Cryptonym: AMTRUNK-15
AMTRUNK-15 was also known as "Horacio" in a S/W message. Note that AMLASH-1/Rolando Cubela is referred to as "Charles". In addition, a memo on March 31, 1963, stated that Barbi was a close friend of AMICE -14 (Miguel A. Diaz Isalgue) who had "assisted him previously with transportation for maritime receptions."
A dispatch in October, 1964, stated that "WAVE had heard that AMTRUNK-15, the intermediary contact between AMTRUNK-18 (Candido Diaz) in the infil/exfiltration area and AMTRUNK-11 (Carlos Pedraza Aguilar). in the Matanzas/Havana area, had been arrested attempting to flee Cuba in a small boat around the time of Hurricane Cleo. This information had come indirectly from AMTRUNK-7 (Pedro Diaz Torres) who since his termination in July 1964 had made an independent trip into Cuba in early September."
A cable from JMWAVE in February of 1965 stated that "absence firm info re fate AMTRUNK-9 major factor this decision since must assume AMTRUNK-9 capture and subsequent DSE interrogation will finger AMTRUNK-15 and -18 as well as IDENs A, B and C who main props in ratline." IDEN A was Luis Garcia Garcia, IDEN B was Antonio Garcia Gonzalez, first cousin of IDEN A, and IDEN C was Esmeraldo Montalvo, taxi driver, Marti. IDEN D was Frank Fundora Fraga, former owner and manager, salt works, Cinco Leguas Key. Moreover, a dispatch in 1968 stated that AMTRUNK-14 was arrested in 1964.
https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/2025/0318/104-10234-10105.pdf
Undated CIA document: "AMTRUNK-5: Gonzalez Ort, Alberto. AMTRUNK-9: Orozco Basulto, Modesto. AMTRUNK-10: Ramon Tomas Guin Diaz. AMTRUNK-11: Pedraza, Carlos. AMTRUNK-13: Humberto Antoliano Armada Guerra. AMTRUNK-15: Pedro Barbi. AMTRUNK-18: Candido Diaz. AMTRUNK-20: Enrique Herrera Aro. AMICE-14: Pascasio Lineras Lopez. AMFAUNA-1: David Cabeza Coupau. AMFAUNA-3: Hortensia Orizondo Meneses."
104-10103-10112: OPERATIONAL/[DELETION]/AMTRUNK - PROJECT AMTRUNK OPERATIONAL REVIEW
3/31/63 memo: "D. OPERATIONAL ASSETS WITHIN CUBA: 1. Cayo CInco Leguas...A/14 (note: AMICE-14 - Miguel A. Diaz Isalgue) has two contacts here that he used previously for infils and exfils. One is 'Tango', Garcia Lezcano. Tango is a brother of Eustiquiano Garcia Lezcano (201-307338) whom A/14 wanted to use as a guide in this operation, but who was already being utilized elsewhere...4. City of Cardenas. Contact is Pedro Babri, owner of Bate Marino restaurant. Subject is a close friend of A/14 who assisted him previously with transportation for maritime receptions. Babri would be used to take A/14 and A/27 (note: AMICE-27 - Dr. Nestor Moreno) to Havana. Owns a car..."
104-10076-10419: JMWAVE CABLE RE SUBJECT OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENT
12/13/63: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: REF: UFGA 9312: "Re para 5 A enclosure to ref subj assigned AMTRUNK-15."
104-10216-10115: DISPATCH:AMLASH CACHE RECOVERY PLAN
3/26/64 dispatch from Chief of Station JMWAVE to Chief, Special Affairs Staff...Msg. No. Six. Manuel (AMTRUNK-10). David (AMICE-14) tried to make contact with you but he couldn't. The things asked for by Charles (AMLASH-1) are already in Cuba in a secure place...kept by Carlos (AMTRUNK-11) in his house until further notice...to get these things, follow exactly these instructions. Contact Carlos, David's uncle, through David's aunt (IDEN A who maintains shortwave accommodation address for both AMTRUNK-10 and 11). Tell him to see Pedro (AMTRUNK-15) in Cardenas. Carlos should tell Pedro to contact Cando (IDEN B), the fisherman who saw Pedro last month in the name of David..." See 104-10309-10008, p. 7, 9/14/63: Cando is Candido Diaz.
05/11/64: Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Deputy Chief, WH/SA: Page 2: ..."It should be pointed out that the cache recovery plan entails a rather complicated chain of communications, from AMTRUNK-10 (Ramon Tomas Guin Diaz) to AMTRUNK-11 (Carlos Pedraza Aguilar) to AMTRUNK-15 to AMTRUNK-18 (Candido Diaz), a fisherman in the AMTRUNK infil/exfil area who will actually recover the cache. AMTRUNK-10 has been given an open code which he can use in a commercial cable to tell WAVE when the cache is recovered..."
104-10216-10206: DISPATCH: TRANSMISSION OF S/W MESSAGES TO AND FROM AMTRUNK NETWORK
08/17/64: Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Deputy Chief, WH: Page 9: ..."5 (five) Horacio (AMTRUNK-15) (REDACTION) is not interested in (learning) S/W, he never comes (to see me as agreed)...On the 24th I was in Cardenas. Horacio (A-15) was in Havana so I was unable to get information on Valentin (AMTRUNK-18)..."
104-10216-10314: DISPATCH: SUBJECT - AFTER ACTION REPORT, OPERATION AMTRUNK IX, 3-9 OCTOBER 1964
10/26/64, Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Deputy Chief, WH/SA: Page 4: .."The majority of these contacts had been established originally by AMICE-14 (Miguel A. Diaz Isalgue) and AMTRUNK-7 (Pedro Diaz Torres), the former being prohibited from participating in further infiltration operations and the latter having been terminated...11. WAVE had heard that AMTRUNK-15, the intermediary contact between AMTRUNK-18 (Candido Diaz) in the infil/exfiltration area and AMTRUNK-11 (Carlos Pedraza Aguilar) in the Matanzas/Havana area, had been arrested attempting to flee Cuba in a small boat around the time of Hurricane Cleo. This information had come indirectly from AMTRUNK-7 who since his termination in July 1964 had made an independent trip into Cuba in early September. AMAGREE-1 asked (IDEN A - "Frank Fundora Fraga - administrator and past owner of salt works on northern Cinquo Leguas Key, NE Matanzas province) if the rumor of AMTRUNK-15's arrest (was) true. (Fundora) seemed surprised by this news. He claimed that AMTRUNK-15 was a close friend of his and that he had seen AMTRUNK-15's sister-in-law only the past weekend in Cardenas. AMTRUNK-15's sister-in-law had made no mention of AMTRUNK-15's arrest, therefore (Fundora) judged it highly unlikely."
Late 1964-October 1965 - STEAMER VII-VIII - planned for a duration of 20 days and was to entail establishing the ratline and sending AMTRUNK-21 to Havana to accomplish his objectives and to set up facilities for his MHAPRON partner, AMTRUNK-22, to be used on later infil. Team members brought back wild tale about how remainder of AMTRUNK cache (see AMTRUNK VIII) was 'returned to the US'. AMTRUNK-18 said a person who identified himself only as 'Bobby', a perfume salesman living in Varadera (note: Varadero?) had transferred the AMLASH cache to a boat from the US in late 1964. According to AMTRUNK-18 'Bobby' was a former CIA asset who re-infiltrated Cuba (circa 1963) with all necessary documentation to establish himself legally in area. Only clue to Bobby's identity is fact he in possession AMLASH cache recovery plan which was either given to him willingly by A-15 or extracted thru DSE investigation. The true names of AMTRUNK-15 and AMTRUNK-18 (Candido Diaz) were passed to Cubela in Paris in Feb. 1965."
01/22/65: Dispatch from COS, JMWAVE to Deputy Chief, WH/SA: ..."16. 'Jorge' and Orizondo arrived at her home...7 January. Mrs. Orozco said that she told 'Jorge' the information about arrests in the area and mentioned a person named 'Pedro.' Mrs. Orozco said that 'Jorge' had pricked up his ears at the mention of the name 'Pedro.' 'Jorge' asked Mrs. Orozco the last name of 'Pedro.' Mrs. Orozco replied that she did not know. 'Jorge' asked what business this 'Pedro' was in. Mrs. Orozco said that she thought that 'Pedro' owned a restaurant in Cardenas, Matanzas Province. According to Mrs. Orozco, 'Jorge' then identified 'Pedro' as Pedro Barbi/ or Balbi/Febles and said that Barbi did not 'work with the Americans' or with any organization but that he had helped many people. Mrs. Orozco said that this piece of news worried her greatly because her husband had told her he intended to contact this person. According to Mrs. Orozco, Orizondo then broke into the conversation to declare that 'we'/ presumably meaning she and 'Jorge', had done all the planning for Orozco's trip and that Orozco was not supposed to contact Barbi according to this plan. Mrs. Orozco reported that 'Jorge' did not comment about Orizondo's use of the term 'we.'" - - - 03/18/2025 release: https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/2025/0318/104-10234-10102.pdf
104-10216-10400: CABLE RE REASONS THAT FURTHER INFILTRATIONS TOO HAZARDOUS AT THIS TIME.
02/15/65: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: CITE WAVE 8294: TYPIC AMTRUNK: "1. For reasons enumerated below, present AMTRUNK infil/exfil area considered too hazardous risk further infiltrations at this time. STA suspending of AMTRUNK X and devoting major effort develop another infil area. 2. Absence firm info re fate AMTRUNK-9 (Modesto Orlando Orozco Basulto) major factor this decision since must assume AMTRUNK-9 capture and subsequent DSE interrogation will finger AMTRUNK-15 and -18 (Candido Diaz) as well as IDENs A, B and C who main props in ratline. 3. Recent unconfirmed info indicates IDEN D fired from job and possibly relocated. STA had hoped attempted rebuild ratline around IDEN D who to WAVE knowledge unknown A-9. WAVE attempting confirm status IDEN D. 4. Other factors include increased vigilance in area, failure find coastal guide replacement with necessary area knowledge and new contacts, and arrest AMTRUNK-15 under circumstances not yet known WAVE but believed unconnected his part AMTRUNK network (see UFGA-19765, 15 Feb)." - - - 02/15/65: Cable from JMWAVE to Director: CITE WAVE 8295: TYPIC AMTRUNK: REF WAVE 8294: "IDEN A - Luis (Garcia) Garcia. IDEN B - Antonio (Garcia) Gonzalez, first cousin IDEN A. IDEN C - Esmeraldo (Montalvo), taxi driver, Marti. IDEN D - Frank (Fundora) Fraga, former owner and manager, salt works, Cinco Leguas Key."
104-10234-10409: ASSETS ARRESTED IN AMLASH CASE
3/9/66 cable from JMWAVE, slugline TYPIC AMTRUNK AMLASH MHAPRON: "In addition recent arrest AMLASH-1 (Rolando Cubela Secades) and AMTRUNK-10 (Ramon Tomas Guin Diaz), refugee reports from Cardenas, Matanzas area indicate four former AMTRUNK internal assets, AMTRUNK-18 and IDENS A, B and C arrested for counter-revolutionary activity during early 66. With Dec 65 arrest AMTRUNK-11 reported (WAVE 8471) and late 64 arrest AMTRUNK-15 (WAVE 6745, 1/4/65 & WAVE 7302, 1/19/65), all principals AMTRUNK network during 63-64 since rolled up. AMTRUNKS 10, 11 (Carlos Pedraza Aguilar), 15, 18 (Candido Diaz) and REF A/WAVE 8471, former ratline thru which AMLASH cache emplaced Mar 64 (UFGA 14496, 3/30/64) to have been passed Havana..."
104-10225-10009: CIA FILE ON ( )SHELL-5.
03/08/68: AMSTALK-1 Damage Report: Page 3: ..."Internal Assets Exposed:...AMTRUNK-15 (arrested in 1964)..."