TAJIKISTAN: ARREST OF SEVEN FILIPINO AND SOUTH AFRICAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 DUSHANBE 000980 C O R R E C T E D C O P Y - ADDED AMCONSUL ISTANBUL TO ADDRESS LIST SIPDIS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED DEA HQS FOR OGE/SOILES, MONACO DEA HQS FOR SOD/S KHAN DEA HQS FOR SARI STATE FOR INL AND G/TIP ANKARA FOR DEA RD DESTITO ISLAMABAD FOR DEA ARD MARSAC KABUL FOR DEA CA BALBO BEIJING FOR DEA SA KING MANILA FOR DEA CA TEAL DUBAI FOR DEA CA HUDON LAGOS FOR DEA CA GAYE MOSCOW FOR DEA CA JONES KUALA LUMPUR FOR DEA CA RYAN ISTANBUL FOR DEA A/CA GALE WILLIAMS OTTAWA FOR DEA CA KAPHING PRETORIA FOR DEA CA BREEDEN MADRID FOR DEA CA BOND E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR TI SUBJECT: TAJIKISTAN: ARREST OF SEVEN FILIPINO AND SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONALS AND THE SEIZURE OF 13.5 KILOGRAMS OF HEROIN IN DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN BETWEEN MAY 26 AND JUNE 19, 2008. UI-08-0014/YEH1K; DLANGAMANDLA, NTOMBIZODWA FELICIA DUSHANBE 00000980 001.3 OF 006 CCX: UI-08-0013/XEHIF GFAN-05-8001 GFUI-08-9322 GFUI-08-9320 GFUI-08-9123 This cable is a request for action; please refer to paragraph nos. 23 to 29 for more information. SYNOPSIS -------------- ¶1. (SBU) Since May 26, 2008, the Tajik Customs Service, Tajik Drug Control Agency (TDCA) and the Tajik State Committee on National Security (TSCNS) have arrested seven individuals (4 Filipino couriers, 2 Filipino facilitators and 1 South African facilitator) and seized approximately 13.5 kilograms of heroin. The follow-up investigation has resulted in the full identification of one of the leaders within the organization, Sean Christopher TOWERS, a British national, and the partial identification of another organizational leader, "Ucha" LNU, a Nigerian national. A technical analysis of electronic data indicates that "Ucha" may be residing in or around Kabul, Afghanistan. DETAILS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On May 26 and 27, 2008, four Filipino subjects were arrested by the TSCNS and the Tajik Customs Service while carrying multiple kilogram quantities of heroin as they attempted to depart from the Dushanbe International Airport in Tajikistan on international flights. THESE FILIPINO SUBJECTS INCLUDED -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Name Heroin Quantity Destination Jona Gardose GARCIA 2.97 kilograms Istanbul, Turkey Caroline Mejaro DUMAN-Ag 4.91 kilograms Istanbul, Turkey Jonathan Luna BALONDO 3 kilograms Istanbul, Turkey Loida Descaya LAURELES 1 kilogram Dubai, UAE ¶4. (SBU) During her post-arrest interview, GARCIA related that she was instructed to travel to Dushanbe by Nancy Celestial QUINES. QUINES is described as a 25-28 year old Filipino national female residing in Guangzhou, China. QUINES periodically travels to Macau and Malaysia. QUINES utilizes the following cellular telephone numbers: in China: 86-15920401520, in Macao: 853-66782264 and in Malaysia: 60-172846716. ¶5. (SBU) QUINES is frequently in contact with Muhammad LNU, a Tajik national, who uses cellular telephone no. 992-919433267. GARCIA described Muhammad LNU as a narcotics distributor operating in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. ¶6. (SBU) During her post-arrest interview, DUMAN related that she and her friend, Luis BARING, were recruited to transport narcotics by another Filipino national, only identified as "Dizi" LNU. "Dizi" also resides in Guangzhou, China. "Dizi" arranged for their travel Qalso resides in Guangzhou, China. "Dizi" arranged for their travel from China to Dushanbe. After arriving in Dushanbe, DUMAN eventually took delivery of the drugs from a male subject, only identified as "John". "John" is believed to be a Tajik national, approximately 27 to 30 years of age. After observing DUMAN being arrested, BARING fled the area and later returned to China on May 29, 2008. ¶7. (SBU) During his post-arrest interview, Jonathan Luna BALONDO related that he and his friend, Cecil LNU, were recruited to transport narcotics by another Filipino national, only identified as Atey Marloon LNU. Atey Marloon LNU uses cellular telephone no. 86-15918647148 and resides in the town of Guangzhou, China. BALONDO took receipt of the drugs from Asiba LNU, believed to be a Tajik national between 27 and 30 years of age. Also on May 26th, Cecil LNU, approximately 26 years of age, was successful in departing Dushanbe with an unknown quantity of heroin traveling via Istanbul and Bangkok en route to Guangzhou, China. ¶8. (SBU) During her post-arrest interview, LAURELES related that she was instructed to travel to Dushanbe by a Nigerian male subject, only identified as "Obi" LNU. "Obi" LNU is approximately 28 to 30 years of age. He's described as an Anglo-African, who uses cellular telephone no. +86-1379-442-5771. "Obi" LNU is illegally residing in Guangzhou, China. LAURELES met "Obi" LNU through a male subject named "Maili" LNU. "Maili" LNU is a resident of Shuhai, China. LAURELES received the heroin in Dushanbe from "Obi" LNU's brother, "Emana" LNU, a Nigerian national. "Emana" LNU is approximately 24 to 26 years of age and came to Tajikistan under the pretext of being a "tourist". ¶9. (SBU) On June 18 and 19, 2008, the TDCA arrested three subjects and seized 1.5 kilograms of heroin, secreted inside the covers of notebooks, sealed in plastic bags and contained in a box that had been dropped off at the Dushanbe DHL office and was destined for Madrid, Spain. Two of the individuals were Filipinos, Etquibal Marivic SANTA ROSA and Jaro Manolito RUIZ. The third person is Ntombizodwa Felicia DLANGAMANDLA, a South African national, who actually mailed the box containing the drugs. ¶10. (SBU) All three subjects are cooperating with the TDCA and have provided statements that establish a connection between these individuals arrested by the TDCA on June 18th and June 19th and the previous four Filipino couriers that were arrested by the TSCNS at Dushanbe Int'l Airport on May 26th and May 27th. ¶11. (SBU) During his post-arrest interview, RUIZ stated that he was recruited by Jairus DIZON, a Filipino residing in Guangzhou, China. DIZON bought RUIZ an e-ticket and RUIZ traveled from Beijing through Urumchi to Dushanbe in late April and stayed at the Hotel Poytakht, paying $10 night, until June 12, 2008. RUIZ also met SANTA ROSA, who was also staying at the Hotel Poytakht. While in Dushanbe, RUIZ Qwho was also staying at the Hotel Poytakht. While in Dushanbe, RUIZ met Sean Christopher TOWERS and "Aziz", an Afghan associate of TOWERS'. After June 12th, RUIZ moved into TOWERS' house, along with SANTA ROSA and DLANGAMANDLA. Inside another house that TOWERS controlled, RUIZ observed a white powdery substance, which he believed to be heroin, in a black plastic bag. RUIZ stated that TOWERS talked to RUIZ about transporting 1-3 kilograms of heroin to China, but RUIZ refused. RUIZ observed a lot of drug packaging materials in TOWERS' house and also saw TOWERS' British passport. TOWERS would frequently talk about the "goods", and it was obvious to everybody that he was referring to narcotics. ¶12. (SBU) During her post-arrest interview, SANTA ROSA stated that she was recruited by Nancy Celestial, a Filipino residing in Guangzhou, China. This is the same Nancy Celestial QUINES that was previously identified by Jonathan Luna BALONO as his recruiter. Apparently, QUINES recruits other Filipinos to travel to Tajikistan for "work", but after arrival in country, they soon learn that no legitimate work is available and are pressured to act as heroin couriers. ¶13. (SBU) SANTA ROSA also stated that upon arriving in Dushanbe on Apr. 24, 2008, Nancy Celestial provided her with a telephone number of an African male, identified as Sean Christopher (TOWERS). SANTA ROSA then contacted TOWERS and later met with him on a number of occasions. TOWERS wanted SANTA ROSA to fly to Malaysia with a bag (containing heroin) that he had prepared, and SANTA ROSA declined the offer, but she remained in Dushanbe and continued to associate with TOWERS and also with DLANGAMANDLA. Later, she moved into the residence being occupied by TOWERS and is believed to have assisted in the packaging of the box containing the heroin that DLANGAMANDLA mailed at DHL. ¶14. (SBU) DLANGAMANDLA did not implicate TOWERS in the 1.5 kilogram heroin shipment, but she did acknowledge that TOWERS is a heroin trafficker. She also stated that TOWERS is her cousin and that he is a British National who resides or has resided in Washington D.C. She added that TOWERS had flown from Dushanbe to Almaty, Kazakhstan on or about June 12, 2008. TOWERS is currently utilizing cellular telephone number 7-7772658595. ¶15. (SBU) This information was passed to the Kazakh authorities, and they have subsequently confirmed that TOWERS is a British national and located him in an Almaty apartment. The TDCA is in the process of requesting a provisional arrest warrant for TOWERS' detention in Kazakhstan and subsequent extradition to Tajikistan. ¶16. (SBU) A TDCA source related that TOWERS had previously made reference to legal problems in Canada, which prohibited his travel to that country. ¶17. (SBU) Furthermore, DLANGAMANDLA stated that "Ucha" LNU, a Nigerian national using Afghan cellular telephone number 93-774199415, was the owner of the 1.5 kilograms of seized heroin and that "Ucha" had directed her to mail the box via DHL. She added that "Ucha's" brother, "KC", had originally recruited her and told her that she would be traveling to Dushanbe. "KC" is currently residing in Dubai, UAE. "Ucha's" cellular telephone has called two numbers in the UAE, one call to 971-556300000 and several calls to 971-556304536. ¶18. (SBU) DLANGAMANDLA continues to cooperate with the TDCA, and she has placed several controlled calls to "Ucha". During those conversations, "Ucha" related that he was sending his "brother" to deliver what is believed to be a load of drugs to Dushanbe during the June 28th/29th weekend and requested DLANGAMANDLA's assistance, but it is unknown whether or not this delivery occurred. "Ucha" Qbut it is unknown whether or not this delivery occurred. "Ucha" asked DLANGAMANDLA if she had ever traveled to China. DLANGAMANDLA believes that "Ucha" may want her to travel to China with some or all of those drugs. ¶19. (SBU) On July 1, 2008, the TDCA provided copies of TOWERS', QUINES' and Daniel Francis HUGHES' passport data page to A/CA Hackett. QUINES' and HUGHES' passport data page copies had been found during a search of TOWERS' Dushanbe residence. Also located were two visa-type photographs for HUGHES. No further information regarding HUGHES' relationship with the rest of the organization is available at this time. ¶20. (SBU) This cable was prepared by A/CA Paul Hackett in lieu of a DEA-6, pursuant to section 6242.11 of the DEA Agent's Manual. Please direct any questions to either A/CA Paul Hackett or S/A William Gustafson at cellular telephone numbers 992-90-700-7095 and 992-90-752-1222, respectively. Dushanbe is nine (9) hours ahead of Eastern Time. CUSTODY OF EVIDENCE -------------- ¶21. (SBU) Exhibit 1 is described as an off-white powdery substance, which tested positive for heroin at the TDCA laboratory, with an approximate gross weight of 1.5 kilograms. On June 18, 2008, Exhibit 1 was seized by officers of the TDCA from a DHL box that had been mailed by Ntombizodwa Felicia DLANGAMANDLA. Custody of Exhibit 1 was maintained by the arresting TDCA officers, until it was released to the TDCA forensic chemist for testing, analysis and safekeeping on June 19, 2008. INDEXING SECTION -------------- ¶22. (SBU) ¶A. GARCIA, Jona Gardose - NADDIS# Negative; Asian female; Filipino national; DOB: July 22, 1984; POB: Iloilo City, Philippines; Republic of the Philippines passport no. QQ0557712. Remarks: Subject was arrested at Dushanbe International Airport on May 26, 2008 in possession of 2.97 kgs of heroin. ¶B. DUMAN-AG, Caroline Mejaro - NADDIS# Negative; Asian female; Filipino national; DOB: November 13, 1962; POB: Misamis Occ, Philippines; Republic of the Philippines passport no. XX0114088. Remarks: Subject was arrested at Dushanbe International Airport on May 26, 2008 in possession of 4.91 kgs of heroin. ¶C. BALONDO, Jonathan Luna - NADDIS# Negative; Asian male; Filipino national; DOB: June 29, 1970; POB: Rizal, Philippines; Republic of the Philippines passport no. XX0060117. Remarks: Subject was arrested at Dushanbe International Airport on May 26, 2008 in possession of 3 kgs of heroin. ¶D. LAURELES, Loida Descaya - NADDIS# Negative; Asian female; Filipino national; DOB: May 18, 1964; POB: Quezon City, Philippines; Republic of the Philippines passport no. MM596660. Remarks: Subject was arrested at Dushanbe International Airport on May 27, 2008 in possession of 1 kg of heroin. ¶E. QUINES, Nancy Celestial - NADDIS# Negative; Asian female; Filipino national; DOB: 12/08/1966; POB: Polomolok, South Cotabato, Philippines; Address: Guangzhou, China; Cellular telephone nos. (in China) +861-5920401520; (in Macao) +853-66782264 and (in Malaysia) +601-72846716; Philippine passport no. VV0768028. Remarks: Subject reportedly recruits Filipino heroin couriers in China for travel to countries in Asia and Europe. ¶F. LNU, Muhammad - NADDIS# Negative; Asian male; Tajik national; cellular telephone no. 992-919433267. Remarks: Subject reportedly distributes narcotics in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. ¶G. LNU, Dizi - NADDIS# Negative. Remarks: Subject reportedly recruited Filipino nationals in China to be heroin couriers in Qrecruited Filipino nationals in China to be heroin couriers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. ¶H. BARING, Luis - NADDIS# Negative; Remarks: Subject was reportedly recruited in China by a Filipino national, only identified as "Dizi" LNU, to be a heroin courier in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. ¶I. LNU, Cecil - NADDIS# Negative; Filipino national. Subject was reportedly recruited in China to be a heroin courier in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, and on May 26, 2008, Cecil LNU successfully transported an unknown quantity of heroin from Dushanbe via Istanbul and Bangkok en route to Guangzhou, China. ¶J. LNU, Atey Marloon - NADDIS# Negative; Asian female; Filipino national; Address: Guangzhou, China; cellular telephone no. 86-15918647148. Remarks: Subject reportedly recruited Filipino nationals in China to be heroin couriers in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. ¶K. LNU, Obi - NADDIS# Negative; black male; Nigerian national; DOB: 00/00/1979; Address: Guangzhou, China; cellular telephone no. 86-13794425771. Remarks: Subject reportedly recruited Loida LAURELES in China to be a heroin courier in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. ¶L. LNU, Maili - NADDIS# Negative; Address: Shuhai, China. Remarks: Subject introduced Loida LAURELES to "Obi" LNU in China. ¶M. LNU, Emana - NADDIS# Negative; Nigerian national. Remarks: Subject reportedly delivered 1 kilogram of heroin to Loida LAURELES in Dushanbe, Tajikistan in May of 2008. ¶N. DLANGAMANDLA, Ntombizodwa Felicia - NADDIS# Negative; black female; South African national; DOB: 08/27/1982; South African Passport# 464982562; Remarks: Subject is a facilitator of multiple kilogram heroin shipments; arrested on 6/18/08 by the TDCA in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. ¶O. SANTA ROSA, Etquibal Marivic - NADDIS# Negative; Asian female; Filipino national; DOB: 08/06/1969; Philippine Passport# VV0760283; Alternate spelling of last name: STA ROSA; Remarks: Subject is a facilitator of multiple kilogram heroin shipments; arrested on 6/19/08 by the TDCA in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. ¶P. RUIZ, Jaro Manolito - NADDIS# Negative; Asian male; Filipino national; DOB: 07/21/1964; Philippine Passport# XX0350510; Remarks: Subject is a facilitator of multiple kilogram heroin shipments; arrested on 6/19/08 by the TDCA in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. ¶Q. TOWERS, Sean Christopher - NADDIS# Negative; black male; British national; DOB: 05/19/1965; POB: Hackney, London, U.K.; British Passport# 036737411; Remarks: Subject is a leader within an organization that ships kilogram quantities of heroin from Dushanbe, Tajikistan to Europe and Asia. ¶R. LNU, "Ucha" - NADDIS Negative; black male; Nigerian national; Cellular telephone no. 93-774199415. Remarks: Subject is a leader within an organization that ships kilogram quantities of heroin from Dushanbe, Tajikistan to Europe and Asia. ¶S. HUGHES, Daniel Francis - NADDIS Negative; black male; British QS. HUGHES, Daniel Francis - NADDIS Negative; black male; British national; DOB: 08/18/1959; British Passport# 706678749. Remarks: A copy of subject's passport data page and two visa-type photos were discovered in Sean Christopher TOWERS' residence in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on/about June 19, 2008. Action Requested -------------- ¶23. Ottawa CO - Please provide Canadian criminal history and immigration records for Sean Christopher TOWERS Daniel Francis HUGHES. ¶24. Manila CO - Please provide criminal history and immigration records for Nancy Celestial QUINES, Etquibal Marivic SANTA ROSA and Jaro Manolito RUIZ. ¶25. Beijing CO - Please provide criminal history and immigration records for Nancy Celestial QUINES, and if possible attempt to obtain her whereabouts in Guangzhou, China. ¶26. Pretoria CO - Please provide criminal history and immigration records for Ntombizodwa Felicia DLANGAMANDLA. ¶27. Kabul CO - Please provide subscriber information for "Ucha's" cellular telephone number 93-774199415. ¶28. Madrid CO - Please attempt to identify the intended recipient of the DHL package in Madrid, Spain. The addressee information was previously provided. ¶29. Moscow CO - Please provide subscriber information and toll records for TOWERS' cellular telephone number 7-7772658595. JACOBSON