Drug Sub Captured with 2/5 Tons of Cocaine

The drugs were on the vessel sunk off the Caribbean coast of Honduras around two weeks ago by its four-man crew after the coast guard caught up with the suspected traffickers.

General Rene Osorio of Honduras said the semi-submersible sub had been carrying around 5 tons of cocaine and that half of the narcotics shipment was still on board.

Honduras is used by Mexican and Colombian cartels to traffic drugs to the United States. Mexican drug gangs have been moving into Central America since Mexico's government launched an army-led drive to crush them 4-1/2 years ago.

(Reporting by Gustavo Palencia; Editing by Eric Walsh)

The Rest @ Reuters

FARC Arms Trafficker "El Indo" Captured

Colombian authorities have captured FARC member and alleged arms and drug trafficker alias "El Indio," the brother-in-law of alias "Gafas," responsible for kidnapping three American contractors.

According to Director of Citizen Security Jose Roberto Leon Riaño, Aurelio Vasquez Serrano, alias "El Indio," was arrested while traveling towards Buenaventura, northwest of Cali on the Pacific Coast, on a public bus, with the alleged objective of "exploring drug trafficking routes," newspaper El Tiempo reported Thursday.

According to police, El Indio was an arms supplier for the FARC's 36th front, operating mainly out of the department of Antioquia, and 38th front operating mainly out of the Voyaca and Casanare departments, and also negotiated exchanges of cocaine for arms for the organization.

He is also a family member of FARC member alias "Gafas," currently serving 19 years in prison after being arrested in the military's Operation Checkmate, in which three U.S. contractors and the now infamous Ingrid Betancourt were rescued from the guerrilla organization.

El Indio was located by police after months of investigation, reportedly through a cell phone call he made from the bus, and has five arrest warrants against him for charges of terrorism, homicide, supplying weapons, extortion and drug trafficking.

The Rest @ Columbia Reports

Varela Asking for Help for Corabastos

Greater police presence is needed for the agricultural distribution company Corabastos, according to the general manager, after being named by an NGO on Monday as being the main entry point forBogota's drugs.

Hector William Varela, who manages Colombia's largest wholesale distributor Corabastos, said that there are only 38 police officers located at the entire company and asked for greater support from police, in an El Espectador interview published Tuesday.

Varela said "There are 270 private security guards but they cannot perform searches or confiscate goods, nor make arrests."

According to Caracol Radio, Corabastos is on a 260 square mile site, providing the workplace for 6,500 vendors and receiving 20,000 visitors daily.

The general manager, however, also added that during his tenure he has not seen evidence of criminal activity such as money laundering, as well as drugs and arms trafficking, that was alleged inthe Bogota criminality study released by NGO Nuevo Arco Iris Monday.

Varela, who has been at the helm of Corabastos for one year, said any trafficking taking place at his company is the fault of the failings of the National Police. "If what the report says is true, it means that trucks are going along the roads of this country without any sort of control."

He did however stress the support received from Director of Bogota's Metropolitan Police General Francisco Patiño and Director of National Police General Oscar Naranjo.

General Naranjo offered a $27,000 (COP50 million) reward to anyone who can help stop the criminal gangs who operate on the premises of the wholesaler.

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

**********************

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.

---

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)

The Rest @ Honduras Weekly

FARC Commander Oliver Solarte Killed in Columbia

FARC commander "Oliver Solarte," who was killed Monday by Colombian armed forces in Putumayo, was one of the group's key drugs and arms smugglers and a link to Mexican drug cartels, President Juan Manuel Santos announced late Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters in Bogota, Santos stated that Solarte was a key contact with Mexican drug gangs, adding, "He was a very important part of the FARC ... He handled all the drugs and arms trafficking of the FARC's Southern Bloc. He was among the Central Command and only responded to the Secretariat."

Solarte had been a member of the FARC for 20 years and had three arrest warrants against him in Colombia, for terrorism, extortion, kidnapping, aggravated murder, rebellion and aggravated theft. In addition, he had an extradition request against him from the U.S. for drug trafficking.

Santos described the death of Solarte, who had become leader of the 48th Front last year after the death in January 2010 of its previous leader, "Edgar Tovar," as a "major blow" to the guerrilla group.

Head of the Colombian armed forces Admiral Edgar Cely added to reporters that the same operation that saw Solarte killed saw the seizure of communications equipment, six grenades and eleven phones.

Santos reiterated that should the FARC continue with their terrorist activity, they will fall, one after another, as Solarte did.

The Rest @ Colombiareports

Seven Colombians Extradicted to US - Now in Tampa

Tampa , FL - Unites States Attorney A. Brian Albritton announced today that seven individuals have been extradited from Colombia after having been indicted on drug charges. Humberto Cuevas-Salazar, Edwin Alirio Periaza-Grueso, Elkin De Jesus Quintero-Jimenez, Jesus Antonio Ardila Moreno, Jorge Renteria-Cuero, Willington Estupinan-Portocarrero, Hector Fabio Garcia- Vengoechea arrived late last Friday evening and made their initial appearances yesterday and today in Tampa Federal court before United States Magistrate Judge Thomas B. McCoun, III.

Name, Age, Charges:

• Humberto Cuevas-Salazar, a/k/a “Romoaldo,” a/k/a “Inginiero,” a/k/a "Romo Aldo,"a/k/a "Romaldo," age 55 Faces 10 years to Life Conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; conspiracy to possess five kilograms or more of cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
  
• Edwin Alirio Periaza-Grueso, age 27 Faces 10 years to Life Conspiracy to import into the United States five kilograms cocaine; conspiracy to manufacture and distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; conspiracy to possess five kilograms or more of cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
  
• Elkin De Jesus Quintero-Jimenez, age 39 Faces 5 years to 40 years Conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin and more than 500 grams of cocaine.
  Jesus Antonio Ardila Moreno, age 48 Faces 5 years to 40 years Conspiracy to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin and more than 500 grams of cocaine.
  
• Jorge Renteria-Cuero, age 41 Faces 10 years to Life Conspiracy to manufacture and distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; conspiracy to possess five kilograms or more of cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
  
• Willington Estupinan-Portocarrero, age 35 Faces 10 years to Life Conspiracy to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; three counts of conspiracy to possess five kilograms or more of cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.
  
• Hector Fabio Garcia- Vengoechea, age 45 Faces 10 years to Life Ttwo counts of conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. Cuevas-Salazar is accused of organizing and engineering the construction and use of semi-submersible vessels used to smuggle cocaine from Colombia to the United States.
  
• Perelaza-Grueso is alleged to be part of a large-scale maritime cocaine transportation organization, known as ‘Los Pescaditos’ with a base of operations in Buenaventura, located on the west coast of Colombia.

Los Pescaditos have been a highly successful maritime smuggling group for the better part of the last decade.

Perelaza- Grueso is related to other leaders in the organization. The Panama Express Strike Force has linked more than seven interdictions, involving fishing vessels and go-fast operations, involving seizures ranging from two to five tons, to Los Pescaditos.

Quenter-Jimenz and Ardila-Moreno are accused of selling both cocaine and heroin to a confidential informant working with DEA in Colombia.

Renteria-Cuero was the alleged leader of a maritime cocaine smuggling organization operating from the Pacific coast of Colombia The organization utilized both “go-fast” boats and large fishing vessels to smuggle thousands of kilograms to the United States via Mexico.

Co-conspirators Jose Desidero Montenegro Jaramillo and Evert Ramirez Estupinan were previously extradited to the United States and entered pleas of guilty on January 16, 2009.

Estupinan-Portocarrero is charged with using two fishing vessels, the Lina Maria and the San Jose, to smuggle cocaine into the United States in September 2004.

Garcia-Vengohechea is alleged to be part of a large scale cocaine organization based in Colombia. Beginning at least as early as 2002, the organization allegedly trafficked and imported significant quantities of cocaine into the United States and Haiti from Colombia and Venezuela

The Rest @ the Tampa, FL FBI Office
These investigations were the result of investigations by the Panama Express South Strike Force. Panama Express Strike Force South (PANEX) is a federally-approved Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) consisting of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Coast Guard, the Internal Revenue Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Joint Interagency Task Force.
The Colombian National Police also assisted, as well as the Orlando office of DEA. Operation Panama Express South currently targets Colombian maritime smuggling organizations responsible for cocaine trafficking throughout the Eastern Pacific to the United States and elsewhere for distribution. These cases will be prosecuted by First Assistant United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Perry, Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Ruddy, Assistant United States Attorney Walter E. Furr, Assistant United States Attorney Vincent Citro and Assistant United States Attorney Julie Savell.