SPAIN: BIO INFO ON DIRECTOR, ORGANIZED CRIME

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 000516 SIPDIS FOR EUR/WE'S ELAINE SAMSON AND STACIE ZERDECKI FOR INL'S JOHN LYLE AND STEPHANIE BOWERS FOR INR DAS CATHERINE W. BROWN PASS TO JIATF-S E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2019 TAGS: PREL PINR KSPR KCRM SNAR SP SUBJECT: SPAIN: BIO INFO ON DIRECTOR, ORGANIZED CRIME INTELLIGENCE CENTER (CICO) REF: A. SECSTATE 22549 ¶B. LP 08-104146D Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission William H. Duncan ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: As requested in REF A and beyond the material available in REF B, this cable provides biographic reporting on a leading Spanish official involved in counterdrug issues. Maria Marcos, Director of the Organized Crime Intelligence Center (CICO),is well-disposed to cooperating with the USG and Post expects she will remain in a position of influence for years to come. Post's relationship with her is a success story and an example of strong bilateral relations. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Marcos's interagency center, CICO, was created in part to de-conflict the operations of the Spanish National Police (SNP) and the paramilitary Civil Guard (GC) - which have a long-running rivalry. Spanish Customs also contributes personnel to CICO. If the USG has an issue with the senior leadership of either service, the DEA goes to Marcos, who acts as a buffer between the two security forces and her boss, Deputy Interior Minister Antonio Camacho. Marcos, who has always been available to Post to fill this role, has Camacho's ear and Post has found that it is quicker to go through her to get a message to Camacho. There are no term limits for Marcos's mandate as CICO Director. ¶3. (C) According to Embassy Madrid's recently departed DEA Country Attache (2005-09),Marcos is a friend of the DEA's and the USG's. She takes a very positive approach to bilateral relations and the GOS is pleased that she has close ties to the DEA and USG. The former attache noted that Marcos has assigned a GC official to the Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S) in Key West, FL, where she is expected to travel later this year. During her visit, Marcos likely will emphasize that this official is at JIATF-S as a representative of CICO rather than the GC. The former attache also highlighted that Marcos was the driving force in the GOS for Spain to host the International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC) in 2007. //A BRIGHT FUTURE// ¶4. (C) Marcos has a real future ahead of her and Post believes one day she could even lead the SNP or become the number-two official in the Ministry of Interior. Marcos, who is very much liked by Interior Minister Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, has been promoted quickly, based on her intelligence, charisma and can-do attitude. She is sincere, a pleasure to work with, and does not exceed her brief. Marcos speaks perfect French and is taking courses to improve her English language capabilities. She asks that emails to her be in English. Once she has built confidence in a relationship, Marcos can be very open and engaging. She loves to talk the substance of her issues, how to work together to achieve better results, and to share ideas for future bilateral collaboration. One area of concern she currently has is regarding Africa's increasing connection as a transit point for drugs bound for Spain. //THIRD-COUNTRY RELATIONSHIPS// ¶5. (C) According to the former DEA attache, Marcos moves well in international circles. She has traveled to Venezuela -- where several CICO liaison officers deployed -- on several occasions, but the former DEA attache suggests she does not trust the Chavez government. The GOS and GOV in late 2008 signed an accord which involved intelligence-sharing. The former DEA attache later asked Marcos about reports that the deal included a provision for the GOS to provide cellular intercept technology. Marcos replied that the GOS "would have to be crazy to sell them any kind of intercept capability." Marcos has a good relationship with Colombia, where CICO has three liaison officers posted and where she travels once a year. She also has good ties with Mexico, where CICO also has liaison officers posted. MADRID 00000516 002 OF 002 ¶6. (SBU) Marcos' contact information is as follows: Maria Marcos Salvador Directora del Centro de Inteligencia contra el Crimen Organizado Secretaria de Estado de Seguridad Ministerio del Interior Calle Recoletos, 22, 3a. planta 28001 Madrid, Spain Tel: 34-91-537-2732 Fax: 34-91-537-27-47 Mobile: 34-620-297-991 CHACON