Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BOGOTA1109
2007-02-15 15:08:00
SECRET
Embassy Bogota
Cable title:  

ELN NARCO ACTIVITIES INCREASINGLY APPARENT

Tags:  PTER SNAR KCRM PHUM PGOV CO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0026
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #1109/01 0461508
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 151508Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2735
INFO RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN PRIORITY 1217
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 7406
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 8683
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ FEB 8520
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 4749
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 9579
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO PRIORITY 0365
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 5405
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0136
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T BOGOTA 001109 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2017
TAGS: PTER SNAR KCRM PHUM PGOV CO
SUBJECT: ELN NARCO ACTIVITIES INCREASINGLY APPARENT

REF: BOGOTA 509 (NOTAL)

Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer
Reason: 1.4 (b, d)

-------
Summary
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S E C R E T BOGOTA 001109

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/13/2017
TAGS: PTER SNAR KCRM PHUM PGOV CO
SUBJECT: ELN NARCO ACTIVITIES INCREASINGLY APPARENT

REF: BOGOTA 509 (NOTAL)

Classified By: Political Counselor John S. Creamer
Reason: 1.4 (b, d)

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (S) There is growing evidence of ELN fronts' narcotics
trafficking activities, and credible indications the ELN's
Central Command (COCE) permits and benefits financially from
the drug trade. Testimony from demobilized ELN fighters says
some ELN fronts adre deeply involved in narco activities.
The ELN processes less cocaine base than the FARC, but is
heavily involved in taxing stages of production, and sells
directly to traffickers. A senior ELN terrorist told the
COCE in a private December letter the organization had to
choose between peace or narcotrafficking. End summary.

-------------- --------------
Reports of ELN Narco Activities Increasing, Credible
-------------- --------------


2. (C) Debriefings of demobilized ELN fighters show
increasing involvement by ELN fronts in a wide range of
narcotics trafficking activities. In Embassy debriefings, 12
former ELN guerrillas said the ELN's Central Command (COCE)
had permitted fronts to engage in narcotrafficking since
1998, when income from kidnappings and extortion started to
decline. The ELN is organized into 5 "War Fronts" (North,
Northeast, Central, Southeast, and Northwest),which have
authority over about 39 rural fronts, 9 urban fronts, and 7
companies. Fronts appear to have nominal strength of about
70, in many cases substantially fewer. Total ELN strength is
estimated at some 2,500.


3. (C) The demobilized fighters said ELN fronts in Arauca,
North Santander, Antioquia, south Bolivar, Valle del Cauca,
and Narino departments received 90 percent of their income
from narco activities. They cited as a recent example of the
ELN leadership's knowledge of drug involvement a case in
which the ELN's National Directorate (which reports to the
COCE) assigned terrorist "Paula" to better organize the narco
finances of the "Dario de Jesus Ramirez Castro" front,
operating in Bolivar, Antioquia, and Choco. The demobilized
told us about 80 percent of narco proceeds go to the
"cuadrilla," or front sub-unit, responsible for collecting
them, and are used for general expenses. Another 10 percent
goes to the front's leadership directorate, with the balance
sent to the COCE.


4. (S) The demobilized told us ELN narco activities range
from cultivation to processing. They also tax campesinos and
make direct sales to traffickers, mostly in Medellin.
Sensitive reporting said the ELN's production of cocaine base
is less than that of the FARC, with heavy taxing of
laboratories and growers being more common. One sensitive
report said the "Dario de Jesus Ramirez Castro" front earned
over $270,000 in two months in sales of cocaine base to
Medellin traffickers.

-------------- ---
Senior ELN Terrorist Letter Confirms Narco Trend
-------------- ---


5. (C) Francisco Galan, who is a member of the ELN's team
negotiating with the GOC, said in a private December 19
letter to the COCE that the ELN was "at a crossroads: peace
or narcotrafficking." In the letter, Galan said the
post-9/11 "war on terrorism" had harmed the ELN politically.
He told the COCE kidnappings are now politically
unsustainable. Galan insisted that maintaining the ELN's
military campaign would mean stepping up kidnappings and
getting involved in narcotrafficking "in an accelerated and
uncontrolled manner," leading to alliances with
paramilitaries or to being absorbed by the FARC.


6. (C) GOC-ELN civil society guarantor Alvaro Jimenez told
us Galan knows the extent of ELN's narco business and fears
the ELN's "political project," such as it is, is fighting a
losing battle against the huge profits available to fronts
from drugs. In the December 19 letter, Galan tells the COCE
of the strong perception in Colombia that the ELN obtains
over 50 percent of its income from drug proceeds.

--------------
FARC Attacks Increase Pressure on ELN
--------------


7. (C) A series of FARC attacks on the ELN and its alleged
sympathizers in recent months have caused deaths numbering
about 300, especially in Arauca, Cauca, and Narino. The ELN
sought Catholic Church mediation with the FARC in Arauca,
with little success. By all accounts, the struggle is
primarily over territory and drug routes. FARC statements
have accused the ELN of treachery and of working with the
paramilitaries and the armed forces. ELN statements have
urged talks with the FARC to resolve differences.

DRUCKER