Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MADRID516
2009-05-29 16:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Madrid
Cable title:  

SPAIN: BIO INFO ON DIRECTOR, ORGANIZED CRIME

Tags:  PREL PINR KSPR KCRM SNAR SP 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6140
PP RUEHLA
DE RUEHMD #0516/01 1491623
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 291623Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0697
INFO RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA PRIORITY 4008
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHNA/DEA HQS WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEWMFD/DIRJIATF SOUTH J2 PRIORITY
RUCNFB/FBI WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
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

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