BRAZILIANS RECORD PARAGUAYAN MILITARY OFFICIAL

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000175

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/BSC AND INL FOR ABBY SMITH
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD BARBARA MOORE
NAIROBI FOR MICHAEL FITZPATRICK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR KCRM PGOV PA
SUBJECT: BRAZILIANS RECORD PARAGUAYAN MILITARY OFFICIAL
WARNING NARCOTRAFFICKER



1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On February 7, a Paraguayan newspaper
reported that Paraguayan military officials detained Lt.
Colonel Felix Caceres, after his telephone conversation
warning a wanted drug trafficker in the Pedro Juan Caballero
area of future anti-drug activities was taped by Brazilian
Federal Police. The trafficker, Erineu Domingo Soligo, aka
"Pingo," has ties to the FARC and is a known arms/drugs
trafficker. Military authorities took Felix Caceres into
custody and plan to hold a hearing after an investigation is
conducted. A DEA source claimed the military official had
been warning traffickers in the region of SENAD counterdrug
activities for some time, including providing information to
extradited trafficker Ivan Mendes Mesquita prior to his
arrest. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Paraguayan news daily, La Nacion, reported on
February 7 that Brazilian Federal Police recorded Paraguayan
military Lieutenant Colonel Jose Felix Caceres warning Erineu
Domingo Soligo, aka "Pingo," that members of the National
Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) would be operating in the area
soon. (Note: Brazilian Federal Police routinely record
traffickers' conversations using Brazilian cellphones along
the Paraguay/Brazil border as part of joint counterdrug
operations called "Operation Alianza" conducted between the
two countries. End Note.) After the story was reported by
the press, officials took Felix Caceres into custody and
transferred him to the Vinas Cue military prison near
Asuncion. He will be held in that facility until his case is
presented before a military tribunal. According to Defense
Attache information, military officials in Asuncion know
little about Felix Caceres, as there are so many lieutenant
colonels in the military, that he would not fall on their
radar screen often. The officials admit that working in the
region is difficult, as narcotraffickers often tempt officers
with large bribes. However, the officials told the DATT that
the hearing will take into account all evidence of the case
before making a decision on his involvement, and they presume
Felix Caceres is innocent until proven guilty by a military
court.


3. (SBU) According to DEA officials, Felix Caceres had been
providing information about upcoming operations to
traffickers operating in the Pedro Juan Caballero region for
some time, including extradited trafficker Ivan Mendes
Mesquita. DEA reports that in November-December 2005, Felix
Caceres routinely asked Paraguayan Special Forces officers
working with SENAD specific questions about upcoming
activities in the region, presumably to warn Pingo and other
traffickers.


4. (SBU) Pingo, a Brazilian listed on SENAD,s "most wanted"
campaign, is a known narcotics and arms trafficker with
connections to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
(FARC). According to DEA information, Pingo owns several
ranches along the Brazil/Paraguay border and enjoys
protection by members of the Paraguayan National Police and
the military. DEA Paraguay office notes that Pingo has
escaped SENAD,s operations in the past by fleeing through
extensive tunnels dug from his ranches into the countryside.
It is likely that he was warned by Felix Caceres through
local police and military officials.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: While most of the Paraguayan newspapers
covered the story, the coverage by ABC Color reports that
Felix Caceres is being framed to appear that he is aiding the
narcotics traffickers in the region. DEA information
suggests that the Pedro Juan Caballero-based ABC reporter,
Candido Figueredo, is on the payroll of traffickers and
routinely reports false information to protect trafficking
operations in the area. END COMMENT.
CASON