Hnduran LAWS and 40mm Grenade Launchers in the Hands of Cartels

There is a possibility that 23 LAWS, possibly 40mm grenade launchers are in the hands of Cartels, aquired from the Honduran Military; however, this news is more than three years old....

-Gochoa

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The following is a copy of a confidential cable written by United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the US Embassy in Tegucigalpa on October 2, 2008 regarding the "possible unauthorized diversion, misuse or failure to secure" arms provided to Honduras by the US. According to the cable, the US government "has become aware that light antitank weapons (LAWs) and grenades supplied to Honduras under the Foreign Military Sales program were recovered in Mexico and Colombia". It cites a report by the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) published on July 9, 2008 entitled "Honduras: Military Weapons Fuel Black Arms Market", suggesting that the LAWs and grenades may have been provided to organized crime and specifically drug cartels during the years of the Zelaya administration.

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S E C R E T STATE 105491

SIPDIS

NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2018 TAGS: MASS, MCAP, PARM, HO SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: LAX HONDURAN CONTROLS ON US-SUPPLIED WEAPONS Classified By: Classified by: Christopher W. Webster, Director WHA/CEN Reason(s) 1.4 (a),(b), (c), and (d).

1. (U) Action request contained in paras 2 and 3.

2. (S/NF) Summary: The USG has become aware that light antitank weapons (LAWs) and grenades supplied to Honduras under the Foreign Military Sales program were recovered in Mexico and Colombia. The Department's Bureau of Political Military Affairs is preparing a congressional notification (required by Section 3 of the Arms Export Control Act) regarding the possible unauthorized diversion, misuse or failure to secure such U.S.origin defense articles or defense services by the Government of Honduras (GOH). The Embassy is requested to raise this issue with appropriate GOH officials to ensure that GOH officials understand their legal end-use obligations with respect to control of US-origin defense articles, that USG end-use monitoring is being completed, and that failure to fulfill their obligations may jeopardize certain aspects of future bilateral security cooperation.

OBJECTIVES

3. (SBU) Department requests Embassy pursue the following objectives with appropriate GOH Ministries of Defense (MOD) and Foreign Affairs (MFA) officials

-- To remind GOH that is has retransfer, end-use and security obligations with respect to defense articles or defense services sold or granted by the US.

-- To ensure that the GOH realizes the importance of ensuring especially weapons, supplied under US military assistance programs to prevent unauthorized transfers.

-- To gain GOH commitment to accept responsibility for investigating unauthorized diversions and punish appropriately those held responsible.

-- To obtain GOH action to strengthen controls on import/export of weapons and other military equipment.

-- Reiterate US support for on-going weapons destruction programs or new requests for future programs. Express US willingness to provide physical security and/or stockpile management assistance to the GOH if requested.

BACKGROUND

4. (S/NF) On July 9, 2008, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) published a report entitled "Honduras: Military Weapons Fuel Black Arms Market". According to the DIA report, three light anti-tank weapons (LAWs) were recovered in Mexico City in January 2008, and one was recovered in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico in April 2008. Six more LAWs were recovered on San Andres Island, Colombia in March 2008. Factory markings analysis of lot and serial numbers undertaken by DIA's Military Materiel Identification Division (CHUCKWAGON)/MIO-5 indicates that these LAWs were part of a shipment of fifty sent to the Honduran 2nd Infantry Battalion's TESON training element. The LAWs were originally transferred to Honduras in 1992 as part of a US Foreign Military Sales program. (C/HND) In April 2008, an investigation undertaken by the Honduran military found that the 2nd Infantry Battalion's TESON training element could not account for 26 of these fifty LAWs. (S/NF) In addition, at least two US-produced M433 40-mm grenades have beenrecovered in Colombia and Mexico, according to credible sources with direct access cited in the DIA report. The only foreign military sale of M433 40-mm grenades was to Honduras in 1985.

5. (U) For more information on this issue please contact WHA/CEN: Rebecca M. Valerin (202-647-3482)

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