COLOMBIA PLEASED WITH OFAC KINGPIN ACT

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 003408 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2018 TAGS: KTFN PTER PINR EFIN SNAR PREL KCRM VE CO SUBJECT: COLOMBIA PLEASED WITH OFAC KINGPIN ACT DESIGNATIONS OF BRV OFFICIALS REF: STATE 97316 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Brian A. Nichols for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (C) Charge told Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos on September 11 that the USG will designate three current and former Venezuelan officials under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act for materially assisting the narcotics trafficking activities of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on September 12. Santos was pleased at the news, stressing the importance of attacking the FARC's international support network. The Charge emphasized that the USG had not made its decision directly based on information recovered from the Raul Reyes computers, in accordance with its understandings with the GOC. The Defense Minister expected a strong reaction from Caracas, nonetheless. ¶2. (C) Separately, the Charge informed Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Camilo Reyes. VFM Reyes agreed that this action was warranted. Reyes opined that were it not for upcoming elections in Venezuela, Chavez might use the designations of the three as an excuse to break diplomatic relations with the U.S. CDA asked both Santos and Reyes to keep the designations close hold until the USG announced it. They agreed. NICHOLS