NF) Provocations - No


6. (S/NF) Use of informants and/or cooptees - No


7. (S/NF) Spotting/targeting/assessing operations directed
at Americans - No


8. (S/NF) Development or recruitment attempts directed at
Americans - No


9. (S/NF) Computer tampering - No


10. (S/NF) Teltaps, mail or e-mail intercepts - No. However,
the potential exists that foreign agents may have penetrated
the local telephone service provider (ICE).


11. (S/NF) Pouch tampering - No


12. (S/NF) Active measures, press placements, deception - No


E. (S/NF) Critical HUMINT countries present in San Jose:

(S/NF) Russia - small presence - Possibly Co-opted officers
working out of Russian Embassy.
(S/NF) Cuba - small presence - Intelligence officers
suspected at Cuban Consulate.
(S/NF) Israel - medium presence, Intelligence officers
suspected but not confirmed at Israeli Embassy.


F. (S/NF) Although not rated Critical for HUMINT, Venezuela
has intelligence personnel working out of their Embassy in
San Jose. The scope of operations planned or executed by the
Venezuelans is unclear at this time, although it is suspected
that operations directed by Venezuela in support of local
anti-CAFTA efforts may be ongoing.


G. (S/NF) Are there non-governmental entities present in San
Jose, such as drug traffickers or terrorists groups, who
either have state sponsorship or have penetrated the host
country services, and who are conducting classic intelligence
operations against the U.S. mission in San Jose. No


H. (S/NF) CIWG Evaluation of current HUMINT threat level:
Post CIWG believes the current HUMINT threat level of LOW for
this Post is adequate. CIWG will report all incidents in the
future that may affect this threat level for HUMINT activity
in Costa Rica.


FRISBIE