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14-00000 cs 5 Shea Peachy y Pee. ke 7 evroral, mamths K heve been contacted on conga 2 by ay Jetegh Uaxola, moberiless ‘wmuggler,: gumrumner and gevgrs corm, NB ceRine SES4 jpterest in efferin« bis ascistence ia connec. on w. 3 -Receuse of his ‘Ratiground I heve elvays evaded - EWE y | oma ‘6 Feb 61. ee called saying be had sone information con ‘prez Senator; a: ‘elose fried and outtdante of Beha” Guevara, | Salt we. ‘Should knee ‘eboat Hote . 2. “x cisitacted the RBI to check on Kerola's “background and w: ‘Sau wile ihe. ‘hes @ leng record, h: wndoubtedly could. speck auther i. cmetining. ‘finternatios: 3 aRLeies 5 3 isterast im his ubility to eamuggle e athe contraband sw cons2qu: amd, IT wisites Merola at his palatial fk». Schama Resch, 6 , 3. Wemla informed we th.: fe is currently “.t Liberty" on two count: 1 & teo-geor probation in conrection with his courieticn on a charge of ringing the: goa-fa=-law of Pulscneioe Batisi2, General Viranda, to che US in 2 Clandestine fashieor followfug the Carrio ccc vy, and b>} an appeal being ~eleam ageimes a couviction dmrvrolving 2 vaeth of NB fron: a National Guard meory. Neroi wes siven five ysars wi Te 4urceacted te drag on ndefiediely. 4 re queried sbost the Brazilis: Senetc:, Morel 2 tat he hae aot so Teseioed éetakis . but that Sen 8 mea fgtico cle de the Lectin , ceaiiesa comers Gagimegs Lead d wee 2 .erested in cveloping & Bou: whereby ¢ z wehoy woul. be maugeled tnio reid. He eaiZ shat the Senecar i Laowhny Saseio's victory od bed bees the special gucst of “re other deraile wera made ‘aileble at the tim: of the ineveyicy of Me ela, 5. It dem egdiater that iis price he. cwuun dex Mesele contactiag us ce ascentsia 4* we would Lewes cy ne vita Gh. coteval court to reseind the 1 mmile travel cactrietion curtestiv tevo.sd on ula go chet Marola could go to | ‘agil te work ovt details of the witeke suggling. 1 informed him that hese it Be no posetbility of us sedcg of c&ristance in Lhe matter. : =
14-00000 ; we . : . * ° . vs e 93 ate APPROVED FOR RELEASE 19 a | CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM TT STARTS ST amiga >. guirunner ‘and: genera) | offering crs of “his. background: 1-have always aver,” Cn 6: Fel eica ed: 88 £ be had’ proethien. Be f frté a ing he’. some inform 2 i: contacted: the: FBI to: check on Merola's ‘background that while he has. a’ ‘Long ‘record, he undoubtedly could speak concerning international affairs; interest in his ability to s.1ig% other contraband... As ‘@ con sequence, 5 § visited Merola at. his palati Miami, Beach. . “ 3.- Mem la informed: me “that he: is currently “at Liberty" on two-cor a} A two-year probation in connection with his conviction on a charge o >ringing the son-in-law of Fulgéencio. Batista, General Miranda, to the t 1 clandestine fashion’ fol Lowing the Castro victory, and b) an appeal bei<, :aken against a conviction involving a theft of guns: from a National Guard \emory. . Merola was: given five years but his appeal is expected to drag on ndefinttely. eet Be ay ‘ 4. When queried ‘about. the Brazilian Senator, Merola said that he has not et received details, but that Sam Kay, one of his asso ciates in the Latin. mexican contrabend business, told him that the Senator was interested in eveloping a project whereby large quantities of whiskey would be smuggled into He said that the Senator had visited Cuba following Castro's victory id had been the special guest of "Che" Guevara. No other details were made rwilable at the time of the interview of Merola. Doe 5. It is ny opinion that the principal reason for Merola contacting us 6 to ascertain if we would intervene with the Federal Court to rescind the -mile travel restriction currently imposed on him so that Merola could go to azil to work out details of the whiskey smuggling. I informed him that there wld be no. posatbiltey < of is - “Betng of assistance in the matter.
14-00000 6 * . a . ’ . — APPROVED FOR RELERSE 1993 CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAM — have always evaded - Ome information cc omile ‘travel erent ction eurrentl azil to. work-out; ently imposed on him ork, out; detaile of: the whtekey =ohvceet there
14-00000 a re age 1 ip sat APPROVED FOR RELEASE 1993 CIA HISTORICAL REVIEW PRC ¥. Read - Joaeph Rayan Eevsal ‘North: ‘Bay “tn offering his. assistance inc ; a « Because | ‘of his’ background I have alw.y: for Eomever,” Cm 6 Reb’ 61 he called saying he had some inform , Breziliiam Senator,’ a elese friend and confidante of "Che ‘felt we shoukd knew about. “Ze © contacted. ‘the’ FBI to check on Merola' 8 backgrou thet: while he has.'a- long record, he undoubtedly could spea concerning international affeire; interest inhis ability |} ether contraband. As a consequence, I visited Merola at his , Miami Reach. . Se "Mens Ra’ 1 dngormed me. ‘that ‘he 48 currently, Mat - itberty" a) A two-year probetion in connection with his conviction on : ‘bringing the son-in-law of Fulgencio. Batista, General Mirand: aed Donnotad fashion following the Castro eer s and b) ax ot Encricas contraband business, t ‘told him thet. ‘the | Senator was int a fing ‘a project whereby large ‘quantities - of whiskey would . Brezil.. fe said that the ; Senator’ had visited’ Cuba following Gas i rerid bed ‘been. the special. guest of “Che Guevara. No other detail - available at. the: time of the: interview of Merola:” oo itis my opinion that ‘the principal ‘reason for Merola cont Was: to ascertain: n 4f we ‘would intervene with the Federal Court to ret 25omh be | txavel restriction currently imposed on him 60 that Merola a oc ees Spiker g detatle ‘of the whiskey smuggling. I informed him i
14-00000 ck peel ae APPROVED FOR RELEASE 1993 | GIN HISTORICAL REVIEW PROGRAAM yet: ‘received detaiis, but. that Sam Kay, one of his: associates in  , anerican contraband . jbusiness, ‘told him that the Senator was intr aa developing a project whereby large quantities of whiskey would Brazil. Be said that the Senator had visited Cuba following and ‘had been the special. guest of "Che" Guevara. No other de _ available at. ‘the time: of the interview ‘o£ Merola. © “5, ‘Te is ny opinion that the principal reason for Mer: was to. ‘ascertain if we would intervene with the Federal Cou. 25-mile travel restriction currently imposed on him so that Brazil to work out details of the whiskey smuggling. 1 inf would be nO possibility of us. being « of assistance in the m
oe 6 Merola then atated that he had heen actively engaged in gunrunning in _ behalf of Fidel Gastro during the revolt against Batieta, He stated that . , foklowing Castro's vietory he had gore ta Havana, and hed heen received warmly by Bidek Caatro and Camilo Cienfuegos, He furnished some detaila concerning these contacts, as well as his contact with Colonel "Johnnie! Abbes, head of ., the Dominican secret police also a contact of his, which are being forwarded im report form, .. @.° Mexola also indicated that he is very well acquainted with Antonio | i de Waxona, head of the FRD, and felt that he would be able to provide definite sot .. agsistance to.the Frente should he be called upon. He has a 63-foot boat mo awailable which he would not be adverse to "lending" to his friends. -§ He alse*mentioned that he realizes that we are not in a position ON to be "persuasive" with Gastro agents in Miami, or with firms making clandestine shipments to Cuba via the British West Indies, Mexico or Canada. Merola | _@mpressed the opinion that he might be able to be of considerable assistance im “discussions" with individuals or corporations re their desisting from lending aid to Castro. 9. We expressed appreciation for his offer of assistance but stated that it was very unlikely that we would request any help; however, we would be glad to hear details of any Latin American intrigue which comes to his '- attention, and which could be of any significance. “- 10.. No further contact is contemplated, but for the record the followin an: is.submitted? 9° Tecord th .- Fall Name: “Joseph Raymond Merola -"DOB: 9 October 1925 _ - POB: Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania _. He “served in the US Marine Corps from 1941 to 1945, Serial 32962¢ Ne , F)\ GLELCHAUF