US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA2063

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TEGUCIGALPA 002063 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEA HQS PLS PASS TO SARI, OF/STEFFICK, BOND, HUTCHINSON, 
NTRM/BERGMANN 
DEA MEXICO FOR HOLIFIELD, BAEZA, GARAY AND WHITE 
DEA BOGOTA PLS PASS TO CARTAGENA RO FOR FISCHER 
STATE FOR INL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: N/A 
SUBJECT: WEAPON SEIZURE; 
TI-00-0003/WEC1F;GARCIA-MONTES,CARLOS 
CCX:ZU-04-0024/UEC1I;NARVAES-ALTAMAR, JUAN CARLOS 
 
REF: A. BOGOTA TWX 07868 DATED 091639ZAUG04 
     B. TEGUCIGALPA TWX 01712 DATED 042236ZAUG04 
     C. TEGUCIGALPA TWX 01588 DATED 281320ZMAY02 
 
1. (SBU) On August 20, 2004, members of the Honduran police 
and Prosecutors office found another arsenal of weapons from 
a residence near Zamorano, Honduras (HD) belonging to Carlos 
GARCIA-Montes (NADDIS 4539661), who was murdered in 
Bocagrande, Colombia (CB) (near Cartagena, CB) on July 14, 
2004. From hereforth GARCIA-Montes will be referred to as 
MONTES.  The following weapons and serial numbers were 
extracted from a buried hole localized in the house under the 
foundation slab at the Zamorano property: 
 
1 x MG-50M2 (50 cal - heavy barrel), Serial Number (S/N) P/N 
7265636, manufacturer (MFG): Saco Defense Systems Division, 
March 1983 
 
2 x Colt 
 
A.  AR-15, S/N: 618316 
B.  M16AL: S/N unknown 
 
18 x FAL (cal 7.6) 
 
A.  MFG: Hestal, Belgium, S/N: 15048,Receiver#: 853913 
B.  MFG: Hestal, Belgium, S/N: 15074, Receiver#: 853939 
C.  MFG: Hestal, Belgium, S/N: 17305 
D.  MFG: Hestal, Belgium, S/N: 17383 
E.  MFG: Hestal, Belgium, S/N: 17741 
F.  MFG: Hestal, Belgium, S/N: 6255 
G.  MFG: Hestal, Belgium, S/N: 16939 
H.  MFG: Hestal, Belgium, S/N: 14525 
I.  MFG: Hestal, Belgium, S/N: 15575 
J.  MFG: Hestal, Belgium, S/N: 15359 
K.  MFG: Argentina, S/N: 113734 
L.  MFG: Argentina, S/N: 109586 (Paratrooper Version) 
M.  MFG: Argentina, S/N: 113716 (Paratrooper Version), 
Possibly a Honduran Police weapon because of tape marking 
indicating it was defective. 
N.  MFG: Unknown, S/N: 14799, Contained initials: 
"FSP"indicating it belonged to the pre-1997 Honduran Police 
(Previous Army). 
O. MFG: Argentina, S/N: 112130 (Paratrooper Version), stock 
missing. 
P. MFG: Hestal, Belgium, S/N: 16780, tape marking indicates 
it was likely a Honduran Police weapon. 
Q. MFG: Unknown, S/N: 14610 & 13956, Double serial numbers 
indicate this may have been a Contra War weapon that was 
taken and used by the Honduran Police. 
R. MFG: Unknown, S/N: 1262 & 17164, Double serial numbers 
indicate this may have been a Contra War weapon that was 
taken and used by the Honduran Police 
 
16 x MG-32 (7.62) 
 
A.  S/N: 1095, secondary S/N on rear bolt: 2534, Germany 1944 
B.  S/N: 6059, Germany 1939 
C.  S/N: 4234, Germany 1940 
D.  S/N: 9430, Germany 1940 
E.  S/N: 4293, Germany 
F.  S/N: 3421, Germany 1941 
G.  S/N: 4393, Germany 
H.  S/N: 2467, Germany 
I.  S/N: 3203, Germany 1943 
J.  S/N: 3445, Germany 1937 
K.  S/N: 3890, Germany 
L.  S/N: 3142, Germany 
M.  S/N: 3972, Germany 
N.  S/N: 887,  Germany 1942 
O.  S/N: 4073, Germany 1945 
P.  S/N: 5765, Germany 1942 
 
3 x UZI (9mm) 
 
A. MFG: Israel, S/N: 078848 
B. MFG: Israel, S/N: 079120 
C. MFG: Herstal, Belgium, S/N: 0464 
 
2 x Port-Said (salmopal - 9mm) 
 
A. MFG: Egypt, S/N 71001591 
B. MFG: Egypt, S/N 7100159 
 
4 x MG-42 (7.62) 
 
A. MFG: Germany, S/N 01015 (partial) 
B. MFG: Germany, 8113-14142 
C. MFG: Germany, (none found) 
D. MFG: Germany, 4859D 
 
2 x M60 (7.72 cal) 
 
A. possible S/N 72690239 
B. possible S/N 7792898 
 
4 x AK-47 (7.62 x 39) 
 
A. MFG (possibly Soviet) S/N 1985PZ8760 
B. MFG (possibly Chinese) S/N 2495 
C. MFG unknown, S/N 1985SP27243 (folding stock) 
D. MFG unknown, S/N 1933 (partial) 
 
7 x RPG-7V 
 
A. MFG in 1966, S/N NrDB217 
B. MFG in 1967, S/N NrGA081 
C. MFG in 1969, S/N NrAL836 
D. MFG in 1967, S/N Nr68798 
E. MFG in 1967, S/N NrGA716 
F. MFG in 1966, S/N NrGA721 
G. MFG in 1982, (2 numbers stamped on handle: 964 and 620) 
 
3 x RPG-7B (The following S/N are an interpretation of 
Russian lettering) 
 
A. MFG unknown, S/N AB2510 
B. MFG in 1967, S/N AX858 
C. MFG unknown, S/N BA2522 
 
1 x unknown weapon with Italian lettering and S/N of SHE125458 
 
2.  (SBU) This large weapon seizure is another iteration in a 
complex conspiracy connecting MONTES and Geovani MEJIA, AKA: 
Ethalson Geovanny MEJIA-Hoy (a Colombian weapons trafficker 
in Honduras), allied along family lines with Honduran legal 
representatives and members of the Honduran Judiciary. 
 
3. (SBU) Per ref B, Geovanni MEJIA (NADDIS 5435631) was 
detained on July 28, 2004, by Honduran authorities based on a 
Colombian arrest warrant.  Later that evening, Honduran Judge 
Servin Antonio RUIZ-Lobo, (NADDIS NEGATIVE) claiming to be 
acting on behalf of Supreme Court Magistrate Nicolas 
GARCIA-Sorto, ordered MEJIA's release.  RUIZ based his 
decision on the view that there were "problems" with the 
Colombian arrest warrant, therefore MEJIA could not be held. 
MEJIA was defended by his live-in "girl friend" attorney 
Gloria Maritza GARCIA-Suarez (NADDIS NEGATIVE) who 
facilitated MEJIA's release. 
 
4. (SBU) Both MEJIA and GARCIA have been linked to MONTES. 
Per ref A, on July 26, 2004, a Colombian National Police 
(CNP) maritime boat patrol on patrol near Jhonny Cay,(a small 
key off San Andres Island) seized 59 automatic weapons and 12 
RPGs with accompanying rockets from a boat in the area.  A 
Colombian identified as Juan Carlos NARVAEZ-Altamar who was 
arrested at the scene implicated MEJIA and GARCIA as the 
owners of the weapons.  NARVAEZ also indicated the weapons 
were destined for use by the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia 
(AUC).  NARVAEZ told police that NARVAEZ formerly worked for 
MONTES, who was recently murdered in the area of Cartagena, 
CB. 
 
5. (SBU) According to the March 17, 2004, edition of El 
Heraldo, GARCIA stated she knew nothing of a guns for drugs 
conspiracy between herself, MONTES, and MEJIA as indicated by 
Fiscal Doris Aguilar, but did admit to defending MONTES in 
the past.  It was also reported (ref A) that GARCIA may be 
the niece or otherwise related to Honduran Supreme Court 
Justice Nicolas GARCIA-Sorto who reportedly influenced RUIZ 
to have MEJIA released. 
 
6. (U) Questions concerning this cable can be directed to 
Acting C/A Ivan Rios, S/A Tony Sanes, or I/A John Domingue at 
(301)985-9321. 
 
7. (U) Pursuant to the DEA Agents manual, section 6242.11, 
this twx is submitted in lieu of a DEA-6. 
 
INDEXING 
 
1. MONTES, Carlos Pedro - NADDIS 4539661 
 
2. MEJIA, Geovanni - NADDIS 5435631 
   AKA: Ethalson Geovany Mejia-Hoy 
   POB: Colombia 
   Associate: Gloria Maritza Garcia-Suarez 
 
3. RUIZ-Lobo, Servin Antonio - NADDIS NEGATIVE 
 
4. GARCIA-Suarez, Gloria Maritza - NADDIS PENDING 
   Associate: Ethalson Geovany Mejia-Hoy 
 
 
Palmer