US embassy cable - 05TEGUCIGALPA773

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000773 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA, WHA/CCA, AND WHA/CEN 
STATE FOR S/CT AND INL/LP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PTER, SNAR, PREL, PGOV, KCRM, KJUS, SMIG, HO 
SUBJECT: WHERE IN THE WORLD IS LOUIS POSADA CARRILES?: 
CONFLICTING PRESS REPORTS HAVE HIM IN HONDURAS AND MIAMI 
 
1.(U)  According to Honduran press March 15, 2005, Cuban 
Louis Posada Carriles (AKA Bambi), anti-Castro activist and 
alleged drug smuggler and terrorist, has been recently 
sighted in San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa, Honduras. 
Contrary press reports in the Miami Herald on April 3 and in 
wire services April 11 allege that he is in Miami and plans 
to seek political asylum. 
 
2.(U)  Although there is no verifiable evidence of his 
existence in Honduras, the GOH initiated a search for Posada 
in August 2004 after he allegedly arrived in San Pedro Sula 
on a private plane from Panama.  Honduran President Ricardo 
Maduro publicly declared at that time that he knew that 
Posada entered the country illegally and the GOH would search 
for him throughout the country until he was captured.  Maduro 
also stated that when Posada was captured, he would be 
expelled from the country.  It is believed that Posada 
entered on a false passport.  The GOH investigation and 
search for Posada continues, although at this time, GOH 
authorities have not been able to find any signs of Posada 
and only rumors of his existence and location seem to exist. 
Official GOH sources could not confirm the media reports of 
any Posada sighting. 
Palmer