VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBO #3604/01 2692245
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 252245Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4936
INFO RHEHOND/DIR ONDCP WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHMFISS/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF STATE AIR WING PATRICK AFB FL

UNCLAS BOGOTA 003604 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR INL/LP 
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/AND 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: SNAR PREL PGOV CO
SUBJECT:  TOUGH WEEK FOR THE BAD GUYS:  COLOMBIAN POLICE FORCES 
DECIMATE NARCOTRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR ASSETS 
 
1.(U)  SUMMARY:  Colombian National Police (CNP) forces, trained and 
equipped by the United States, captured Criminal Band (Banda 
Criminal or BACRIM in Spanish) leader alias "Memin"; killed the 
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC in Spanish) 34th Front 
Commander, alias " El Paisa"; and dealt an indelible blow to FARC 
21st Front during the week of September 13-21.  In addition, 
U.S.-trained Carabineros and Police Junglas captured FARC military 
supplies, destroyed multiple high-yield Hydrochloric Acid (HCL) 
labs, and seized a 45-foot semi-submersible and a semi-submersible 
construction facility near the Ecuadorian border.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.(SBU)  On September 13, the Colombian Antinarcotics Police (DIRAN) 
supported by the Colombian Air Force (COLAF), attacked the FARC 21st 
Front Headquarters near Chaparral, Tolima.  The COLAF dropped nine 
bombs on the mountain camp as 36 DIRAN Junglas (Colombian 
Antinarcotics Police Airmobile Commandos) conducted the airmobile 
assault.  Subsequent intelligence indicated that 24 of the estimated 
37 FARC guerrillas were wounded during the attack with no friendly 
casualties. 
 
3.(SBU)  On September 18, The CNP's Task Force "Bloque de Busqueda" 
("Search Block") captured Luis Arnulfo Tuberquia, alias "Memin." 
"Memin," the former paramilitary leader of the United Self-Defense 
Forces of Colombia (AUC in Spanish) Northwestern Block was the 
principal subordinate of the notorious, and still at-large 
nacrotrafficker, Daniel Rendon Herrera, alias "Don Mario."  In 
addition to narcotrafficking, "Memin" is accused of 400 murders in 
the Antioquia State.  CNP forces conducting the operation included 
the US-trained and equipped Carabinero Mobile Squadron (EMCAR). 
 
4.(SBU)  On September 19, the DIRAN Junglas captured a 45 foot 
semi-submersible craft and a semi-submersible construction facility 
located deep in the mangrove swamp near the Ecuadorian border, 25 
miles directly south of Tumaco, 300 meters away from the Ecuadorian 
border on the Pacific coast. Estimates are that the semi-submersible 
construction site had been operation for over two years. 
 
5.(SBU)  On September 21, the CNP and COLAF attacked the FARC 34th 
Front Headquarters located 62 miles north of Quibdo in Vigia del 
Fuerte, Antioquia State.  Following the COLAF bombing mission, 45 
CNP Commandos rappelled in to search the area.  They found the body 
of FARC 34th Front Commander Aicardo de Jesus Agudelo, alias "El 
Paisa," his personal computer and four cellular phones.  "El Paisa" 
had spent over 20 years in the FARC and is believed to be 
responsible for planning and executing over 500 murders and 400 
kidnappings in the Antioquia.  In May, 2003, "El Paisa" had ordered 
the death of eight kidnapped Colombian soldiers, the ex-governor of 
Antioquia Guillermo Gaviria, and the ex-Minister of Defense Gilberto 
Echeverri when he feared that a Colombian Army rescue force was 
headed to his camp. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Throughout the week of September 13-21 several other 
successes were registered by the CNP.  The Colombian National Police 
at the Port of Cartagena seized 1.6 tons of cocaine destined for a 
cargo shipment to Guatemala (street value $48 million).  Antioquia 
EMCAR units captured two caches containing 163 rifles, 4 PKM Machine 
guns, 1 Multiple Grenade Launcher, 500 kgs of cocaine, 200 kgs of 
cocaine base and a large quantity of ammunition and grenades.  The 
Cauca EMCAR captured 25 rifles, 99,300 rounds of rifle ammunition, 
grenades, and other equipment.  The EMCAR in the state of Risaralda 
destroyed a FARC camp and the EMCAR in the state of Caldas destroyed 
an HCL lab in the municipality of Victoria.  The DIRAN Junglas 
destroyed two cocaine HCL labs in Magdalena Medio on Sep 17, 
capturing 500 kilos of cocaine.  The Junglas also destroyed three 
HCL labs in Cauca State, containing a total of 650 kilos of cocaine 
(US street value $19.5 million). 
 
¶7. (U) The Colombian Army Counterdrug Brigade was also quite active. 
 On September 15, the 3rd Battalion destroyed a sulfuric acid 
factory and an HCL lab in the vicinity of Playa del Mira, Narino. 
The 2nd Battalion destroyed 9 coca base labs in Meta and Guaviare, 
and the 1st Battalion destroyed one base lab in Putumayo.  The 
discovery of an improvised sulfuric acid lab in a very remote area 
indicates that the measures to control sulfuric acid and other 
precursor chemicals must be having some impact. 
 
¶8. (U) COMMENT:  While this was an exceptionally busy week for the 
security forces of Colombia, these types of operations occur every 
week.  It is clear that USG-provided training and equipment have 
given Colombia the ability to take the fight to the bad guys and 
deal serious simultaneous blows to narcoterrorism on multiple 
 
fronts.  END COMMENT. 
 
NICHOLS