PHONE NUMBER LINKS BETWEEN M/V ABDUL RAHMAN

S E C R E T TEGUCIGALPA 000137 SIPDIS TERREP PLEASE PASS TO DS/IP/WHA M. FLYNN, DS/ICI/PII M. POSILLICO, DS/DSS/CC, SE/OC/DS, DS/CR/CIL M. BAYER DS/ITA K HALL, DAVID REICH ONI 111/MARITIME OPS E.O. 12958: DECL: EXEMPT BECAUSE TERROR RELATED TAGS: ASEC SUBJECT: PHONE NUMBER LINKS BETWEEN M/V ABDUL RAHMAN REPRESENTATIVE HASSAN BACHACHA, AND POSSIBLE TERROR AND SMUGGLING GROUPS REF: A. 1. TEGUCIGALPA 02673 ¶B. 2. TEGUCIGALPA 02657 1 (S/NF) RSO Tegucigalpa, working with collection elements, has found a possible link between M/V Abdul RAHMAN local representative Hassan Bachacha and terror and smuggling groups. ¶2. (S/NF) During the detention of the M/V Abdul Rahman and its crew, it was determined that Hassan Bachacha was the ships local representative. Bachacha is an employee of Wael Transport company INC. of Quebec Canada. Bachahca arrived in Honduras after the ship and crew had been detained to expedite the release of both from Honduran Authorities. At this time Bachacha is believed to still be in Honduras aboard the M/V Abdul Rahman. The ship is still in port at Puerto Cortez. (RSO note: Wael Ozor, the owner of Wael Transport has been identified in by U.S. Government reporting as being a possible al-qai'da sympathizer and having possible connections to Lebanese Hizbollah end note) ¶3. (S/NF) During local investigation, RSO was able to obtain the cell phone number that Bachacha used when he first arrived in Honduras. RSO received this information from a reliable source who has used this number to speak with Bachacha in the last month. ¶4. (S/NF) In January 2005, RSO requested number check on Honduran cell phone number, 504-377-3948, from other U.S. agencies. Preliminary results indicates a possible link to terrorists and smuggling groups in Lebanon and Honduras, respectively. ¶5. (S/NF) Trace information indicates that the Honduran cell phone used by Bachacha placed a call to a phone number in Lebanon and a phone number in China. Preliminary checks indicate a link between the Lebanese number called, 961-368-8844, to various numbers in the middle east connected to HAMAS and HIZBOLLAH. ¶6. (S/NF) The initial checks on the Chinese number called, 864-527-61-2357, revealed that this number made numerous calls to known Honduran alien smugglers. ¶7. (S/NF) As in the past with Bachacha, there is no direct link between him and terrorists groups. Again it appears that an indirect link exists with known terror groups, as is the case with Wael Ozor and others in the Wael Transport Inc. ¶8. (S/NF) RSO will continue to work with other U.S. agencies to obtain more information as it becomes available. ¶9. (S/NF) All RSO's please share with representatives of all U.S. agencies abroad. 10.(SBU) POC for this case is ARSO Bill Stowell Pierce