VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMO #0331/01 0470912
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 160912Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHDC
RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 0004
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA
RUEHWR/AMEMBASSY WARSAW 2416
RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 3704
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 2764
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 1701

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 MOSCOW 000331 
 
DEA SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
POST FOR DEA ONLY 
AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL FOR RAC BRIGGS, SA VARNI 
AMEMBASSY QUITO FOR ARD GOLDBERG, SA WOLFF 
AMEMBASSY BOGOTA FOR GS RODRIGUEZ, SA SULLIVAN 
AMEMBASSY LIMA FOR SA HACKETT 
AMEMBASSY WARSAW FOR CA BRADLEY, SA PALM 
AMEMBASSY ANKARA FOR DEA RD DESTITO, FIM LOGUE 
AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD FOR DEA ARD DUDLEY 
AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN FOR CA MORAN, SA KOHUT 
DEA HQS FOR OGE/MENDOSA, SCHRETTNER, BARNES 
DEA HQS FOR OGL/KOLEN 
DEA HQS FOR NCI/BORDER 
DEA HQS FOR NCIL/TRAVERS 
DEA HQS FOR OSE/DISANTO, YASEVICH, SANCHEZ, ERDAHL 
DEA HQS FOR SARI 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: DEAX
 
SUBJECT:  JOINT DEA AND RUSSIAN INTER-AGENCY OPERATION BALTIC STRIKE 
COORDINATION MEETING ON FEBRUARY 11, 2010 OF MOSCOW CO PRIORITY 
TARGET CASE XI-07-0003, YECIJ, KRASAVCHIKOV, VLADIMIR 
 
CCX: GFXI-10-8002 OPERATION BALTIC STRIKE 
 ZP-09-0004/YEC1K, MITREVICS, Vladimir 
 
REF: (A)  DEA Moscow CO TWX #131 DATED JANUARY 19, 2010. 
 (B)  DEA-6 WRITTEN BY SA VARNI (GUYAQUIL RO) DATED    JANUARY 20, 
¶2010. 
 (C)  DEA-6 WRITTEN BY SA VARNI (GUYAQUIL RO), DATED    JANUARY 25, 
¶2010. 
 
THIS CABLE CONTAINS AN ACTION REQUEST FOR THE QUITO COUNTRY OFFICE, 
THE BOGOTA COUNTRY OFFICE, THE LIMA COUNTRY OFFICE, THE WARSAW 
COUNTRY OFFICE, AND THE GUAYAQUIL RESIDENT OFFICE. 
 
1.(SBU) On February 11, 2010, the Moscow CO took part in a case 
coordination meeting among multiple Russian law enforcement 
entities. Participants included; Sergey Muraviev, Cocaine Unit 
Chief, Federal Security Service, ("FSB"), Dmitry Abakumov, Cocaine 
Unit Chief, Ministry of Interior ("MVD"), Nikolay Kukharenko, 
Cocaine Unit Chief, Russian Federal Drug Control Agency ("FSKN"), 
Andrey Metsger, Division Head, MVD Investigative Committee, Denis 
Popov, Investigator, MVD Investigative Committee and Vitaly Fedotov, 
International Cooperation Department, FSB. 
 
2.(SBU) Background of Operation Baltic Strike: 
 
Since 2005, the Moscow Country Office has been conducting Operation 
Baltic Strike which targets the maritime movements of cocaine from 
South America to Russia.  This is a very successful joint operation 
that has resulted in the seizure of approximately 676 kilograms of 
cocaine, 26 arrests, and approximately $200,000 USD.  In 2009, the 
FSKN joined the operation.  As a result of Operation Baltic Strike, 
the Moscow CO and Russian counterparts identified the Vladimir 
KRASAVCHIKOV DTO as one of the most significant cocaine DTOs 
operating in Russia. 
 
3.(SBU) As reported in Reference (A), on January 14, 2010, the 
Moscow CO learned that Andrey SHINDER was expected to pick up a 
shipment of cocaine while in Guayaquil, Ecuador.    SHINDER is a 
steward onboard the shipping vessel M/V Pietari Cloud and has been 
identified as a member of the KRASAVCHIKOV DTO. 
 
4.(SBU)  As reported in Reference (B), on January 20, 2010, the M/V 
PIETARI CLOUD arrived in the Puerto Maritimo, Guayaquil, Ecuador. 
 
¶5. (SBU) As reported in Reference (C), on January 22, Guayaquil RO 
reported, SHINDER departed the ship and passed through port security 
in Guyaquil, Ecuador, with a group of crewmembers.  At the time, 
SHINDER was wearing a black polo type collard shirt, blue jeans, 
with dark collar length hair.  Later in the day, SHINDER returned to 
the port, and was observed passing through port security, carrying a 
black, weighted bag on his shoulder. 
 
Agents Note: Surveillance video was obtained by the Guyaquil RO as 
SHINDER passed through the ports entry/exit point.  A copy of this 
video was passed to the Moscow CO and was subsequently shared with 
Russian law enforcement. 
 
6.(SBU) On January 23, 2010, Guyaquil RO reported, Customs/Port K-9 
unit conducted a routine search of the ship, with negative results. 
The Port Unit did not know about the on-going investigation, as the 
Guyaquil RO and vetted Unit Commander deemed it necessary to 
 
MOSCOW 00000331  002 OF 004 
 
 
maintain the integrity of this investigation.  The customs search 
did not uncover SHINDER's bag as they searched crewmembers cabins, 
nor was the bag located anywhere else on the vessel. 
 
7.(SBU) On January 23, 2010, the M/V Pietari Cloud departed Guyaquil 
with its' final destination believed to be St. Petersburg, Russia. 
 
8.(SBU) On Monday, February 8, 2010, the Moscow CO was informed by 
the Russian Security Service (FSB) that the M/V Pietari Cloud, prior 
to arriving in St. Petersburg, Russia,  would travel to Gdansk, 
Poland on February 19, 2010. 
 
Agent's Note: It is believed that Gdansk, Poland may be a refueling 
point for the M/V Pietari Cloud. 
 
9.(SBU) ACTION REQUEST FOR THE WARSAW CO: 
 
The Moscow CO requests the assistance of the Warsaw CO and Polish 
counterparts to assist in the surveillance of the PIETARI CLOUD 
while docked in Gdansk, Poland and conduct surveillance in the 
scenario if SHINDER attempts to off load the cocaine shipment in 
Gdansk.  The Moscow CO believes surveillance of the M/V PIETARI 
CLOUD, will aid in the subsequent Russian prosecution of members of 
the KRASAVCHIKOV DTO. 
 
10.(SBU) Russian Customs (FTS) and the interagency working group 
including FSB, MVD and FSKN will prepare to conduct a thorough 
inspection of the commercial shipping vessel, M/V PIETARI CLOUD, 
upon its return to St. Petersburg, Russia. 
 
11.(SBU) In addition, the Joint DEA Russian Interagency Task Force 
will prepare for the arrest of the following individuals identified 
as members of the KRASAVCHIKOV DTO and linked to this 
investigation: 
 
Valentin VOYNOVSKIY - NADDIS # 6640630 
 
Arthur ZAKARYAN - NADDIS # 6625894 
 
Gadzimurad NURMAGOMEDOV - NADDIS # 6634964 
 
Rishat STRELTSOV - NADDIS Negative 
 
Andrey SHINDER - NADDIS # 6364544 
 
12.(SBU) Following the arrest of the above mentioned individuals, a 
warrant and subsequent Interpol Red Notice will be prepared by 
Russian authorities, in anticipation of the arrest of Moscow CO 
Priority Target Vladimir KRASAVCHIKOV - NADDIS # 6305832. 
 
Agents Note:  Russian Law Enforcement believes KRASAVCHIKOV 
continues to reside in Ecuador.  Further, it is believed that 
KRASAVCHIKOV may be residing with Lidia ESPINOZA-Quniteros in Quito, 
Ecuador.  ESPINOZA-Quinteros is identified as a source of supply and 
broker for the KRASAVCHIKOV DTO. 
 
13.(SBU)  On January 26, 2010, the Moscow CO received immigration 
records from the Guyaquil RO regarding country entry/exit records 
for KRASAVCHIKOV and his aliases.  According to immigration records, 
KRASAVCHIKOV was not in Ecuador at the time, but has had both air 
and land entries into Ecuador utilizing Bulgarian Passport # 
354800732 under the name, Krasimir Kirilov YOLOV and Russian 
Passport # 51N1910241 under the name Vladimir KRASAVCHIKOV. 
 
14.(SBU) ACTION REQUEST FOR THE GUYAQUIL RO AND QUITO CO: 
 
MOSCOW 00000331  003 OF 004 
 
 
 
The Moscow CO is requesting the assistance of the Guyaquil RO and 
the Ecuadorian National Police, along with the Quito CO in an effort 
to locate and conduct surveillance of Vladimir KRASAVCHIKOV in 
anticipation of Russian authorities submitting an Interpol Red 
Notice for his arrest.  The Moscow CO has provided photographs of 
KRASAVCHIKOV along with information regarding KRASAVCHIKOV's aliases 
to the Guyaquil RO and Quito CO under separate communiqu. 
 
15.(SBU) ACTION REQUEST FOR THE BOGOTA CO AND THE LIMA CO: 
 
The Moscow CO is requesting the assistance of the Bogot CO and the 
Lima CO to conduct border searches for KRASAVCHIKOV.  The 
KRASAVCHIKOV DTO has criminal contacts in Peru and Colombia and it 
may be possible that KRASAVCHIKOV may be residing in Peru or 
Colombia.  KRASAVCHIKOV and his aliases are listed below: 
 
Vladimir Vasilievich KRASAVCHIKOV, Date of Birth: 05/17/1949, 
Alternate Dates of Birth: 07/5/1951, 7/12/1956; Russian Passport # 
51N1910241. 
 
 
Krasimir Kirilov YOLOV, Date of Birth: 07/12/1956; Bulgarian 
Passport # 354800732. 
 
Vladimir Krasovskiy, Date of Birth: 05/17/1949, Alternate Dates of 
Birth: 07/5/1951, 7/12/1956 
 
Vladimir Krasavchiko, Date of Birth: 05/17/1949, Alternate Dates of 
Birth: 07/5/1951, 7/12/1956 
 
16.(SBU) The Moscow CO was advised that if the DTO suspects law 
enforcement operations are imminent, members of the DTO may flee to 
Poland.  The Moscow CO will coordinate with the Warsaw CO if such a 
scenario arises.  Further, one member of the DTO, Valentin 
VOYNOVSKIY was reported to have ties to corrupt officers within the 
FSKN in St. Petersburg, Russia. 
 
17.(U) This cable was prepared by SA Patrick Apel and FSN 
Investigator Slava Kurek in lieu of a DEA-6 per DEA Agent's Manual 
Section 6242.11.  Please direct any questions or comments to SA 
Patrick Apel or CA Michael Nowacoski at 7-495-728-5218 or by 
Firebird e-mail.  Please note that Moscow is 8 hours ahead of 
Eastern Standard Time. 
 
INDEXING 
 
¶1. KRASAVCHIKOV, Vladimir - NADDIS # 6305832 
 File Title of Investigation. 
 
¶2. VOYNOVSKIY, Valentin - NADDIS #6640630 
 DOB: 07/12/1956.  Ukrainian National 
 a.k.a. Valentine VOJNOWSKI. 
 Cell head of KRASAVCHIKOV DTO organizes distribution  of cocaine 
obtained from Ecuador to Russia.  Believed  to have ties to corrupt 
Russian Federal Drug Service  officers in St. Petersburg, Russia. 
 
¶3. Arthur ZAKARYAN - NADDIS # 6625894 
 Part of the KRASAVCHIKOV DTO. 
 
¶4. NURMAGOMEDOV, Gadzimurad - NADDIS # 6634964 
 Part of the KRASAVCHIKOV DTO. 
 
¶5. STRELTSOV, Rishat - NADDIS NEGATIVE 
 DOB: 09/23/1963 
 
MOSCOW 00000331  004 OF 004 
 
 
 Identified as part of the KRASAVCHIKOV DTO. 
 
¶6. SHINDER, Andrey - NADDIS # 6364544 
 Currently a steward about the M/V PIETARI CLOUD.   Expected to 
arrive in St. Petersburg, Russia in late  February 2010 with 
shipment of cocaine. 
 
 
BEYRLE