UPDATE ON THE KIDNAPPING OF AMERICAN CITIZEN RAMON

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 001324 SIPDIS SIPDIS DS/IP/WHA, DS/IP/ITA, DS/DSS/OSAC, AND DSCC WHA/CAN AND CA/OCAS/ACS/WHA E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2016 TAGS: ASEC KCRM PGOV KSAC CASC HO SUBJECT: UPDATE ON THE KIDNAPPING OF AMERICAN CITIZEN RAMON ¶J. ACIDE IN SAN PEDRO SULA ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On July 21, 2006 RSO Tegucigalpa and LEGATT San Salvador met with local authorities assigned to the kidnapping investigation of U.S. citizen Ramon J. Acide. A briefing on the current status of the investigation revealed the alleged possibility that the father of Ramon, Joaquin Acide (DOB 06/11/53),could be involved in illegal activity. End Summary. ¶2. (C) On Friday, July 21, RSO and LEGATT met with the Vice Minister of Security Jorge Rodas Gamero and other police officials involved with the kidnapping investigation of U.S. citizen Ramon Acide. Honduran police officials believe that the father of Ramon is involved with illegal drug activity and that this was the motivation for his son's abduction. ¶3. (C) During several phone calls to the father, the kidnappers demanded a 5 million lempira (USD 265,000) ransom and several references were made to money from illegal drug activities in Miami. The father denied involvement in the drug trade to both the kidnappers and Honduran police. (RSO Note: A criminal check of Joaquin Acide came back negative. A check of DEA criminal database revealed negative results as well. End RSO Note). ¶4. (C) The police investigation is indicating that the gang MS-13 is allegedly involved with the kidnapping. Several times during the second ransom call, the kidnappers stated that the father and his house in Villanueva were being watched. RSO confirmed that this particular neighborhood does indeed have gangs operating and living in the area. The investigation is also leading police to believe that the caller is "El Culiche" - having compared several recorded messages from past investigations of this dangerous gang leader. (RSO Note: El Culiche, Lester Rivera Paz, was wanted for his involvement in the December 2004 bus massacre in San Pedro Sula. He had escaped from Honduran police officials but was later arrested in February 2005 trying to enter the U.S. He was later released by U.S. officials and deported back to Honduras in November 2005 on a Justice Prisoner and Alien Transportation System (JPATS) flight. Honduran police officials were unaware of his release due to a mix-up by DHS/ICE in the U.S. and he was able to return to Honduras without police officials being alerted. End RSO Note). Police have also traced one ransom call to a house where a member of the El Culiche gang lives. ¶5. (C) LEGATT San Salvador having reviewed the case and several recorded conversations between the kidnappers and the father has determined the investigation is moving in the right direction at this stage. LEGATT came to the conclusion that no further USG assistance is required at this time. However, LEGATT will remain in contact with Honduran officials and is ready to provide FBI assets should they be needed. LEGATT did speak to the father by phone to explain the situation and what the USG was prepared to do to assist local officials. LEGATT gave his contact information to the father should he have further questions. The father was also told he could call the Consul General at the Embassy in Tegucigalpa if he had any additional questions. ¶6. (U) In closing, it appears Honduran police officials are actively working the case. Additional leads are developed with every new contact from the kidnappers. RSO will continue to monitor the situation and report on the progress of the case. Should you have further questions please contact RSO Lizzi. FORD