VZCZCXYZ0011
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTG #1324 2061724
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 251724Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA
TO RUEHSN/AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR IMMEDIATE 0971
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2794
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUCNFB/FBI WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 001324 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DS/IP/WHA, DS/IP/ITA, DS/DSS/OSAC, AND DSCC 
WHA/CAN AND CA/OCAS/ACS/WHA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2016 
TAGS: ASEC KCRM PGOV KSAC CASC HO
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON THE KIDNAPPING OF AMERICAN CITIZEN RAMON 
¶J. ACIDE IN SAN PEDRO SULA 
 
 
¶1. (SBU)  Summary: On July 21, 2006 RSO Tegucigalpa and 
LEGATT San Salvador met with local authorities assigned to 
the kidnapping investigation of U.S. citizen Ramon J. Acide. 
A briefing on the current status of the investigation 
revealed the alleged possibility that the father of Ramon, 
Joaquin Acide (DOB 06/11/53), could be involved in illegal 
activity.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (C)  On Friday, July 21, RSO and LEGATT met with the Vice 
Minister of Security Jorge Rodas Gamero and other police 
officials involved with the kidnapping investigation of U.S. 
citizen Ramon Acide.  Honduran police officials believe that 
the father of Ramon is involved with illegal drug activity 
and that this was the motivation for his son's abduction. 
 
¶3. (C)  During several phone calls to the father, the 
kidnappers demanded a 5 million lempira (USD 265,000) ransom 
and several references were made to money from illegal drug 
activities in Miami. The father denied involvement in the 
drug trade to both the kidnappers and Honduran police. (RSO 
Note: A criminal check of Joaquin Acide came back negative. A 
check of DEA criminal database revealed negative results as 
well. End RSO Note). 
 
¶4. (C)  The police investigation is indicating that the gang 
MS-13 is allegedly involved with the kidnapping.  Several 
times during the second ransom call, the kidnappers stated 
that the father and his house in Villanueva were being 
watched.  RSO confirmed that this particular neighborhood 
does indeed have gangs operating and living in the area.  The 
investigation is also leading police to believe that the 
caller is "El Culiche" - having compared several recorded 
messages from past investigations of this dangerous gang 
leader. (RSO Note: El Culiche, Lester Rivera Paz, was wanted 
for his involvement in the December 2004 bus massacre in San 
Pedro Sula. He had escaped from Honduran police officials but 
was later arrested in February 2005 trying to enter the U.S. 
He was later released by U.S. officials and deported back to 
Honduras in November 2005 on a Justice Prisoner and Alien 
Transportation System (JPATS) flight. Honduran police 
officials were unaware of his release due to a mix-up by 
DHS/ICE in the U.S. and he was able to return to Honduras 
without police officials being alerted. End RSO Note). Police 
have also traced one ransom call to a house where a member of 
the El Culiche gang lives. 
 
¶5. (C)  LEGATT San Salvador having reviewed the case and 
several recorded conversations between the kidnappers and the 
father has determined the investigation is moving in the 
right direction at this stage.  LEGATT came to the conclusion 
that no further USG assistance is required at this time. 
However, LEGATT will remain in contact with Honduran 
officials and is ready to provide FBI assets should they be 
needed.  LEGATT did speak to the father by phone to explain 
the situation and what the USG was prepared to do to assist 
local officials.  LEGATT gave his contact information to the 
father should he have further questions. The father was also 
told he could call the Consul General at the Embassy in 
Tegucigalpa if he had any additional questions. 
 
¶6. (U) In closing, it appears Honduran police officials are 
actively working the case.  Additional leads are developed 
with every new contact from the kidnappers. RSO will continue 
to monitor the situation and report on the progress of the 
case. Should you have further questions please contact RSO 
Lizzi. 
FORD