OUTGOING TELETYPE CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL FEBRUARY 4 DATE APPROVED BY DRAFTED BY 1992 PRIETO RINEHART' TOFT MURPHY CLEARANCE DISTRIBUTION DEA-3 AMB DCM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA r ACTION PS DO OF INFO HQS FOR N A E Q 12356 SNAR CO TAGS SUBJECT CCX GFAN-92-9020 THREATS AGAINST DEA'EMPLOYEES GFAN-88-8001 IE4-CO OPERATION BOLIVAR ZE-89-0007 FE4-CO PABLO ESCOBAR-GAVIRIA REF In accordance with the DEA Agent's Manual Section 6115 1 a the following is in regard to potential threats against three 3 S A's currently stationed in Colombia S A a POTENTIAL THREAT TARGETS Javier F Pena Bogota Country Office Gary T Sheridan - Resident Agent-in-Charge Barranquilla Resident Office Ruben S Prieto - Group Supervisor Bogota Country Office b CASE AGENTS Stephen E Murphy - Special Agent Bogota Country Office Office - 011-571-285-1300 ext 350 Home - 011-571-614-6118 Antonio R Guzman - Diversion Investigator Bogota Country Office Office - 011-571-235-1300 ext 350 Home - 011-571-257-9445 c BACKGROUND OF POTENTIAL THREAT Luis Antonio MENESES aka Ariel OTERO aka LUCHO the most recent1ea er of the AUTODEFENSAS MAGDALENA MEDIO was tortured and-killed on January 10 1982 The AUTODEFENSAS consisted of approximately 600 armed cattle ranchers and land owners from the Magdalena Medio area of Colombia who openly opposed terrorism including kidnappings and murders conducted by narco-terrorists and for the past two 2 years have been in a direct conflict with Pablo ESCOBAR-Gaviria and the MEDELLIN CARTEL The AUTODEFENSAS officially surrendered to the Government of Colombia GOC on November 26 1981 and disbanded There are three 3 possible theories as to who killed MENESES The first theory is that the CALI CARTEL turned MENESES over to the AUTODEFENSAS to avoid any problems with the MENESES was in the company of Jorge AUTODEFENSAS VELASQUEZ-Gonzalez aka NAVIGANTE on November 26 1991 when the AUTODEFENSAS surrendered VELASQUEZ-Gonzalez is a documented member of the CALI CARTEL Intelligence indicates that MENESES had stolen $200 000 from the AUTODEFENSAS and had disbanded the group without the majority approval Even though the group disbanded there are still AUTODEFENSAS members active in the Magdalena Medio area The second theory is that Pablo ESCOBAR-Gaviria ordered MENESES death ESCOBAR-Gaviria and MENESES had been involved in a deadly struggle for the past two 2 years and ESCOBAR-Gaviria has openly expressed his desire to see MENESES and other members of the AUTODEFENSAS The third theory is that MENESES was killed by his own dead bodyguards This theory is based on information that MENESES had previously ordered the deaths of some of the bodyguards whom he no longer trusted There is currently no concrete evidence indicating which of the above theories is correct The relationship between MENESES and the targets of the Approximately one 1 threats is as follows potential RAC Sheridan who was then year ago S A Pena and assigned as a S A in Bogota made contact with Henry de Jesus PEREZ who was the leader of the AUTODEFENSAS This introduction was made by members of the CNP Medellin and seemed logical since the AUTODEFENSAS Task Force against the MEDELLIN were dedicated to the fight CARTEL and the AUTODEFENSAS had been supplying PEREZ information to the CNP regarding the MEDELLIN CARTEL was a very influential and charismatic person with influence in the Magdalena a great amount of PEREZ enjoyed total loyalty Medio area from his followers At that time MENESES was one of PEREZ' subordinates and was present at this initial meeting assassinated on July 20 1991 by When PEREZ was members of the ESCCBAR-Gaviria organization MENESES took-over as the AUTODEFENSAS leader However it is important to note that MENESES did not have the same trust and loyalty of his followers as did PEREZ Since that initial meeting S A's Pena and Sheridan have met with MENESES one 1 other time in Puerto Boyaca 4 times in Bogota All of and approximately four presence of these meetings were conducted in the the CNP and the meetings in Bogota were conducted with Colonel Gallegos in locations which did not compromise the G S Prieto was only present at identity of the S As during August 1991 and no the last physical meeting meetings have occurred since that time In addition to the above S A's Pena and Sheridan telephonically spoke with MENESES approximately three 3 approximately five times from the BCO and received At no 5 facsimile messages also in the BCO time did MENESES PEREZ nor any other member of the the telephone number or address of AUTODEFENSAS have was made through either of the S A's All contact the BCO or the CNP Medellin Task Force NATURE OF POTENTIAL THREAT MENESES was tortured prior to his murder and it is possible that MENESES may have admitted to supplying the DEA It is also possible that MENESES would have with information Currently there given the names of his contacts in the DEA is no indication of a real threat and the enclosed security measures are being taken solely as a precaution to ensure the safety of the S As d LOCAL SECURITY MEASURES TAKEN Even though the nature of the threat is speculative and the BCO has already taken and will continue to not direct enhance the security of the S As undertake measures to involved e Regarding S A Pena on January 31 1992 his DEA-assigned vehicle was changed and will continue to be S A Pena has been assigned two 2 changed on a monthly basis driver bodyguards to act as escorts to and from work and has been assigned a mini-Uzi machine gun for additional personal protection S A Pena will limit and restrict his personal activities and will utilize the driver bodyguards whenever RSO Ray Williams has leaving his GLQ on personal business been contacted about this situation and has agreed to increase patrols around S A Pena's residence and conduct sporadic surveillance of S A Pena's neighborhood R Regarding RAG Sheridan on January 3 1 1992 his DEA-assigned vehicle was changed and will continue to be RAC Sheridan is changed on a monthly basis currently residing in temporary quarters in Barranquilla however he is scheduled to move into permanent GLQ within the next few weeks Until such time RAC Sheridan work by two 2 will be escorted to and from driver bodyguards Additionally RAG Sheridan has been assigned a mini-Uzi machine gun for personal protection Regarding G S Prieto he is currently assigned three driver bodyguards in Bogota 3 permanent There is no indication that a current threat exists against G S Prieto and no action is anticipated at this time However G S Prieto's situation will be re-assessed within two 2 weeks PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT With the implementation of the above listed that these security measures are precautions it is felt more than adequate at this time There is no indication that any members of the AUTODEFENSAS or other potential assassins are aware of the S As addresses telephone numbers vehicles or This potential threat will be re-assessed in two 2 weeks or sooner if additional intelligence is received f At this time it is not recommended that any of the RAC Sheridan's residence has residences S As change and the threat against G S not been utilized before Prieto is minimal due to his limited contact with MENESES S A Pena's residence is located between the residence of the American Ambassador the Deputy Chief of Mission for the American Embassy the Mayor of Bogota the residence of the Chinese Ambassador and several other American Embassy There are numerous CNP officers and American employees Embassy guards permanently stationed in this immediate area It is felt that this area is one of the safest and most secure areas in Bogota Additionally S A Pena resides on the fourth floor of his apartment building which maintains a 24-hour security guard The underground parking garage is locked and is accessible only through the security guard The elevator will not stop on the fourth floor without the use of a special key which only S A Pena has The door in S A Pena's apartment which leads to the stairwell contains five 5 seperate locks which remain locked at all times S A Pena's apartment has no other means of access g REMARKS This assessment is being made due to a potential threat which may exist based on the recent assassination of Luis MENESES At this time the z BCC is continuing to attempt to obtain additional intelligence from several different sources in an effort to substantiate or refute the potential threat The BCC will continually re-assess this situation until a satisfactory conclusion is reached As information S A Pena and G S Sheridan are single and do not have any family members in Colombia G S Prieto is married and resides with his wife in Bogota Furthermore G S Prieto's wife is presently employed in the Embassy Dependent jeopardy is considered minimal