VZCZCXYZ0010
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAC #0702/01 2892006
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 152006Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7314
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 0216
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC
RUEAWJB/DEPT OF HHS WASHDC
RUEAWJB/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000702 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR WHA/BSC MDASHBACH, INL/LP ASMITH, DGRAHAM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR KCRIM PREL PA
SUBJECT: EPHEDRINE KING ARRESTED IN PARAGUAY 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Paraguay's anti narcotics agency (SENAD) arrested 
October 3 Mexican nationals, including an alleged leader of the 
Sinaloa  Mexican drug cartel for ephedrine trafficking. Paraguayan 
authorities report a new trend in ephedrine trafficking from South 
America to Mexico and the United States via Paraguay.   END 
SUMMARY. 
 
------------ 
THE ARRESTS 
------------ 
 
¶2. (SBU) SENAD arrested October 3 Mexican nationals Jesus Martinez 
Espinosa, Jorge Almanza Guzman, and Leobardo Gaxiola, allegedly 
members of Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel for ephedrine trafficking. 
Gaxiola was arrested after a SENAD canine signaled the presence of 
drugs in his suitcase at the Asuncion International Airport. 
Gaxiola, who Paraguayan immigration authorities said frequently 
travels in and out of Asuncion, had 5.6 kilograms of ephedrine 
hidden in packs of Argentine tea.  Upon interrogating Gaxiola, SENAD 
agents learned that Martinez Espinosa and Almanza Guzman were in a 
hotel room in downtown Asuncion.  SENAD arrested Martinez and Guzman 
October 4. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Martinez, allegedly a major player/figure in the Sinaloa 
drug cartel, appears to have crossed the Pilcomayo River from 
Argentina into Paraguay by boat near the village of Nanawa, where 
there are minimal border controls.  According to the press, 
Argentine investigators learned that Martinez holds several sets of 
identification documents and has moved freely between Paraguay, 
Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay.  Argentine authorities reported that 
Martinez was the cartel's regional chief for ephedrine operations. 
 
------------------------------------- 
A NEW TREND IN EPHEDRINE TRAFFICKING 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Paraguayan authorities report a new trend in ephedrine 
trafficking from South America to Mexico and the United States via 
Paraguay.  On May 16, SENAD detained a Mexican with 45 kg of 
ephedrine; on August 14, 2008, SENAD detained three Paraguayan 
possessing 76 kilograms of ephedrine.  This year to date, SENAD has 
seized 136.6 kilograms of ephedrine. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Leading daily newspaper ABC Color reported October 5 that 
the Mexican drug traffickers were mapping out a new route for the 
lucrative business of ephedrine trafficking.   In Argentina, a kilo 
of ephedrine costs USD 80, while the same product in Mexico is 
commercialized at USD 50,000 per kilo. (DEA information: The price 
of ephedrine in Argentina is USD 80-120 per kilogram, purchased for 
USD 2,000 by Mexican traffickers in Argentina; it is sold for USD 
8,000 per kilogram in Mexico. Once converted to crystal meth, the 
product is sold for USD 16,000-25,000 per kilogram of un-diluted 
crystal meth.) 
 
------------------------------ 
MARTINEZ: WANTED IN ARGENTINA 
------------------------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Argentine legal authorities are investigating Martinez for 
drug trafficking for his alleged involvement in the August 13 
homicide of three Argentine businessmen who were involved in 
ephedrine trafficking.  The Argentine judge had issued an 
international arrest warrant for Martinez stemming from the arrest 
of nine Mexicans in Buenos Aires who ran a clandestine laboratory 
for producing synthetic drugs.  An Argentine judge requested October 
3 that Paraguayan authorities keep Martinez in custody so he could 
be extradited to Argentina. 
 
¶7. (SBU) All three men are in custody in SENAD's headquarters.  The 
prosecutor handling the case told the press October 4 that he will 
charge them with drug trafficking and criminal association. 
Martinez voluntarily agreed October 6 to be extradited to Argentine 
and requested an expedited extradition process.  Paraguayan judicial 
authorities told the press that they do not object to handing 
Martinez over to Argentine authorities, but that Paraguay has first 
shot at prosecuting him. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Martinez told a local radio station that he has not 
committed any crime in Argentina or Paraguay.  He pointed out that 
he was not in possession of drugs at the time of his arrest and 
threatened to sue Paraguayan newspapers for libel.  Martinez told 
authorities that he had plans to invest in Paraguay in partnership 
with a Paraguayan businessman named Cartes but refused to provide 
further information. He said that he was planning to invest in the 
tourism sector, a chain of restaurants, and import/export of 
American automobiles. 
 
--------- 
COMMENT 
--------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) SENAD is working closely with DEA on the emerging ephedrine 
trend. This year's high-profile seizures signal SENAD's commitment 
to stem the flow of all kinds of narcotics trafficking, and SENAD's 
efforts since the Lugo government took office August 15 demonstrate 
that SENAD continues to be a reliable partner in the war on drugs. 
END COMMENT. 
 
AYALDE