EXTRADITION HIGHLIGHTS BILATERAL COORDINATION

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 001000 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KJUS SNAR ES SUBJECT: EXTRADITION HIGHLIGHTS BILATERAL COORDINATION ¶1. (U) Summary: Salvadoran Julio Eduardo Villatoro Monteagudo was successfully extradited from the U.S. to El Salvador October 20 in an operation that displayed exceptional coordination among U.S. agencies and the GOES. DHS agents escorted Villatoro Monteagudo from Miami to San Salvador, where the local media observed his transfer to Salvadoran authorities. This extradition comes on the heels of other recent law enforcement successes involving DEA support for Salvadoran Navy that resulted in the apprehension of seaborne cocaine shipments. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Background: Villatoro Monteagudo was extradited October 20 following an indictment by a Salvadoran court for fraud and money laundering. The charge was that Villatoro carried out an alleged 8.9 million USD scheme involving El Salvador's brokerage agency Operaciones Bursatiles de Centro America (OBC),which operates the country's stock exchange market. In July 2004, the Superintendent of Securities, the administrative controlling agency of the stock market in El Salvador, informed the Attorney General's office of irregularities observed in the OBC's management and administration of certain investments. The agency also reported that OBC-controlled businesses had been in unlawful receipt of funds. The extradition for Villatoro Monteagudo began January 4, 2006, and was followed by a complex legal battle through multiple U.S. court appearances, filings, and appeals. Villatoro Monteagudo was deemed extraditable for defrauding the Salvadoran economy but not laundering, as it was not a charge included in the 1911 extradition treaty between the U.S. and El Salvador. ¶3. (U) PAO set up a press conference at the airport, featuring the Salvadoran Attorney General, Romeo Barahona, and Charge. The Charge said that the extradition sends a message to criminals that "fugitives from justice cannot rest at ease in another country and escape justice." Barahona reiterated this point, adding that Villatoro Monteagudo will be charged with both civil and criminal offenses. Barahona said he also hopes to track down the missing money in the U.S. ¶4. (U) The GOES worked closely with us to choreograph Villatoro's arrival at the airport and the ensuing press conference. Charge and AG Barahona both highlighted this cooperation, but Charge reminded everyone that extradition is a two-way street, and that El Salvador needs to move forward on pending cases. ¶5. (SBU) Comment: We were pleased by the Foreign Ministry and Attorney General's performance in this case, particularly their respect for operational security. This follows on the heels of other recent successes against organized crime. In recent weeks, the DEA and CSL provided support for the Salvadoran Navy in the seizure of cocaine shipments transported on go-fast boats, resulting in the seizure of 299 kilos of cocaine in one operation and 500 kilos in another. BLAU