US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA47

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TEGUCIGALPA 000047 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEA HQS PLS PASS TO SARI; OEM/MCABE, BOND, HUTCHINSON, 
HARRINGTON, CEREN, CERNIGLIA, GARCIA, MENDEZ; 
SOD/OSM/BELOVICH; FOM/OWEN 
DEA MEXICO FOR HOLIFIELD, BAEZA, GARAY AND WHITE 
STATE FOR INL ONLY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: N/A 
SUBJECT: SEIZURE OF $51,620 U.S. CURRENCY AND THE ARREST OF 
SIX INDIVIDUALS  TI-05-0002/UEZ1I;COLMER-LACAYO,EDUARDO 
CCX:GFTI-05-9276/OEZ1I; MONEY LAUNDERING 
GFAN-04-8002; OPERATION KNIGHT MOVES 
GFTI-98-8001/WEC1F; OPERATION WAHOO 
GFTI-05-9154; HONDURAS 
 
 
SUMMARY CASE FILE 
 
DEFENDANTS 
 
Name:FAGOT-Jardines, Edison David 
DPOB:43 YOA- UNKNOWN 
Gender: Male 
 
Name: BOLANOS, Cibio Misael 
DPOB: 36 YOA-UNKNOWN 
Gender: Male 
 
COLOMER-Lacayo, Eduardo 
Age: 40 YOA-UNKNOWN 
Gender: Male 
 
POWELL, Arbin Bordas 
Age: 19 YOA-UNKNOWN 
Gender: Male 
 
ZELAYA, Luis Santiago 
Age: 21 YOA-UNKNOWN 
Gender: Male 
 
FLORES, Lisa Iveth 
AGE: 17 YOA-UNKNOWN 
Gender: Female 
 
2.  JUDICIAL DISTRICT 
Republic of Honduras 
 
3.  DATE/TIME/PLACE 
January 5, 2005, 0500 at Barra de Caratasca, Gracias A Dios, 
Honduras. 
 
4.  DRUG EXHIBTS 
None. 
 
5.  NON-DRUG EXHIBITS 
Exhibit-N-1: $51,620 in U.S.Currency. 
 
CUSTODY OF EVIDENCE: 
Exhibit N-1 described above was processed in accordance with 
Honduran law enforcement administrative procedures. 
 
6.  ACTION ON DEFENDANTS 
All of the above named defendants were arrested in violation 
of Honduran Financial reporting statutes.  All arrested are 
pending adjudication of charges. 
 
7.  WITNESSES 
Honduran Naval Officer, Milton Roldan Meza-Sanchez. 
 
DETAILS: 
 
8. (U) During December of 2004, the Tegucigalpa Country 
Office(TCO) received a substantial increase in intelligence 
information concerning the maritime smuggling of cocaine into 
the coastal area of La Moskitia, Honduras, located in the 
remote north east coast bordering Nicaragua.  The information 
came from several independent sources. 
 
9.  (U) In response to this information, the TCO contacted 
the Navy and coordinated an increase of Navy patrols along 
the north coast, in conjunction with TCO-initiated ground 
operations that were being conducted by the TCO vetted unit 
and elements of the Frontier police. 
 
10.  (U) On December 31, 2004, C/A Mark Discenza and S/A Tony 
Sanes met with Honduran Navy Commander Jose Eduardo 
Espinal-Paz.  At the TCO's request, Commander Espinal agreed 
to continue the Navy's increased patrols, especially, along 
the northeastern coastline area of the Department of Gracias 
A Dios, HD. 
 
11. (U) On January 5, 2005, a Honduran naval vessel 
conducting a maritime patrol in the vicinity of Barra de 
Caratasca detained and searched a 25 foot, white go-fast 
boat.  A subsquent search of the go-fast resulted in the 
seizure of $51,620, and the arrest of 6 individuals aboard. 
Although cocaine residue was found on the vessel, no 
measurable quatities were discovered.  The incident was 
reported to the Honduran police and the Prosecutors office in 
Puerto Lempira. Honduran Prosecutors authorized the arrest of 
the above defendants. 
 
12.  (U) It must be noted, that although the Honduran Navy 
has always been willing to act on drug trafficking 
intelligence provided by DEA, its consistency has been 
intermittent at best for lack of fuel.  Because fuel provided 
through INL funding and DEA intelligence were part of the 
equation,  this particular operation by the Honduran Navy 
yielded six arrests and a seizure of $51,620. 
 
13.  (U) On the same day, the Honduran Navy encountered the 
Honduran flagged vessel Sheena MC II in the vicinity of 
Limon, Honduras. The Sheena MC II is owned by Bob Ward MCNAB 
(NADDIS 887780), a suspected narcotic smuggler. As the 
Honduran Navy attempted to stop the vessel, it proceeded to 
increase its speed in effort to evade capture.  The Honduran 
Navy pursued the Sheena MC II for an hour until it was able 
to stop and board the vessel.  A search of the vessel was 
negative, but the vessel was found to be in violation of two 
Honduran maritime regulations. The vessel was cited for the 
maritime violations and released by the Honduran Navy. 
 
14. (U) Subsequently, a high level Honduran Navy official 
received a call from Honduran Congressman Kerry Evans Mcnab 
(related to Bob MCNAB) demanding the justification for 
detaining and boarding the vessel at sea.  It should be noted 
that U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa revoked Congressman McNab's 
visa in August 2002, because of his attempts to have the 
Honduran Navy release another vessel that was under suspicion 
for transporting contraband. 
 
15.  The TCO will report any information that becomes 
available regarding this matter. 
 
16.  (U) This cable is submitted in lieu of a DEA6 pursuant 
to the DEA Agents Manual, Section 6242.11. 
 
17.  (U) Any questions or replies should be directed to CA 
John M. Discenza, SA Tony Sanes, and/or IA John Domingue at 
(301)985-9321. 
 
 
INDEXING 
 
1. FAGOT-Jardines, Edison David-Naddis Negative 
Age: 43 
Gender: Male 
NFI 
 
2. BOLANOS, Cibio Misael-Naddis Negative 
Age: 36 
Gender: Male 
NFI 
 
3. COLOMER-Lacayo, Eduardo-Naddis Negative 
Age: 40 
Gender: Male 
NFI 
 
4. POWELL, Arbin Bordas-Naddis Negative 
Age: 19 
Gender: Male 
NFI 
 
5. ZELAYA, Luis Santiago-Naddis Negative 
Age: 21 
Gender: Male 
NFI 
 
6. FLORES, Lisa Iveth-Naddis Negative 
Age: 17 
Gender: Male 
NFI 
 
7. MCNAB, Bobby Mano - NADDIS 887780 
8. EVANS-MCNAB, Kerry - NADDIS NEGATIVE 
Occupation: Honduran Congressman 
Address: Roatan, Honduras 
Palmer