US embassy cable - 05SANJOSE2565

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 SAN JOSE 002565 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR DS/ICI/CI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2030 
TAGS: ASEC 
SUBJECT: HUMAN INTELLIGENCE THREAT REVIEW FOR U.S. EMBASSY 
SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA 
 
REF: SECSTATE 197763 
 
Classified By: (U)Charge Russell Frisbie; Reason 1.4(c,d) 
 
1.  (S/NF) Per request in reftel, Charge chaired a meeting of 
the Counter Intelligence Working Group (CIWG) to review and 
discuss the Human Intelligence (HUMINT) threat level at Post. 
 Attending the CIWG were Charge, A/DCM, RSO, DEA Country 
Attache, ODR Chief and SIMO Chief.  CIWG agrees that the 
current LOW HUMINT threat level for Post is appropriate. 
 
(U) CIWG is providing responses to questions asked in reftel 
in the order asked: 
 
A.  Bilateral relations between the GOCR and the United 
States: Embassy San Jose enjoys a strong and positive 
bilateral relationship with our Costa Rican counterparts, 
especially in the areas of Intelligence and Law Enforcement. 
 
 
B.  (S/NF) Are there security or defense agreements between 
the two nations? No 
 
C.  (S/NF) Liaison exchanges in intelligence or law 
enforcement?  Liaison exchanges exist with Costa Rican 
intelligence and law enforcement entities. 
 
D.  (S/NF) Do the host country law enforcement and security 
services cooperate in protecting U.S. facilities?  Both host 
country intelligence and law enforcement are very cooperative 
in the protection of all U.S. facilities. 
 
(U) From questions asked in reftel, from January 2002 to 
11/01/2005, Post is providing the following responses: 
 
1.  (S/NF) Physical surveillance  - No 
 
2.  (S/NF) Audio-Video surveillance - No 
 
3.  (S/NF) Harassment - No 
 
4.  (S/NF) Clandestine entries - No 
 
5.  (S/NF) Provocations - No 
 
6.  (S/NF) Use of informants and/or cooptees - No 
 
7.  (S/NF) Spotting/targeting/assessing operations directed 
at Americans - No 
 
8.  (S/NF) Development or recruitment attempts directed at 
Americans - No 
 
9.  (S/NF) Computer tampering - No 
 
10. (S/NF) Teltaps, mail or e-mail intercepts - No.  However, 
the potential exists that foreign agents may have penetrated 
the local telephone service provider (ICE). 
 
11.  (S/NF) Pouch tampering - No 
 
12.  (S/NF) Active measures, press placements, deception - No 
 
E. (S/NF) Critical HUMINT countries present in San Jose: 
 
(S/NF) Russia - small presence - Possibly Co-opted officers 
working out of Russian Embassy. 
(S/NF) Cuba - small presence - Intelligence officers 
suspected at Cuban Consulate. 
(S/NF) Israel - medium presence, Intelligence officers 
suspected but not confirmed at Israeli Embassy. 
 
F. (S/NF) Although not rated Critical for HUMINT, Venezuela 
has intelligence personnel working out of their Embassy in 
San Jose.  The scope of operations planned or executed by the 
Venezuelans is unclear at this time, although it is suspected 
that operations directed by Venezuela in support of local 
anti-CAFTA efforts may be ongoing. 
 
G. (S/NF) Are there non-governmental entities present in San 
Jose, such as drug traffickers or terrorists groups, who 
either have state sponsorship or have penetrated the host 
country services, and who are conducting classic intelligence 
operations against the U.S. mission in San Jose.  No 
 
H. (S/NF) CIWG Evaluation of current HUMINT threat level: 
Post CIWG believes the current HUMINT threat level of LOW for 
this Post is adequate.  CIWG will report all incidents in the 
future that may affect this threat level for HUMINT activity 
in Costa Rica. 
 
 
FRISBIE