FBI Fugutive Caught, Faces Return to U.S.

S E C R E T CARACAS 000053 SIPDIS AMEMBASSY BERLIN PASS TO AMCONSUL DUSSELDORF AMEMBASSY BERLIN PASS TO AMCONSUL LEIPZIG AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PASS TO AMEMBASSY GRENADA AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO AMCONSUL QUEBEC AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PASS TO AMCONSUL RECIFE E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/19 TAGS: PREL SNAR CO VE KCRM SUBJECT: FBI Fugutive Caught, Faces Return to U.S. REF: CARACAS 1444; CARACAS 1471 CLASSIFIED BY: DUDDY, AMBASSADOR, DOS, AMB; REASON: 1.4(C),(D) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Salomon "Big Daddy" Camacho Mora, an FBI fugitive since 2002, was captured January 13 in the Venezuelan state of Carabobo by the Bolivarian Intelligence Service, (SEBIN, formerly DISIP). Camacho is expected to be returned to the United States on January 26. This case illustrates a continuing working relationship between U.S and Venezuelan law enforcement at the operational level. Declarations at the policy level illustrate a chasm between Caracas and Washington. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Minister of Interior and Justice Tarek El-Aissami announced on January 17 that a joint SEBIN - National Anti-drug Office (ONA) operation on January 13 apprehended Colombian fugitive Camacho in Valencia, Carabobo. Speaking on state-run television channel VTV, El-Aissami classified Camacho as one of the ten most wanted by the DEA and declared that Venezuela was "complying with international accords," in the fight against drugs and organized crime. Referring to the long pending extradition request for suspected bomber Posada Carriles, El-Aissami added, "unlike the empire, we (Venezuela) ratify and respect international conventions and treaties," and noted that Camacho would be "deported" in the following days. Note: A drug trafficker for the last 20 years, Camacho has worked in Venezuela with fellow Colombian Hermagoras "Fatso" Gonzalez as part of the Guajira Cartel. INL offers a reward of up to U.S. $ 5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Camacho. End Note. ¶3. (S) Law Enforcement personnel assigned to post developed information that indicated where Camacho could be found. This information was provided to a SEBIN contact as a vetting exercise. SEBIN made the arrest and ONA is handling the "deportation," process. The SEBIN source reported back that he/she had not revealed the origin of the information on Camacho. Note: Although the 1999 Bolivarian Constitution prohibits the extradition of Venezuelan citizens, a 1923 treaty remains in force and would cover third country nationals. The GBRV has used immigration procedures to rapidly turn over suspected foreign criminals wanted in the United States. End Note. ¶4. (C) Comment: Good police work and people skills by law enforcement personnel assigned to post still yields important arrests from Venezuela's rank and file lawmen. This ad hoc practical cooperation contrasts with the GBRV's refusal to engage in strategic counternarcotics cooperation with the U.S., or to even discuss it. End Comment. CAULFIELD