[1]| 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENN
[3]ee a
[4]c i
[7]RECORD NUMBER:
[8]RECORD SERIES:
[10]AGENCY FILE NUMBER:
[12]EDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992
[13]ag :
[15]ae a
[17]AGENCY INFORMATION
[18]FBI
[19]124-10218-10058
[20]HO
[22]2-2173-1ST NR 130
[24]DOCUMENT INFORMATION
[26]ORIGINATOR: DOS
[28]FROM: . SAUNDERS. HAROLD H. |
[29]TO: THE SECRETARY
[31]DATE: 10/18/1976
[32]PAGES: 10
[33]SUBJECT: CASTRO, FIDEL, SPEECH, ALLEGATIONS, CIA INVOLVEMENT, CUBANA
[35]AIRLINER, BOMBING
[37]DOCUMENT TYPE: PAPER. TEXTUAL DOCUMENT
[39]ORIGINAL Secret NEW
[40]CLASSIFICATION: CLASSIFICATION:
[42]STATUS Redact a :
[43]RESTRICTIONS:
[44]JFK Act 6 (1)\(B)
[45]JFK Act 6 (4)
[46]COMMENTS: INC MEMO
[48]HY 50953 Docld: 32296782 Page 1
[52]ECRET/SENSITIVE
[54]wots : . 7 a Se Df, ae a
[55]ditional 1 Questions: (answers. and comments needed by ae
[57]Late HOFARRG 8) “Gstober 20) r
[59]OC ny bart Binssries:
[61]She’ ora had any relationship with - Posada’ 8 Anvestigative ,
[62]agency Or any other business he may. have had? oa
[64]2. Ginat was the nature of the ‘contacts CIA had with. ‘Posada. oo 4
[66]after he w g terminated? Mnat did the contacts haya to do rn |
[68]with Cuba? Ys) . oo ES ea Shey BS Ss, :
[69]i
[71]“ ae “ : : te?
[73]3. Gino we was “the visa. ‘for that Posada ap roached the cra ‘and a
[74]the. Gefensa attache about in June: 1576? ) vag face Fett gaa veo
[76]2 oe ‘Does ‘the CIA believe that the source af ‘TDFIR pp-315/10256 i
[77]< deliberately, delayed passing. on Bosch's and Posada! s.. remarks fi
[78]about nitting | a Cuban | ‘Plane until” after the incidents?
[80]ae “Deas ‘the CIA have any ‘additional relevant information
[81]On any of the people named in the draft metoranduu, or any.
[83]ther information relating to the sabotage of the plane, —
[84]hich it has not yet disseminated in TDPIR form? ©
[86]6." vould CIA please provide whatever information it-has
[87]concerning Orlando Garcia and Ricardo Morales so that para.
[88]b on page a of khe ‘Graft memorandum can tbe completed?
[90]HY 50953 Docld: 32296782 Page 2
[93]. SECRET
[94]. SENSITIVE
[96]er ee
[98]‘by Cuban counterrevolutionaries. Now we
[99]. . foo
[100]decidedly believe the first assumption is correct.
[102]_ The CIA directly participated in ‘the destruction
[104]. “of the Cubana aircraft in Barbados." 7
[105]ame principal leaders of ‘Cuban exile terrorist:
[106]groups are closely Linked through the CORU organi- i
[108]‘zation to CIA activities against cuba.
[110]“In his speech, castro did not make any "specific alles |
[111] jaklone concerning a USG relationship with orlando Bosch,
[112]or Luis Posada (two: Cuban exile activists who were ‘arrested
[114]by Venezuelan authorities ain connection with the ‘Cubana oy
[116]rash). | However, the Link. with Bosch is implied since. he
[118]see beeen Sabah a Ra PR tars ese todetaerecdint hatte lnteee ce tebe Ticats wenaeentieciites Dow a
[120]as reported to be chief of CORU, the umbrella | organization
[122]‘of Cuban exile terrorists.
[125]i
[127]i
[128]i
[131]Individuals Allegedly Involved
[133]‘Hernan Ricardo Lozano.
[134]acs Involvement in the Crash: . He was, arrested | in -
[135]| Trinidad on suspicion of ‘having planted a bomb in the Cubana:
[137]a plane. Caracas radio announced on October. 1g that he.
[139]G)
[141]: confessed to ‘sabotaging the airliner. a Gul] source. in,
[143]7) Caracas reports that Ricardo may have been trained in the
[145]e
[147]use of explosives and investigative techniques by Luis
[149]-Posada.. (cza information: also. reveals that Trinidadian.
[151]“officials have told the Venezuelans ‘that they have a cape]
[153]oe
[155]SECRET
[157]HY 50953 Docld: 32296782 Page 3
[159]SECRET
[160]| SENSITIVE
[162](s)
[164]“their, participation | in the bombing,
[166]“Ricardo, a. Venezuelan citizeng, a photographer employed a
[167]AL woe
[169]Paar . - :
[170]by Posada ‘in- his” industrial-security firm -in-
[172]As) |
[174]. Gra] source says ‘that Ricardo is also a part time 2 employes
[176]of
[178]oof. the Venezuelan, Intelligence service (DISIP) . 7 “He reportedly.
[180]eee . al. : an
[182]oe gathered photographic material . on groups: “ana Endividuals: of
[184]4
[186]i
[187]interest to DISIP and the Venezuelan Governttent. ; “He was :
[188]ae a b: - ace i . cece ne wy be
[190]hired ‘by DISIP when Pasada wae Sbeician of that. organization. oo
[191]the cp says that the Venézuelan Government is . are = ;
[193]_ eoncerned and: would be Faced ith s serious problems if these or
[195]_ ‘eonndetions become public rendvnease, :
[197]opp. Relationship with US:. [Era states it has had no -
[199]a
[201]7 contdct with nicaraoy? The. us Legal. Attache in ‘Caracas, ; _
[202]2 Lo Ss ee
[204]. Jose yh Leo says that he has had. some “dealings with, Ricardo for
[206]- help fin ex editing visa application for a’ Distp official's
[207]ee curl 4 Kecwides. faa » Fes enn neTea Heard Saeed Ls
[208]son, nset£. He also contacted: Le evo times to TiEnished
[210]f.
[211].. phot graphs and biographical data on members of ‘the Cuban
[213]Emba Sy ‘in Caracas.. “Apparently, the material” came ‘from DISIP.
[216]ae fileg.| During one visit, attempt to solicit: suggestions, from
[218]. the egal Attache on activities which might be directed oe fi
[221]a im o
[223]“}. against the Cuban Embassy by an anti- Castro ) group to which he '
[225]oe! te ceereisteier bbe percent aie wat sienna, es aaah nena int tte tne ann ae its
[227]HY 50953 Docld: 322796782 Page 4
[229]"Ricardo never repeated ele suggestions.)
[231]"Freddy Lugo
[233]: a. Involvement in the crash: — Lugo. was arrested in
[235]Trinidad with Ricardo | OR _suspl “S of haying, planted the bomb
[237]aboard: the Cubana’ “plane. eft NEC e alleges: that bugo-
[238]"apparently was: only periphex ally involved in the “pombing and’
[239]ois not considered to. be one of the, leading participants. |
[240]“Lugo, a Venezuelan citizen, is also a. . photographer :
[242]: »)-: a
[243]~ employed by Posada’ s comps ay. “according to G cra) source, he
[245]». also. worked fox’ IsIP under ‘the s ame arrangements noted above
[247]for Ricardo.
[248]"Relationship - withs US: (Fra states ‘that it: has had
[249]eno ‘contact with om ae nae cand phone number of US ‘Legal|
[251]“Attache Leo were discovered, in Lugo! Ss. address: ‘book when her
[253]e
[255]‘ Rare)
[256]_ was arrested in mrinidad. _ beo says. that he has had ¢a
[257]', contact with Lugo and specul lates t that his name and ‘phone were
[259]"furnished to Lugo py. Posada. a
[261]- Bhis Posada | cartiles
[263]7 a. Involvement ‘in ‘Crash: ~ posada vas arrested on: -
[264]October 14 in Venezuela ‘along with orlando. ‘Bosch and three
[266]"others accused: of conspiring to sabotage the plane. Posada,
[268]/ a Cuban exile who is now a Venezuelan citizen, is vehemently
[272]SC , SENSITIVE SO a
[274]i—-Castro and : is - suspectd ‘of having been the main | supporter
[276]of Bosch ‘during the ‘latter! Ss “atay in Venezuela prior to being
[278]9 Aen ctnaeremtatinsteet bee treet ote, cme Seti nab sans miTambe A retry: tac imebinatdechintiatbainanain sat abet
[280]HY 50953 Docld: 322796782 Page 5
[282]“SECRET. 200
[283]_ SENSITIVE. ie
[285]“8 7p _
[287]“arrested in "November 1974. ‘Posada was “formerly chief of the
[289]4
[291]~ counterintelligence « division of the Venezuelan intelligence
[293] pervice, DISIP.
[295]be Relationship with US, ron says that Posada was a
[297]~. fpaia” informant. The relationship was discontinued in- “guly
[299]“1967, put contact was reestablished, in October of the same
[301]-yeart] 9 When he lost his position in DISIP. in “March. 1974, CIA ZO
[303]oo gays [exe. relationship was "amicably terminated. " ‘Though he
[305]"was not paid thereafter, CIA continued ‘to have fecasional
[307]WV MELEE einen tee ce Medea nent oe
[309]~~ contact with him until February 1976 when a formal written,
[311]agreement of termination was signed. The ‘latest contact |
[313]a
[315]AEE A ac A an tggA Me
[317]between | CIA representatives and Posada occurred in June 1976
[318]when CIA ]aeciinea to assist Posada on a visa’ matter 6)
[319]| ‘The US army attache has: also used a “Posada business,
[320]partner (also ‘a Cuban exile, whose name we do not have) as.
[322]an informant (though 1 not as an agent).
[324]os a our ‘Legal Attache (Joseph Leo) became ‘acquainted with
[326]"Posada during the latter! s enploynent [By pista, dnd a after: el
[328]his | resignation, Posada continued to contact Leo on rare’ oN
[330]‘occasions, usually in order to obtain "persdhal service in
[332]a regard to visa requests for relatives. and business ceeiicn,
[333]Ws
[335]- SePrem BE 30,1426 mun CmDbedds 147h. C :
[336]_ the last being Ricardo on Cezeber—kr-1ai6. Leo says he has ~~ “C8
[338]Se 'peen Posada on. about three occasions ‘since 1973, the last: being :
[339]nJune 1976 when. Posada inquired if the: FBI had- interest. din
[341]as Venezuelan who had hired two. of his "operatives" as ‘body
[344]pe eo tie aemanmm
[346]HY 50953 Docld: 32296782 Page 6
[348]BT Ch woe SECRET
[349]ne re / 5 * SENSITIVE ©
[351]— Orlando. Bosch
[352]| al Involvement in Crash: As noted above, | Bos sch was
[353]“arrested i in: Venezuela for alleged involvement in the 2 Cubana’
[354]rash. ‘In late June, a CIA Source reported that an: exile
[355]~ “group headed. by Bosch planned ‘to bom a “cabana flight -pacwuce
[356]Panama ‘and Havana. An PBI ‘spurce | has all eged that one at temp
[357]oo was made but the bomb did not ye detonate. A cecona try: ecenr
[358]an in ‘Jamaica on July 9, but the. bomb exploded. “gatoie tne! anil
[359]case in which it was carried ‘was: put aboard ‘the Plane
[361]G Bi Sas
[362]"Recording voGra sources} Venezuelan President carlos
[364]“Andres Perez. is: said to. be sympathetic | to Bosch, and has.
[366]"permitted him to travel freely in the count ery and solicit fonds.
[368]with the understanding. that Venezuela would not be used as au,
[370]“base of operations | or place of. refuge. Bosch reportedly promised”
[372]wel = not to engage “in terrorist activity while in “Venezuela and>
[374]a receives a token $500 contribution from Perez. Grothe: CIA.
[376]2 soured} reported that after Bosch' s- arrival in ‘Caracas in September,
[378]“he stated during a fund _ raising dinner that "Now that our
[380]Linton 4 hae Sate Lae sentence ate tht lie ape nn re t Falt dln Beta See ig fat cin deere
[382]“organization has” come out of the ‘Letelier job looking good, we”
[386]‘are going to try something else." A £ew days later, Posada ee
[388]7 allegedly said, "We are going to hita Cuban. airliner" and. 7
[390]Orlando (Bosch) has the details.".
[392]4
[396]go _ i
[398]be Relationship with US. . CIA says there are no o current.
[399]ay: . 2 a i
[401]i
[403]or recent, agency contacts: with Orlando Bosch
[405]: currently. attempting to have Bosch Seportea from Venezuela
[407]“SECRET ae ae
[408]SENSITIVE
[410]Laws
[412]HY 50953 Docld: 32296782 Page 7
[414]SECRET.
[415]SENS TTEVE
[419]“to the US, whexe he is subject. ‘to “immediate impxisonmentt for a
[421]nt]
[423]~ parole violation epee
[425]© Prank Castro |
[428]a. Involvement in cosane Venezuelan officials reportedly
[429]> believe that Castro, (head of the FNC terrorist t ofganization, _
[430]hoa component group’ in CORU) 8 deeply’ involved | in the crash, _ =
[431]though we have no details of his supposed Anvolvenent._ Frank _
[433]“| castro was in Venezuela ‘in late: September 1976, and in mid~
[435]“october was. back in Miami. Frank Castro has admitted to FBI
[437]- agents that ‘he met with Bosch in “Caracas. on September 26 or -
[439]27, but denies any personal knowlege of ‘the bombing ° ‘Of the so
[441]Cubana plane. —
[443]py Relations ship with US; [Cra says there are no éurrent *”:
[445]"or. recent agency contacts with Frank Castro . who | _is an.
[447]os American citizen with permanent residence. in Santo Domingo. ,
[449]~~ orlando Garcia and Ricardo Morales Navarrete
[451]ey Be Involvement in Crash: Orlando Garcia is | President .
[453]“e
[455]Perez! security and intelligence advisor, and Morales is ‘“Garcia' s
[457]deputy; both are Cuban exiles who are now Venezuelan citizens.
[458]>)
[459]fe CIA » sourcdfaains that Garcia. was “directed to protect ‘and
[460]assist Bosch. during his stay ; in Venezuela. [Another CIA soured)
[462]“reported that Garcia and Posada ‘met Bosch upon his. arrival and
[464]~ escorted him to his hotel. . Both Garcia and Morales reportedly
[465]_ attended the fund-raising dinner during which ‘Bosch allegedly
[466]oo made the remark about the “Letelier job," and after the Cubana
[467]ae oe OOP SECRET 4 at aes | |
[468]ce SENSITIVE :
[470]eat settee ten in sane tween He tee Enc Ri Atenas einen tee
[472]HY 50953 Docld: 32296782 Page 6
[474]: crash Garcia may have “made an effort to get Bosch out of
[475]venezuela.” It. is possible, therefore that Garcia and/or
[476]~ Moxales 3 may have known in advance about the operation which .
[478]tee 4 ae) the bombing | of the plane.
[480]be Relationship with US? .~
[482]- Pelix Martinez Suarez
[483]a. ~ Involvement in Crash: “None, except by the alleged
[485]"association with Ricardo, contained in Fidel Castro’ s “charges.
[487]b. Relationship with US: Ga says. ‘that Suarez was a
[489]_ CIA media asset: from 1961 to January 1974 when he was”
[491]| terminated as as a result of his exposure in the Venezuelan media)”
[492]. castro’ Ss: allegation regarding CORU: with regard to.
[493]castro! 8 charge on CIA links with CORU, an FBI report (of
[494]” september 17 states» that Va confidential. source abroad" claims
[496]. mo to have been told by Roberto Carballo (leader of the Association
[499]Bo o£ veterans of the Bay of Pigs, avBC, one of the component. , me a ;
[500]we, he
[502]organizations of CORU) | that. in a July of this. year Carballo and ai!
[504]“three other Cuban exiles haa ‘been “approached by representatives
[506]: ae SECRET oe
[508]Cee ee Oo. SENET TTUE CE Se
[510]HY 50953 Docld: 32296782 Page 9