~ (O0OT0183] ANTONIO VECIANA BLANCH SECRET. 201-312966 DELETIONS: LES DELETIONS: 44041534 FBI: 8/24/77 NC 22315 8/24/77 NC 22222 7/13/77 NC 83138 Foreign Liason Report 3/14/74 RE: Reptd financial attempt to sabotage Cuban embassies 2/28/74. Narcotics enforcements action recently arrested and con- victed in New York city on charge close friend of Max Lesnick 1/16/74 Orlando Bosch financed DR op which resulted in explosion at Hotel Oasis, Avrainville, Fran ? 12/31/73 Cuban exile, one of Alpha 66 founders, arrested 7/24/73 by DEA ib charges relating to cocaine possession. 9/27/73 Alleged financed terrorist op to be acrried out in Paris, France, which resulted in 8/2/73 explosion in Avrainville, FR 2/14/73 * Antonio Veciana Blanch 2/18/69 " " a 9/27/65 SNFE-Alpha 66- 201 FILE: 10194-10153 Dir. 188531 3/15/78 78 0421219 DPOB: 10/18/28, Cuba Empl. 57-61 in Havana as CPA & mgr of Banco Finaciero. member of People's Revolutionary Movement 60-61, one of founders of Alpha 66, anti-Castro Cuban exile organization. Went into voluntay exile Dec 61 arr at Key West via small boat from Cuba. Contacted CIA on three occasions for assistance in plots against Fidel Castro (Dec. 60, July 62, Apr 66). Officers listened to Veciana, expressed no interest, offered no encouragement, and never recontacted him on this matter. There has been no agency relationship with Veciana. . A POA, granted in Jan 62, expired Nov 62, and was never used operationally | by RTACTION. Veciana with A.1.D. in La Paz from 68-72. (veciana was registered in ISR by the US army in Nov 62 and he was terminated without prejudice in Jul 66. Veciana was arrested in Miami 7/24/73 for conspriacy to smuggle cocaine into the US. Jack Anderson columns in 7/ indicate Veciana claims contact with CIA man, Morrs Bishop. SECRET Mr
w - 7 41441535 -- Doc X-tract.. 7/27/77 075-008°019 Letter from Orlando Bosch dated May 1977 instructs ‘coordinated revolutionary Organization (CORU) to initiate larae-scale terrorist action in Venezuela. Plans . call for assassination of Orlando Garcia (291-NN&7860) and Ricardo Morales. Veciana to be ifvdlved in this action. > Doc X-tract 075-008-019°CARA-33792 7/27/77 Responsible for 100 lbs explosives to be used by ‘CORU. Involved in international terrorist activities against Ciban-Venezuelan targets in VEnezuela -- 4/30/77 316/01466-77 Response to FBI & statements made by Felix Zabala Mas in FBI's interview of Mas, Veciana never contractual. employee; agency officer in contact with Veciana never used alias of Morris Bishop, Blair, or Kail. -- 1/21/77 LA/COG/021-77 RE: Jack Anderson column -- Agency identifies Mr. X as Veciana. Indicates V eciana was first CNevana | by agency personnel in: Dec 1960 when he asked COS in Havana, | to help in the assassination plot against Castro.|| [did not encourage him/ 11/23/61 the Miami Herald published an account of the unsuccessful attempt by Veciana, who reportredly arranged to assassinate Castro and Cuban Pres. Dorticos on 10/5/61 in Havana, but the bazooka he was using failed to fire. POA granted Jan 62; expired Nov 62, for use in para-military -affairs. 7/23/62 Veciana interviewed by Harry Real in New York DCD office. Asked Real to arrange meeting with senior CIA officer to discuss plan to assassinate Castro and to request ‘CIA assistance. NO’ indication this request-was ever acted upon by CIA. Registered in ISR in Nov 62 and terminated without prejudice in July 1966. April 1966, | using alias John Livingston, met Veciana in NYC. Meeting arranged by retired naval officer James Cogswell, who had informed chief/ WH division, that he had information of value concerning Cuba. After intraduction to Veciana, Veciana launched into discussion of assassination of Castro. said he was in no position to encourage. Veciana. Veciana then mentioned his roommate in PR, Felix Zabala, who had excellent contacts in Cuba. Using this onfo to get agency ‘support; requested $50,000. said he would look into Zabala matter, and arrange to have Zabala contacted in PR. -- 1/20/77 Anderson columns re Mr. X SECRET |
“vecIANA, Page 3 | SECRET -- 6/7/74 §60902 © 1014502 44451536 Employed with A.1.D., La Paz, Bolivia, ca. 4/68 to 6/30/72. POA 62-for use with MRP. — : -- 1/4/74 06C 74-0019 RE: US V. Antonio Veciana and Ariel Pomeres. ' CIA had no prior knowledge or acquiescence in unlawful importing of cocaine or other narcotics. -- 7/26/73 437091 2619402 CPA repsently working for Distribuidora Pacifico, S.A., CAracas, "Venezuela (2/73) -- 4/6/72 IN 579398 Indicates Veciana's job at AID was bank credit officer to Central Bank Of Bolivia. Inolved in reorganization of bank. | Considered expert on local banking. _ -- 4/5/72 IN 578428 Indicates In March 72 Veciana staying in Caracas raising money for assassinatin plot against Castro. -- 9/18/68 Memo Indicates Veciana employed as Director of Puerto Rico Promotions and Entertainment, Inc. PR. -- 9/23/68 IN 97745 Indicates Veciana told story re Ruiz to Henry Taylor!in Miami (no date given) and inf fin 1968. ~~ 9/13/68 COBR-00958 201-834598 Indicates Cogswell involved in fund-raising plot for the Prince- Pelaez Castro assass. plot. -- 8/2/68 IN 63507 Indicates Veciana told Cuban affairs oF FTzE7H)L/68-that Orestes Guillermo RUIZ Perez who is married to Veciana's cousjn, jis. dis- satisfied with Castro regime and could be susceptible How oot Fre _\V. Leaving US 8/3/68 for Bolivia to, serve with AID. Told to give details to’ Emb La Paz. Gave essentially same info 1964. When followed up by report ¥. father and wife, Veciana complained. At this time it . was ascertained that none of the Veciana family were_in touch with Ruiz wife. Also.Vecina aware Ruiz stationed |but apparantly unaware Ruiz position as ranking diplomat there. SECRET
" VECTANA, page 4 ~—-SECREL, _. JINS 4/12/67 Bio info oe 44441537 Alien reg # A 12 490 987 SS #261-74-9877 Wife: Muino Rodriguez Sira DPOB: 10/4/35, Havana DOM: 5/15/53, Havana . Father: Veciana Antonio POB: Spain; resides Miami Mother: Blanch Ana i " " Address;. 62-64 2902 NW 11 St, Miami. -- 9/27/66 LX-03195 201-802841 Cited in interview with Felix Zabala Mas -- 8/29/66 UFG-08514 100-009-014 | Member of Cuban Center for Political Studies. in PR -- 5/31/66 Lx-3102 | James Cogswell, aka Jack Cogswell - meetings 4/19-20/66. Chief/ WH div rcvd info via personal contacts that James Cogswell, nephew of. retire employee Mrs. Francis Gogswell, had info re Cuba. Byron Waidley, (author of memo) called Mrs. Cogswell in wash, DC, obtained tel no. of nephew in NYC and called nephew. Met with him at Racquet & Tennis Club © 4/19/66. ; . Cogswell accompanied by Veciana, an acquaintance of Cogswell for last several years. Veciana launched into discussion of Castro assass. plot. Waidley did not encourage him, but. asked forinfo to- convey to govt. Veciana replied with inof re Feliz Zabala, who had vsited Cuba in 1965 in connections with Camarioca refugee departures. Has an identical twin brother residing: in Cuba anda sister married to CP pfficial Luis Mas Martin. She is employed as secretary by - Ramiro Valdez, Cuban minister of Interiour. Zabala rcvd 3-day pass in havana thru contacts of sister and brother-in-law. Veciana attempting to use story for agency help in own plans. Waidley told Veciana he would look into Zabala matter; told Cogswell he would meet him the next day. 4/20/66 met with Cogswell at his hotel room. Discussed a Cuban refugees with whom Cogswell remain in contact; dis- cussions with Frank O'Brien. (Waidley had spoken to O'Brien earlier that day - 4/20). . Noted Cogswell's willingness to drink in the morning, . described him as amiable, well-educated man from Kittery Point, Maine, member of illustrious Naval family. Served as Naval officer in WWII on destroyer named after his uncle and grandfather. His contacts not assessed as not much assistanc to agency. — SECRE an FBI had already interviewed Zabala prior to Cogswell-Waidley meeting. Agency person will also debrief him in near future.
2? -VECIANA, page 5 UFG-7683 1111450 10/28/65 a Source: AMRAZZ-1 thru AMBLINK-1 5 10/19/65 - Executive meeting of SFNE-MRP-Alpha 66 held 10/13/65, attended by Veciana. Purpose to try to persuade Veciana: ~ to join the alliance again. Efforts to no avail. Veciana employed in PR in Christmas card bsuiness, said he had collaborated with SNFE becasue of his confidence in .Menoyo, but had no confidence in present leaders. Armando Fleites Diaz repdtly told Veciana he had prepared plans for attack on Cuba, but Forced to Suspend them becasue of Castro;s open door policy. Veciana reptd resigned from alliance 6/1/65. Menoyo captured and imprisoned in Cuba 1/65. UFGA 21845/6 ‘4/1/65 Bio data report Veciana’ graduate of Habana School of Business Administration. Employed as CPA for Banco Financiero, loan company owned by Julio Lobo.; little knowledge English. Employed at. Cuban national Bank 1956-57. Described as dark, of medium height, very thin, ‘intense, active, nervous, speaks rapidly. Associated with. action groups, but specialist in fund-raising and organization for alpha 66, really financila section for SFNE. Ordered to be restricted to Dade Cty in 1963 for being connected with hit-and-run activities. Claims liberal philosphy but biographer doubts whether he has any political philosphy at all. UFG-7174 5/7/65 UFG-06235 " UFG-06007 - UFG-04958 Veciana talked into temporarily withdrawing resignation from alliance by Aurelio Nazario Sargent, member of SFNE. Nazario said resignation now would have disastrous consequences to alli- ance. Will stay on in. name only; resign when announcement won't hurt alliance. 11/20/64 “ Indicates Veciana has not been to successful in raising. funds at his hqs in Puerto Rico. 10/9/64 Assigned $1,300 to be sent to Menoyo. 4/14/64 a Final exec Cmte meeting of SFNE- before launching Plan Omega. Due for April 10. . SeCREL
: sett vase 6 ; | SECREL. #4412539 UFG-03122 6/27/63 11/30/62, Plans for infiltration of team into ‘Cuba. - Details not given. Agency to Army ISR “Re; Info re Veciana disseminated to army. C-96796 11/16/62 Index acrd re Veciana Indicates POA requested by Carl Hicks 12/29/61 ° NOTE: "Now being used by. Army" OUT 99193 Indicates rift in Alpha 66 - Only Jeronimo Estevez, Salomon Bender, Fernando sanchez , and Israel Gonzalez still allied with ~Veciana. _ 11/12/62 Robrerto Castellon said. rest of Alpha 66 members planning formation of new org. under name Comanods 66 to raise funds for action groups like DRE OUT 97521 RE: Deception of Veciana, who secretly has been associated with SFNE, handling fund disbursements and always spoke of financing - other’group, but members thought other group was part of Alpha 66. Truth revealed Oct 62 when Armando Fleites and Veciana offered services to Miro Cardona. Veciana forced to resign. Records show he diverted $27,000 to SFNE out of $37,000 total. All ~ Alpha 66 equipment was lost on 10/23-24/62 attempted raid 11/6/62. 9/11/62 9/8/62 of sugar barges off Cayo Santa Maria. to FBI from CIA RE: plans of Alpha 66 - before rift known. Indicates leader in NY is Alberto GUTIAREZ de Ja Solana, employed at Bohemia_. In PR, leader is Jeronimo Esteve; other officers Dr. Raul ‘Janes, J.J. Murabotto, Roebrto Castellon, members Ricardo Gonzalez Porta, Pedro Muina, Father Mighuel Hernandez. Other officers in NY- Ramon Perez Daple, Antonio VEcdva (sic), vice treasurer. . : ; QUT .75022 RE: Plans of Alpha 66 for opertions ca. this date, using 5 men and boat. OUT74604 RE: plans of Alpha 66 for raid on Havana 9/8 or 9/62
dL 7 VECIANA, page 7 SECRE -- 9/7/62 OUT 74509 41111590 ant RE: Plans for raid on Cuba by Alpha 66. Prob. will use aircraft. -- 9/8/62 OUT 74313 Plans for Alpha 66 raid now scheduled prior to 9/9/62. If success- ful , Julio LObo ready to commit $250,000 to assist future operations. -~ 9/6/62 OUT 73652 Plans for raid known only to A-66 members in Miami. Veciana sent message with plans to safe deposit box in PR to be opened upen successful completion of raid. -- 7/26/62 00 A (S) 3232106 WH 765 NYContact office - interviewed Veciana on occasion of his arrival in US. Also interviewed 7/23/62 by Harry Real, after Lobo allerted office to fact that Veciana would be in NYC. RE: ..organization of Alpha 66. Named such becaue Alpha firstletter in alphabet and org. fist of its kind, and 66 represented number of members in group. Objective ~ war on Cuba, assassination of Castro, 3 of 66 members in Euba. Has made s everal attempts to enlist agency aid in Miami. Seeking starter: $1000.00 US. 10,000 pesos 48 hand grenades 2 rifles w/ telescopic sights & silencers 300 Ibs of C=3 or C-4 explosives w/ detonators Would like conversation with agency person sufficiently high- placed for answer of interest or not by agency. Will be in NY/ until 7/27/62 c/o Lobo. Then in Chicago, then back to Miami. -- 7/11/62 OUT 53489 Veciana went.ot COS Havana 12/60 with info re plot. Requesting rifles w/ grenade adapters, eight grenades. Carefully planned attempt for more than a year, renting apartment w/ view of Presidential Palace. Lobo asked of opinion of Veciana, which was favorable. -- 7/7/62 IN 24761 Veciana given money by SKEWER-1, who said in telephone conversation that this not AMBANG activitiy but had AMBANG "blessing." -- 7/7/62 IN 24738 SKEWER-1 gave Veciana $500. A-66 meeting 7/2/62 in PR. Claims group not eet SECRET