Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TEGUCIGALPA47
2005-01-07 20:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:  

SEIZURE OF $51,620 U.S. CURRENCY AND THE ARREST OF SIX INDIVIDUALS TI-05-0002/UEZ1I;COLMER-LACAYO,EDUARDO CCX:GFTI-05-9276/OEZ1I; MONEY LAUNDERING GFAN-04-8002; OPERATION KNIGHT MOVES GFTI-98-8001/WEC1F; OPERATION WAHOO GFTI-05-9154; HONDURAS

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

072001Z Jan 05
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TEGUCIGALPA 000047 

SIPDIS

DEA HQS PLS PASS TO SARI; OEM/MCABE, BOND, HUTCHINSON,
HARRINGTON, CEREN, CERNIGLIA, GARCIA, MENDEZ;
SOD/OSM/BELOVICH; FOM/OWEN
DEA MEXICO FOR HOLIFIELD, BAEZA, GARAY AND WHITE
STATE FOR INL ONLY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS:
SUBJECT: SEIZURE OF $51,620 U.S. CURRENCY AND THE ARREST OF
SIX INDIVIDUALS TI-05-0002/UEZ1I;COLMER-LACAYO,EDUARDO
CCX:GFTI-05-9276/OEZ1I; MONEY LAUNDERING
GFAN-04-8002; OPERATION KNIGHT MOVES
GFTI-98-8001/WEC1F; OPERATION WAHOO
GFTI-05-9154; HONDURAS


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TEGUCIGALPA 000047

SIPDIS

DEA HQS PLS PASS TO SARI; OEM/MCABE, BOND, HUTCHINSON,
HARRINGTON, CEREN, CERNIGLIA, GARCIA, MENDEZ;
SOD/OSM/BELOVICH; FOM/OWEN
DEA MEXICO FOR HOLIFIELD, BAEZA, GARAY AND WHITE
STATE FOR INL ONLY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS:
SUBJECT: SEIZURE OF $51,620 U.S. CURRENCY AND THE ARREST OF
SIX INDIVIDUALS TI-05-0002/UEZ1I;COLMER-LACAYO,EDUARDO
CCX:GFTI-05-9276/OEZ1I; MONEY LAUNDERING
GFAN-04-8002; OPERATION KNIGHT MOVES
GFTI-98-8001/WEC1F; OPERATION WAHOO
GFTI-05-9154; HONDURAS



1. SUMMARY CASE FILE

DEFENDANTS

Name:FAGOT-Jardines, Edison David
DPOB:43 YOA- UNKNOWN
Gender: Male

Name: BOLANOS, Cibio Misael
DPOB: 36 YOA-UNKNOWN
Gender: Male

COLOMER-Lacayo, Eduardo
Age: 40 YOA-UNKNOWN
Gender: Male

POWELL, Arbin Bordas
Age: 19 YOA-UNKNOWN
Gender: Male

ZELAYA, Luis Santiago
Age: 21 YOA-UNKNOWN
Gender: Male

FLORES, Lisa Iveth
AGE: 17 YOA-UNKNOWN
Gender: Female


2. JUDICIAL DISTRICT
Republic of Honduras


3. DATE/TIME/PLACE
January 5, 2005, 0500 at Barra de Caratasca, Gracias A Dios,
Honduras.


4. DRUG EXHIBTS
None.


5. NON-DRUG EXHIBITS
Exhibit-N-1: $51,620 in U.S.Currency.

CUSTODY OF EVIDENCE:
Exhibit N-1 described above was processed in accordance with
Honduran law enforcement administrative procedures.


6. ACTION ON DEFENDANTS
All of the above named defendants were arrested in violation
of Honduran Financial reporting statutes. All arrested are
pending adjudication of charges.


7. WITNESSES
Honduran Naval Officer, Milton Roldan Meza-Sanchez.

DETAILS:


8. (U) During December of 2004, the Tegucigalpa Country
Office(TCO) received a substantial increase in intelligence
information concerning the maritime smuggling of cocaine into
the coastal area of La Moskitia, Honduras, located in the
remote north east coast bordering Nicaragua. The information
came from several independent sources.


9. (U) In response to this information, the TCO contacted
the Navy and coordinated an increase of Navy patrols along
the north coast, in conjunction with TCO-initiated ground
operations that were being conducted by the TCO vetted unit
and elements of the Frontier police.


10. (U) On December 31, 2004, C/A Mark Discenza and S/A Tony
Sanes met with Honduran Navy Commander Jose Eduardo
Espinal-Paz. At the TCO's request, Commander Espinal agreed
to continue the Navy's increased patrols, especially, along
the northeastern coastline area of the Department of Gracias
A Dios, HD.


11. (U) On January 5, 2005, a Honduran naval vessel
conducting a maritime patrol in the vicinity of Barra de
Caratasca detained and searched a 25 foot, white go-fast
boat. A subsquent search of the go-fast resulted in the
seizure of $51,620, and the arrest of 6 individuals aboard.
Although cocaine residue was found on the vessel, no
measurable quatities were discovered. The incident was
reported to the Honduran police and the Prosecutors office in
Puerto Lempira. Honduran Prosecutors authorized the arrest of
the above defendants.


12. (U) It must be noted, that although the Honduran Navy
has always been willing to act on drug trafficking
intelligence provided by DEA, its consistency has been
intermittent at best for lack of fuel. Because fuel provided
through INL funding and DEA intelligence were part of the
equation, this particular operation by the Honduran Navy
yielded six arrests and a seizure of $51,620.


13. (U) On the same day, the Honduran Navy encountered the
Honduran flagged vessel Sheena MC II in the vicinity of
Limon, Honduras. The Sheena MC II is owned by Bob Ward MCNAB
(NADDIS 887780),a suspected narcotic smuggler. As the
Honduran Navy attempted to stop the vessel, it proceeded to
increase its speed in effort to evade capture. The Honduran
Navy pursued the Sheena MC II for an hour until it was able
to stop and board the vessel. A search of the vessel was
negative, but the vessel was found to be in violation of two
Honduran maritime regulations. The vessel was cited for the
maritime violations and released by the Honduran Navy.


14. (U) Subsequently, a high level Honduran Navy official
received a call from Honduran Congressman Kerry Evans Mcnab
(related to Bob MCNAB) demanding the justification for
detaining and boarding the vessel at sea. It should be noted
that U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa revoked Congressman McNab's
visa in August 2002, because of his attempts to have the
Honduran Navy release another vessel that was under suspicion
for transporting contraband.


15. The TCO will report any information that becomes
available regarding this matter.


16. (U) This cable is submitted in lieu of a DEA6 pursuant
to the DEA Agents Manual, Section 6242.11.


17. (U) Any questions or replies should be directed to CA
John M. Discenza, SA Tony Sanes, and/or IA John Domingue at
(301)985-9321.


INDEXING


1. FAGOT-Jardines, Edison David-Naddis Negative
Age: 43
Gender: Male
NFI


2. BOLANOS, Cibio Misael-Naddis Negative
Age: 36
Gender: Male
NFI


3. COLOMER-Lacayo, Eduardo-Naddis Negative
Age: 40
Gender: Male
NFI


4. POWELL, Arbin Bordas-Naddis Negative
Age: 19
Gender: Male
NFI


5. ZELAYA, Luis Santiago-Naddis Negative
Age: 21
Gender: Male
NFI


6. FLORES, Lisa Iveth-Naddis Negative
Age: 17
Gender: Male
NFI


7. MCNAB, Bobby Mano - NADDIS 887780

8. EVANS-MCNAB, Kerry - NADDIS NEGATIVE
Occupation: Honduran Congressman
Address: Roatan, Honduras
Palmer