Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASUNCION1053
2006-10-19 11:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asuncion
Cable title:
PARAGUAY'S ANTI-DRUG UNIT SEIZES MORE WEAPONS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAC #1053 2921127 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 191127Z OCT 06 FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4917 INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL//SCJ5// RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEHNA/DEA HQS WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 001053
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INL/LP JAMES HIDES;DS/DSS/ITA;
DS/IP/WHA;SOUTHCOMFOR POLAD;NSC FOR SUE CRONIN,POSTS FOR RSO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2026
TAGS: ASEC KCRM PTER SNAR PINR PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY'S ANTI-DRUG UNIT SEIZES MORE WEAPONS
Classified By: PolCouns. James P. Merz. Reason 1.4 (b),(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 001053
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INL/LP JAMES HIDES;DS/DSS/ITA;
DS/IP/WHA;SOUTHCOMFOR POLAD;NSC FOR SUE CRONIN,POSTS FOR RSO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2026
TAGS: ASEC KCRM PTER SNAR PINR PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY'S ANTI-DRUG UNIT SEIZES MORE WEAPONS
Classified By: PolCouns. James P. Merz. Reason 1.4 (b),(d).
1. (U) SUMMARY. Paraguay's Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD)
struck again, landing its third major weapons seizure in two
months when it raided the Asuncion home and store of a
registered arms dealer October 13. SENAD confiscated 195
firearms, C-4 explosives and approximately 8,000 rounds of
ammunition. SENAD is investigating the origins of the
weapons and the intended foreign customers. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) Working off tips from informants and in close
concert with Post's DEA office, SENAD raided the business
Comando de Elite owned by Victor Hugo Lobo Corbeta. (NOTE:
Comando de Elite is not to be confused with the business Caza
y Pesca Comando that SENAD raided last month in Pedro Juan
Caballero. END NOTE.) Victor Hugo Lobo gave information
leading to the seizure of more weapons in the home of his
brother, lawyer Daniel Lobo Corbeta, on the condition SENAD
would not arrest Daniel Lobo. All told, SENAD seized 195
firearms including machine guns, machine pistols, revolvers,
rifles, and shotguns, C-4 explosives, igniters, fuses, hand
grenades, 80 Kevlar bulletproof vests, 28 metal and Kevlar
helmets, 10 gas masks with cartridges, and over 8,000 rounds
of ammunition. One of rifles seized (M-16A2) seized bore
the words, "Property of the U.S. Government" and had the
serial number 7333153. The ammunition seized was primarily
military type, including belted 7.62mm ammunition with
tracers (used in M-16) and 5.56mm (for M-16). Post estimates
the value to be close to $300,000. Victor Lobos was arrested
for illegal possession of weapons.
3. (C) Intelligence received by SENAD indicated that Lobos
was acquiring and amassing illegal firearms and paramilitary
gear to be resold to traffickers and other international
customers. According to SENAD Director of Operations Luis
Rojas, there is no evidence of any intention to keep the
weapons in Paraguay. Rather, Rojas expressed his belief
privately and publicly that the weapons were likely being
trafficked to criminal groups in Brazil.
4. (C) COMMENT: This arms seizure represents SENAD's third
in two months, reinforcing its lead within Paraguay's law
enforcement community in the fight against organized crime.
We are working on tracing the USG origin rifle. SENAD hopes
to obtain further intelligence from Lobo that will shed light
on his activities and potentially lead to future seizures.
END COMMENT.
CASON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INL/LP JAMES HIDES;DS/DSS/ITA;
DS/IP/WHA;SOUTHCOMFOR POLAD;NSC FOR SUE CRONIN,POSTS FOR RSO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2026
TAGS: ASEC KCRM PTER SNAR PINR PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY'S ANTI-DRUG UNIT SEIZES MORE WEAPONS
Classified By: PolCouns. James P. Merz. Reason 1.4 (b),(d).
1. (U) SUMMARY. Paraguay's Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD)
struck again, landing its third major weapons seizure in two
months when it raided the Asuncion home and store of a
registered arms dealer October 13. SENAD confiscated 195
firearms, C-4 explosives and approximately 8,000 rounds of
ammunition. SENAD is investigating the origins of the
weapons and the intended foreign customers. END SUMMARY.
2. (C) Working off tips from informants and in close
concert with Post's DEA office, SENAD raided the business
Comando de Elite owned by Victor Hugo Lobo Corbeta. (NOTE:
Comando de Elite is not to be confused with the business Caza
y Pesca Comando that SENAD raided last month in Pedro Juan
Caballero. END NOTE.) Victor Hugo Lobo gave information
leading to the seizure of more weapons in the home of his
brother, lawyer Daniel Lobo Corbeta, on the condition SENAD
would not arrest Daniel Lobo. All told, SENAD seized 195
firearms including machine guns, machine pistols, revolvers,
rifles, and shotguns, C-4 explosives, igniters, fuses, hand
grenades, 80 Kevlar bulletproof vests, 28 metal and Kevlar
helmets, 10 gas masks with cartridges, and over 8,000 rounds
of ammunition. One of rifles seized (M-16A2) seized bore
the words, "Property of the U.S. Government" and had the
serial number 7333153. The ammunition seized was primarily
military type, including belted 7.62mm ammunition with
tracers (used in M-16) and 5.56mm (for M-16). Post estimates
the value to be close to $300,000. Victor Lobos was arrested
for illegal possession of weapons.
3. (C) Intelligence received by SENAD indicated that Lobos
was acquiring and amassing illegal firearms and paramilitary
gear to be resold to traffickers and other international
customers. According to SENAD Director of Operations Luis
Rojas, there is no evidence of any intention to keep the
weapons in Paraguay. Rather, Rojas expressed his belief
privately and publicly that the weapons were likely being
trafficked to criminal groups in Brazil.
4. (C) COMMENT: This arms seizure represents SENAD's third
in two months, reinforcing its lead within Paraguay's law
enforcement community in the fight against organized crime.
We are working on tracing the USG origin rifle. SENAD hopes
to obtain further intelligence from Lobo that will shed light
on his activities and potentially lead to future seizures.
END COMMENT.
CASON