Cryptonym: AMFAUNA-26
Both of these CIA assets were arrested in the next few months. AMFAUNA-26 was arrested on December 29, 1963, with JMWAVE apparently uncertain of the reason(s) behind this. AMLAME-5 (Luis Puig Tabares) was also arrested around the same time. It was reported by HULAKE-1 (probably Flores Fernando Vega Lopez) that these arrests were possibly in connection with an assassination attempt against Fidel Castro. However, JMWAVE denied that AMFAUNA-26, or AMLAME-5, were involved in any plot against the life of the Cuban leader.
A cable in November, 1964, stated that CIA officer Nelson Raynock (Henry Hecksher) would be in Mexico City on October 28, 1964, and could contact the sister of AMTHRILL-1 (Julio Kouri Barreto), to help in the effort to aide the asylum of AMFAUNA-26. The cable also noted that Raynock was returning to JMWAVE on October 30, 1964.
104-10527-10285: CABLE: OLGA ROSQUETE RODRIGUEZ AND CHILDREN ARRIVE MEXI 22 NOV
11/23/63: Cable from Mexico City to Director: Slugline PRIORITY: WAVE INFO DIR CITE MEXI 7031: REF WAVE 7762 (IN 63420): DYVOUR PBRUMEN AMFAUNA: "Olga Rosquete Rodriguez and children arr MEXI 22 Nov Cubana. Staying Bahia San Hipolito 100."
12/07/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: Slugline PRIORITY MADR INFO DIR CITE WAVE 8633: KEYWAY PBRUMEN: REF: MADR 9870 (IN 74926) "1. Source description AMFAUNA-26 is 'educated Cuban merchant with friends and business contacts in Las Villas Province, who has been a fairly reliable reporter.' 2. Source description and eval KUJUMP (the Domestic Contact Division) report not available WAVE. 3. No additional WAVE traces. 4. AMOT (network of Cubans trained by David Morales during 1960-61 to be a new Cuban intelligence service once Castro had been ousted) traces show Pedro L. (Borges) Cuesta, Cuban passport number: 18127, and Luisa M. (Leon) Perez travelled together from HAVA to MADR 31 Aug 63 and again 13 Oct 63. On Aug trip Leon had Cuban passport number: 19663. On Oct trip she had passport number: 16164. C/S Comment: *Requested traces Pedro Borges."
104-10308-10127: DISPATCH: AMFAUNA PROGRESS REPORT FOR OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 1963.
01/09/64: Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Chief, Special Affairs Staff: Pages 1-2: "Operational Developments: 1. Seven SW messages were received from AMFAUNA-26 during the period, and two were sent to her. Two SW messages written by AMFAUNA-26, no. 34 and no. 36, have not been received and it is not known what has happened to them...." - - - Page 2: ..."As of 22 November when AMFAUNA-26's sister Olga arrived in Mexico (see paragraph 5), AMFAUNA-26 already had in her possession the letter containing the groups written in SW, but either had tried and failed to develop it, or had hesitated to try to do so, not knowing in what strength to use the reagent and erroneously thinking that this was a critical factor... 5. AMFLORA-1 sent a telegram to his JMWAVE area accommodation address on 16 November 1963, reporting that his wife, the sister of AMFAUNA-26, was due to arrive in Mexico City on 20 November. Mexico City Station was so informed on 18 November (see WAVE-7762), but by the time confirmation arrived (MEXI-7031 of 23 November) the lady had already departed for Caracas. The oral messages which she brought from AMFAUNA-26 therefore did not reach JMWAVE until 20 December when HVCA-10780 was received. This dispatch transmitted a typewritten note from AMFLORA-1's wife containing the following information: a. AMFAUNA-26 had run out of developer pills. (In retrospect, this does not seem to be true, because AMFAUNA-26 was evidently able to develop SW message no. 10 which she received on 22 December (see paragraph 3). What AMFAUNA-26 had probably been trying to convey was that she was running very short of pills. AMFAUNA-1 does not remember how many he gave her, but the most probable number appears to be twelve). b. AMFAUNA-26 had been unable to develop the SW message containing her cipher groups, because she had not been told how to mix her reagent. (CONTINUED BELOW).
104-10308-10127: DISPATCH: AMFAUNA PROGRESS REPORT FOR OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 1963.
01/09/64: Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Chief, Special Affairs Staff: Page 2: "c. AMCUTLER-2 was very worried by the fact that AMFAUNA-14 had been telephoning her frequently, and was afraid that AMFAUNA-14 was betraying her to the DSE. d. AMFAUNA-26 was uneasy about being left in Cuba without a responsible leader to report to. e. AMFAUNA-26's cover was wearing very thin, due to indiscretions by AMFAUNA-31. 6. In her SW message no. 29, which was received at JMWAVE on 21 October, AMFAUNA-26 reported that AMFAUNA-38 had been arrested on 7 September and taken to Santa Clara. At 0200 hours on the following morning, fourteen policemen came to AMFAUNA-26's house and searched it on the pretext of looking for a burglar. However, the only part of the house which they searched was the part inhabited by AMFAUNA-26..." - - - Page 3: "8. On 12 October 1963, AMFAUNA-26 was in Havana where she saw AMCUTLER-2. About 23 or 24 October she was again in Havana and again saw AMCUTLER-2. On both occasions the problems posed by the arrest of AMFAUNA-14 were the prime topic of discussion...10. When the arrest of AMCUTLER-2 became known to JMWAVE...the son of AMFAUNA-32 was asked to phone his mother in Cienfuegos and instruct her to tell AMFAUNA-26 to go into hiding. On 3 January the son reported completion of the call and said that his mother had told him that AMFAUNA-26 had been arrested on 29 December and taken to the Santa Clara prison. 11. The reason for AMFAUNA-26's arrest remains obscure, or rather there are so many acceptable explanations that the problem is to select the right one..." Page 4: "Expenses: 16. Three separate remittances each of $270.00 or a total of $810.00 were sent to AMFAUNA-26 during this period...The third remittance, at the telegraphed request of AMFAUNA-26, was sent to AMFLORA-1 in Caracas. Evidently his wife came to some arrangement with AMFAUNA-26 before she left Cuba..."
104-10185-10194: CABLE: RAYNOCK, WHO RETURNING WAVE 30 OCT, WILL ADVISE RESULTS MEETING
11/01/64: Cable from Mexico City to JMWAVE: Slugline DYVOUR PBRUMEN AMFAUNA AMTHRILL: "Raynock (Henry Hecksher), who returning WAVE 30 Oct, will advise results meeting with AMTHRILL-1 (Julio Kouri Barreto) sister. Suggest WAVE note MEXI 1427 which states Station willing request LITEMPO-2 (Gustavo Diaz Ordaz) arrange asylum for AMMUG-1 (Vladimir Lahera Rodriguez) family. Should timing coincide, and should WAVE feel AMTHRILL-1 sister will not be otherwise able arrange asylum, MEXI will include AMFAUNA-26 name along with AMMUG request. MEXI would prefer do this as part of package, rather than make two requests. *Nelson P. Raynock will be MEXI 28 Oct and can contact AMTHRILL-1 sister to enlist himself in arranging AMFAUNA-26 asylum."
104-10308-10120: AMFAUNA PROJECT.
02/00/77: Memo for the record from LAD/JFK Task Force (Jane Zerance, Researcher): Page 2: ..."e. UFGA 13428 dated 15 January 1964: Dispatch from JMWAVE Station to Headquarters, info. from HULAKE-1 (probably Flores Fernando Vega Lopez) on 8 Jan 64 indicated that there had been a general roundup in Cienfuegos, which began on 26 Dec 63, possibly in connection with a suspected plot against the life of Fidel Castro. At least 17 persons were arrested. One person appeared to be AMLAME-5 (Luis Puig Tabares 201-329604). Neither AMFAUNA-26 nor AMLAME-5 believed to be involved in any plot against life of Fidel, but could have been high on general suspect list."