RELATIVE OF AMERICAN AIRLINES EMPLOYEE MAY HAVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 001214 SIPDIS FAA FOR IAO MIAMI E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/04/2026 TAGS: KCRM EAIR PTER SMIG ETTC ASEC ES SUBJECT: RELATIVE OF AMERICAN AIRLINES EMPLOYEE MAY HAVE SMUGGLED MUNITIONS THROUGH MIAMI AIRPORT Classified By: DCM Michael Butler. Reasons 1.4 (b,d). ¶1. (U) According to an April 28 story in Salvadoran daily "El Mundo," the Salvadoran National Police is investigating a munitions cache found in a piece of luggage inspected and seized at Comalapa International Airport. Salvadoran National Police (PNC) Director Rodrigo Avila was quoted as saying that the individual, identified as Guillermo Velasquez Guzman, was transporting 22 caliber and AK-47 rounds in his personal luggage. ¶2. (C) Also on April 28, a Salvadoran Presidential adviser raised the case with Polcouns and said that Velasquez Guzman is, in fact, the husband of local American Airlines sales manager Margarita Adela Vilanova. He added that Velasquez had returned from Miami on an American Airlines flight, but that the luggage arrived in a separate flight also from Miami. The source stated that the munitions, 800 AK-rounds and 200 22 caliber rounds, were discovered during a random check of luggage at Comalapa airport. ¶3. (C) On April 30, PNC Director Avila confirmed source facts to Polcouns, but stated that Velasquez had transported "only" around 100 AK-47 rounds, and assured that Velasquez was not a criminal, but rather intended to use the bullets for target practice. Avila wondered how the luggage could have made it through Miami airport security. ¶4. (C) American Airlines general manager Carlos Rodriguez provided the embassy with fax copies of the Mr. Velasquez' bag tags showing 3 bags booked for a flight on the April 23, along with licenses for firearms. Included was a copy of the customs decree to hold the ammunition at the airport, which showed a weight of eight kilograms of ammunition, which would be in violation of American Airlines internal regulations allowing only five kilograms per passenger in checked baggage. ¶4. (C) Comment: More importantly than whether Velazquez violated Salvadoran law, we want to be sure that the ammunition passed through proper TSA security procedures at Miami International Airport, as well as American Airlines internal regulations. Barclay