US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA2243

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002243 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEA HQS PLS PASS TO SARI; OEM/STEFFICK, BOND, HUTCHINSON, 
HARRINGTON, CEREN, CERNIGLIA, GARCIA, MENDEZ; 
SOD/OSM/BELOVICH 
DEA MEXICO FOR HOLIFIELD, BAEZA, GARAY AND WHITE 
STAT FOR INL/LP AND WHA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: N/A 
SUBJECT: TWO FAMILY MASSACRE BEGS DRUG TIES; 
GFTI-03-9276/QEZ1I; MONEY LAUNDERING 
CCX: TI-04-0003, RODRIGUEZ-LOZANO, JORGE 
 
REF: TEGUCIGALPA TWX 01379 DATED 171658ZJUN04 
 
1. (U) Within a five day period, Honduran police investigated 
two brutal murders in which two families (wives and children) 
were counted as victims.  Honduran police believe the murders 
were perpetrated by criminal elements in retaliation for 
actions by the deceased. 
 
2.  (U) Both murders took place after the June 9, 2004, 
seizure of 1,460 kilos of cocaine near the small town of 
Bajamar on the Honduran north coast (see ref).  The Honduran 
news media quickly associated the murders with the seizure, 
but hard connections have proved inconclusive. 
 
3.  (U) Honduran police discovered the first massacre at the 
residence of Edwin Edelvy REYES-Puerto (NADDIS NEGATIVE). 
REYES, along with his wife Nolia Ponce and three children, 
were found dead with their throats cut in La Colonia Jardines 
del Valle, San Pedro Sula, HD on June 17, 2004. 
 
4.  (U) A post investigation of the incident culminated in 
the seizure of $650,000 on June 28, 2004, from a safety 
deposit box attributed to REYES. 
 
5.  (U) On June 21, 2004, Police discovered another multiple 
homicide on a highway between Puerto Cortes and Choloma, HD 
in two vehicles.  Mario GARAY (NADDIS NEGATIVE), along with 
his wife Nubia Judith Zelaya-Sanchez, their three year old 
son, and two other individuals identified as David Esmelin 
and Milton Castellanos, were found shot to death in a Nissan 
Sentra bearing Honduran plate PBN1983.  A white Toyota Tacoma 
bearing Honduran plate PBL1054 was found abandoned 2.6 
kilometers in front of the Nissan.  The body of another 
victim identified as Allan Mejia was found some distance 
behind the Nissan.  The victims were found bound and gagged. 
Police believe the killers drove both of these vehicles to 
the road side locations and executed them under cover of 
darkness, making their escape in accompanying vehicles.  In 
the post investigation, Honduran authorities seized $115,650 
from the house of an associate of GARAY. 
 
6.  (U) Police sources from El Centro de Informacion Conjunto 
(CEINCO) indicated that GARAY, in cooperation with four other 
unknown associates, stole $600,000 and 100 kilos of cocaine 
from Ruberman TABORA (NADDIS 5808405), who is a known drug 
trafficker in Honduras. TABORA was believed to have given 
GARAY an ultimatum to return the drugs and money.  Criminal 
elements were believed to have kidnapped this group on Sunday 
evening and were subsequently discovered on Monday, June 21, 
2004.  In addition, GARAY was known to be involved in house 
robberies in the past. 
 
7.  (U) On June 24, 2004, Walter Flores Mencia, of La 
Direccion General de Investigacion Criminal (DGIC) in San 
Pedro Sula, HD, announced that both homicides were being 
investigated.  The DGIC did not indicate that the homicides 
were related, but indicated that the murders likely involved 
organized crime. 
 
8.  (U) Questions concerning this cable can be directed to 
Acting C/A Ivan Rios or I/A John Domingue at (301)985-9321. 
 
9.  (U) Pursuant to the DEA Agents Manual, section 6242.11 
this twx is submitted in lieu of a DEA-6. 
 
INDEXING 
 
1.  REYES-Puerto, Edwin Edelvy - NADDIS NEGATIVE 
DOB: December 11, 1970 
Honduran ID Number: 1807-1970-01804 
Address: Col Jardines del Valle, San Pedro Sula, HD 
         Col Los Alpez, 5Cll, 3 Ave, BL 6, 
         C-12, Amarilla Dos Plantas, San Pedro Sula, HD 
Family: Nolia Mabel Ponce (wife) 
Telephone Numbers: (504)982-5714, (504)979-6580, 
(504)551-5487 
 
2. GARAY, Mario - NADDIS NEGATIVE 
Pierce