19960826.2308 PE DIA - 296 97 VMT - Vaticano EXCISED
19960826.2308 PE DIA - 296 97 VMT - Vaticano EXCISED
19960826.2308 PE DIA - 296 97 VMT - Vaticano EXCISED
19960826.2308-PE-DIA_296-97-VMT_Vaticano-EXCISED-.pdf
SEeRET
PAGE:0653
INQUIRE=DOC36D
ITEM NO=00026986
ENVELOPE
COSH = CFS213 MCN = 96239/30267 TOR = 962392307
RTTSZYUW RUEKJCS7423 2392308 !!!3 -RUEALGX.
ZNY 33333
HEAPER
R 262308Z AUG 96
FM DIA WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEADWD/OCSA WASHINGTON DC
RUENAAA/CNO WASHINGTON DC
RUEACMC/CMC WASHINGTON DC
RUCEAAM //
RUETIAQ
RUCBSAA/LANTCOM
RUWSMX I/USC I NCTR'-"-A-:--:"-"~~""""""~"" AFB I L/ .{bX2) 1/
RUCQVAB/USCINCSOC AFB FL.
RUEOFAA
RUEDADA ~~~~~~~~~~~~
RUEHC /SECSTATE WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUDMQAN
RUDMGRD
RUDMONI
RUDHNIS /
RUHPQUA
RHEFPST
RUEALGX/SAFE
R 262152Z AUG 96
FM
TO RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDe
I NFOR HLBAAA/ USC INC SO QUA RRV HE I GHTS PM / $2) 1/
RHLBAAF /
BT
CONTROLS
3 E eKE T SECTION 01 OF 03 007368
5 E eRE T tt5 814LV
SERIAL: (U)
9D
1/5
SEeRET
PAGE:0654
WARNING: (U) THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLV
EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE. REPORT CLASSIFIED
! ! e rt !
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
2/5
SEeRET
PAGE:0655
ARMY LT RAFAEL FRANCO DE LA CUBA, WHO SERVED AS THE
COMMANDER OF THE PUNTA ARENAS COUNTERSUBVERSIVE BASE DURING
1991 AND 1992~ THE SAME ARTICLE ADDS THAT THE SAME MILITARY
SOURCE SAID THAT LT FRANCO LEFT PUNTA ARENAS TO WORK AT THE,
ARMY AVIATION UNIT WHERE FRANCO BEFRIENDED SEVERAL ARMY
HELICOPTER PILOTS WHO WERE HELD IN MILITARY CUSTODY, ACCUSED
OF TRANSPORTING DRUGS ON THEIR AIRCRAFT.
3. (U) SOURCES REPORTED THAT IN EXCHANGE FOR THE PAYMENT,
VATICANO CLAIMS HE WAS ALLOWED TO OPERATE IN THE AREA OF
CAMPANILLA UNIMPEDED BY SECURITY FORCES. HE WAS ALSO
PROVIDED A FREQUENCY, 10,000 (NFl), WHICH HE USED DAILY
BETWEEN 1800 AND 1900 HOURS TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE SIN.
DURING RADIO CONVERSATIONS WITH "RUBEN," WHO VATICANO
DESCRIBED AS MONTESINOS, VATICANO SAID HE RECEIVED
INFORMATION SUCH AS ROUTES AND SCHEDULES OF COUNTERNARCOTICS
OPERATIONS.
4. (U) VATICANO CLAIMS TO HAVE PAID THE BRIBE UNTIL 920800
WHEN THE PRICE WAS DOUBLED, WHICH HE REFUSED -TO PAY.
THEREAFTER, VATICANO CLAIMS HE MOVED TO COLOMBIA FROM WHERE
HE CONDUCTED HIS OPERATIONS BUT WAS DENIED CONTINUED USE OF
THE AIRSTRIP AT CAMPANILLA.
5. (U) IN OTHER TESTIMONY, VATICANO SAID HE KNEW OF
ANOTHER DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATION, THAT OF "CHINO
JORGE," WHICH OPERATED OUT OF UCHIZA AND WHICH ALSO HAD TIES
TO MONTESINOS.
6. (U) ACCORDING TO SOURCE B, PROVIDING DETAILS OF AN
INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED AFTER HIS CAPTURE IN COLOMBIA IN 1994
AND ENSUING EXPULSION FOR USE OF FALSIFIED DOCUMENTS,
VATICANO SAID THAT AN ARMY COLONEL VISITED HIM IN PRISON IN
THE CALLAO NAVY BASE AND COERCED HIM INTO SIGNING A DOCUMENT
WHICH STATED THAT NO ARMY GENERALS WERE INVOLVED WITH
VATICANO IN THE DRUG TRAFFICKING BUSINESS. IN EXCHANGE, THE
COLONEL HAD OFFERED A REDUCED SENTENCE OF 30 YEARS
IMPRISONMENT VICE LIFE FOR VATICANO.
7. (U) IN ADDITION TO ALL THE ATTENTION THIS STORY HAS
RECEIVED IN THE PRESS, SEVERAL T.V. NEWSCASTS AND THREE OF
THE PRINCIPAL SUNDAY PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAMS HAVE ALSO ,
EXTENSIVELY COVERED THIS ITEM. MANY H1GH LEVEL POLITICAL.
POLICE, AND MILITARY OFFICIALS HAVE PRONOUNCED THEMSELVES IN
SUPPORT OF MONTESINOS. THE LONG LIST OF MONTESINOS
SUPPORTERS INCLUDES THE MINISTER OF THE ECONOMY, THE
NATIONAL ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE DIRECTOR OF THE PERUVIAN'
NATIONAL POLICE (PNP), THE FORMER CHIEF OF THE
COUNTERTERRORISM DIRECTORATE IN THE PNP, ANn THE PRESIDENT
OF THE JOINT COMMAND OF THE ARMED FORCES. TO A PERSON,
THESE OFFICIALS HAVE EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR MONTESINOS AND
SEeRET
3/5
3EeRET
PAGE:0656
QUESTIONED VATICANO'S CREDIBILITY. ALL OF THEM QUESTION WHY
VATICANO WAITED OVER TWO YEARS, FROM HIS CAPTURE IN COLOMBIA
IN 940100 UNTIL LAST WEEK, TO IMPLICATE MONTESINOS.
VATICANO'S LAWYER CLAIMS HIS CLIENT EXPECTED TO RECEIVE
BETTER TREATMENT THAN HE HAS TO DATE IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS
SILENCE. GIVEN THE TERMS AND HARSH CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS
IMPRISONMENT, VATICANO FINALLY DECIDED TO TALK.
!EeKET
4/5
SEe RET
PAGE:0657
//IPSP: (U) /.
ADMIN
INSTR:
PREP:
ACQ:
DISSEM:
seeRET
5/5