Comandos De Liberacion
Unidos
Attempted Invasion of
Cuba 1996
CRIMINAL
INTELLIGENCE BUREAU
INTELLIGENCE UNIT
UPDATE:
CIB-96-8
DATE:
02/01/96
DETECTIVE: L. Rodriguez
TELEPHONE: [deleted]
[INVADERS: Ramon
Cordero, Marcelo
Crespo, Fernando
Mendez, Lazaro
Paredes, Jorge
Rodriguez.
EVIDENCE: Boat, evidence1,
evidence2,
gun1, gun2, bullets.]
Synopsis: Detention of five Cuban exile para-military
members of the
Comandos De Liberacion Unidos organization and seizure of
weapons and
explosive device components.
In the early hours of January 23, 1996, a group of five
Cubans exiles,
members of the organization known as Comandos De Liberacion
Unidos,
were apprehended as they departed the United States from
Marathon,
Florida enroute to Caibarien, Cuba.
According to their post-detention statements, the five
individuals
intended to travel via vessel to within two miles of
Caibarien at which
time, two members would board a zodiac style water craft and
travel to
shore. Once on shore both subjects would have
proceeded to travel
to unspecified government-owned locations and would have
placed several
explosive devices at those sites.
The group of exiles cited the ongoing human rights abuses
and
deprivation of liberties in Cuba as their reasoning for
attempting such
a task; however, they showed a disregard for the safety of
innocent
persons which might have been injured or killed as a result
of their
actions. In addition, the exiles revealed that in the
future
other groups or cells of Cuban exiles would be traveling to
Cuba where
they would deploy similar explosive devices.
This latest detention of Cuban exiles exposes the
availability of
resources and know-how of Cuban exiles to assemble
high-power
explosives and incendiary devices. Furthermore, there
exist a
possibility that such devices may be utilized against
perceived Cuban
government collaborators and owners of freight forwarding
agencies in
South Florida in the near future.
The following attachment consists of a document seized from
the subject
at the time of their detention. Said document
encourages Cubans
within the island to rebel against Castro and provides
several
"recipes" that could be concocted in order to destroy Cuban
Government
owned installations.
THE EXILES SAY THAT THERE ARE NO WEAPONS IN CUBA?
A few days ago I heard a program discussing what Cubans
could do to
fight the Castro regime. We have here some "little
recipes" for
curing the Castro illness. I hope they can be made
available to
those of competence who can do something for Cuba.
The following are just some of the explosives and incendiary
devices
that can be made in Cuba. Try to destroy the target
when no other
Cubans are in it. (Even when they are supposedly Communists)
Our war is
against Castro not against the people.
HOME-MADE GRENADE
This is an anti-personnel grenade with a 50-yard radius
which cam also
be used to make detonators. It is extremely sensitive
to movement
or fire.
One part sulphur powder
[illegible] parts potassium chlorate powder
16 small pieces of metal such as the munitions in a boot box
or ball bearings from a car wheel
One piece of 2-inch long metal pipe with 2 threaded screw-on
caps.
Sulphur powder can be obtained anywhere in Cuba such as in
pharmacies; potassium chlorate is also sold in pharmacies.
[1] Mix one part sulphur and seven parts potassium chlorate
powder.
[2] Screw one of the caps onto the pipe.
[3] Add the 15 munitions.
[4] Add the mixture of sulphur and potassium chlorate
without compacting it.
[5] Cap the pipe with the other lid.
Pocket this and, whenever you want, throw it at a
target. Upon
impact, the munitions will collide causing the mixture to
explode. It is effective for throwing at electrical
transformers
or petroleum and gasoline deposits.
PICRIC ACID (explosive)
-This is a tremendously powerful explosive similar to TNT
expanding at
7,216 meters per second. It can be used is larger
amounts to
destroy armored vehicles and structures such as tanks,
government
buildings, sugar plants and government deposits.
20 aspirin tablets
80 ml (cc's) of pure sulphuric acid (obtained by boiling
battery acid until it produces white vapors)
3 teaspoons of potassium nitrate (saltpeter)
[1] Crush the aspirins until obtaining a fine powder
[2] Add 80 ml (cc) of pure sulphuric acid.
[3] Put the mixture in luke-warm water and stir for 15
minutes. The mixture will darken.
[4] Add three teaspoonfuls of potassium nitrate and stir
vigorously.
[5] Allow the mixture, which is now of an orange color, to
cool; stir.
[6] Add 300 ml (cc) of cold water and wait 10 minutes.
[7] Filter the mixture with a napkin or toilet paper.
The yellow matter is picric acid. The result is 4.5
grams of
explosive which can be used for making detonators, or it can
be used is
a primary explosive. This is a powerful and explosive
as TNT
(trinitrotoluene) and reacts to fire, friction and
collision.
ACETONE PEROXIDE (explosive)
This is a very powerful explosive that can be made in any
home in
Cuba. It requires 3 ingredients, all obtainable by any
Cuban
citizen.
1 vial of oxygenated water (hydrogen peroxide)
1 vial of acetone (for removing fingernail polish)
1 pure sulphuric acid ([illegible] acid, boiled until white
vapors appear)
[1] Mix 30 ml (cc) of acetone with 50 ml (cc) of oxygenated
water in a crystal glass and stir for 30 seconds.
[2] Add 2.5 ml (cc) of sulphuric acid with an eye dropper,
releasing
one drop every 30 seconds while stirring the mixture, not
allowing the
temperature of same to rise above 10 degrees centigrade.
[3] Allow the mixture to sit for 12 hours; then gather the
crystals
that have formed. These are highly explosive on
impact, friction
or fire.
Using this mixture explosives have been made for use in
detonators or as primary explosives.
A 1/4 pound detonator made by this process can be placed in
a 20-pound
bag of fertilized (nitrate of ammonia), an explosive in need
of a
detonator to set it off.
PERMANGANATE/ALUMINUM (explosive)
This explosive is of medium potency and can be made in any
home in
Cuba. It needs 2 ingredients which are obtainable by
any Cuban
citizen in the island.
2 parts potassium permanganate
3 parts aluminum powder
Potassium permanganate is used in Cuba to treat skin
diseases such as
eczema and lymphangitis. It is sold in pharmacies in
the form of
purple-colored pills. A fine aluminum powder is
obtained by
filing and scraping a piece of aluminum.
[1] Crush the potassium permanganate pills until obtaining a
fine powder.
[2] Thoroughly mix 2 parts potassium permanganate and 3
parts aluminum powder in a vial.
This explosive is of medium potency requiring a detonator to
set it off.
ZING POWDER/NITRATE OF AMMONIA (incendiary)
This is a very powerful incendiary which can be set off with
water droplets. It is perfect for delayed action.
5 teaspoonfuls of zinc powder
15 teaspoonfuls of ammonium nitrate (fertilizer)
Zinc powder is sold in pharmacies for skin diseases such as
dermatitis, pruritus, etc.
[1] Crush the ammonia nitrate until it has the consistency
of brown sugar.
[2] Crush one part zinc powder together with 3 parts ammonia
nitrate in a vial having a lid with holes.
Put in a place where drops of water can fall on it.
This is in
incendiary mixture ignited by contact with water and, once
it starts
burning, cannot be extinguished.
BRAKE FLUID/SWIMMING POOL CHLORINE (incendiary explosive)
This is a potent incendiary explosive which ignite 30
seconds after the two chemicals come in contact with each
other.
1 part brake fluid
1 part calcium hypochlorite in pellet form (32 % or more)
1 one-inch wide glass vial
1 piece of 2- to 3-inch wide pipe with two screw-on caps
20 boot-box munitions
Brake fluid can be obtained everywhere in Cuba.
The calcium hypochlorite comes as pellets for use in
swimming pool and are known as pool chlorine.
[1] Screw one of the caps onto the metal pipe
[2] Fill a small glass vial with brake fluid and cap it
[3] Clean the vial on the outside with a rag
[4] Place the glass vial inside the metal tube
[5] Fill the pipe half full with calcium pellets
[6] Screw on the other metal cap
Throw this at a target. Upon impact, the glass vial
will break
inside the metal pipe and the two chemicals will come into
contact with
each other. 30 seconds after the chemical reaction
starts, a
temperature of 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit is produced.
The heal
cannot escape anywhere and a very loud and powerful
explosion is
produced capable of igniting and type of fuel.
METALLIC SODIUM (incendiary)
This is a substance which ignites on contact with
water. It has a silvery color with the consistency of
a primer charge.
In Cuba there are many old cars having valve lifters
filled with metallic sodium.
Fill a glass vial with metallic sodium and cap it with a lid
full of holes; put it where drops of water fall on it.
SAWDUST/WAX (incendiary)
This is an incendiary mixture more effective than napalm and
capable of
destroying any target by burning it up with a very hot white
flame. The temperature can reach 3,200 degrees
Fahrenheit.
1 part paraffin (candle wax or bees' wax)
1 part wood sawdust
In Cuba wood sawdust can be found everywhere. Candle
was or bees's wax is to be found everywhere.
[1] Fill a small caldron half full of wax and melt it.
[2] After the wax has melted take it off the fire and add
the same amount of sawdust, mixing well. Allow to
cool.
Place the mixture in a wrapper (store paper) or a cement
bag.
Place the container in the area you wish to destroy (such as
a gas
station) and light the wrapper with a match.
In three minutes the mixture will catch fire producing an
unquenchable flame 10 meters in diameter.
MOLOTOV COCKTAIL (incendiary)
This is an incendiary called napalm and is effective for
igniting any secondary fire.
1 empty rum bottle
˝ cup of soap shredded into small pieces
˝ cup of alcohol
1 sock stuffed with cotton
[1] Fill the bottle almost to the very top
[2] Add the soap and wait 5 minutes
[3] Add the alcohol; stir vigorously
[4] Cap the bottle with the sock, using it as a wick
The substance is now gelatinous and will stick to any
vertical surface. Light the wick and toss.
MOLOTOV LIGHT BULB (incendiary explosive)
This is a kind of napalm bomb that doesn't require a wick,
doesn't need to e lit with a match and is of delayed action.
1 incandescent light bulb (of any wattage)
1 cup of gasoline
One quarter bar of bath soap shredded into little pieces
1 teaspoonful of alcohol
[1] Heat the metal threads of the light bulb for 5 minutes
until the metal section comes off
[2] Once the metal is off carefully remove the filament
[3] Fill with gasoline, soap and alcohol
[4] Apply any kind of glue around the neck of the light bulb
and carefully re-glue the filament
[5] Allow to sit for 1 hour.
Place the light bulb at the target site, turn off the lights
and replace the existing light bulb. (Turning it off first)
When they turn on the lights, the filament will produce a
spark, detonating the mixture which has a radius of 10 yards
(30 feet)
DELAYED-ACTION INCENDIARY BOMB
This is a mixture that can be used to start fires and
detonate gasoline tanks
1 small glass vial with a cap
6 empty medicinal capsules
10 ml (cc) of calcium carbide
10 ml (cc) of metallic sodium
[1] Empty out the medicinal capsules
[2] Fill three capsules with calcium carbide
[3] Fill three capsules with metallic sodium
[4] Insert the 6 capsules into the glass vial
[5] Fill half full of water and cap the vial
The mixture will detonate in 10 minutes. The water
dissolves the
medicinal capsules; the metallic sodium enters into contact
with the
water producing hydrogen. The reaction produces heat
which in
turn produces hydrogen. The moment the calcium carbide
[comes into]
contact with the water acetylene is produced causing an
explosion.
Throw in into a gasoline or petroleum tank and get away; the
mixture will detonate in 10 minutes.
AMMONIUM NITRATE (explosive)
This is a very powerful explosive bur requires the use of a
detonator to set it off.
1 bag of ammonium nitrate (fertilizer)
1 piece of copper
[1] Using a file, file a piece of copper to obtain half a
cup of powder.
[2] Open up a sack of fertilizer and add copper powder; do
not mix.
Place the sack of fertilizer near the target and leave
it. In 2
or 3 days the copper will react with the fertilizer
producing copper
azide, the sack of fertilizer which will blow up violently
in a radius
of 250 yards (750 feet)
SILVER FULMINATE DETONATOR (explosive)
This is an explosive which is used in making
detonators. It
should not be used in large quantities since it detonates
very easily
through friction or fire.
1 ounce of silver (a silver coin or any piece of silver)
8 ounces of nitric acid (42% or more)
3 ounces of water
20 ounces of alcohol
1 empty bullet jacket or a piece of copper or aluminum
tubing
[1] Be sure one end of the pipe is closed
[2] Pour the nitric acid and water into a large cauldron
[3] Stir for two minutes with a glass rod or wooden stick
[4] Add the silver; heat until a reaction is produced
[5] When the silver dissolves, let it sit for three minutes
[6] Quickly add 16 ounces of alcohol and wait till it
bubbles
[7] Let sit for 3 minutes and add 3 more ounces of alcohol
[8] Let sit for 1 hour
A white crystalline powder will appear; filter carefully
with a napkin; do not squeeze or use any kind of metal.
Insert very carefully into small metal tubing or a bullet
jacket;
insert a wick and gently close the other end of the tubing
with pliers.
This is now a detonator which can be used to set off any
other kind of
explosive. Make a large detonator by using double the
amount of
chemicals. Fill half full with silver fulminate and
the remainder
with acetone peroxide; insert into a sack of fertilizer
(ammonium
nitrate) is a fertilizer needing a detonator.
ECONOMIC SABOTAGE
All these acts of economic sabotage, although causing
inconveniences to
the population, produce frustrations and increase the hatred
of the
people toward a system incapable of maintaining
transportation.
Also, it lets the people know that there are many who are
tired of the
system and this increases boldness and discontent.
In order to increase confusion and so that government agents
won't be
able to find a fixed point, the following must be done in
several
different cities.
-Throw a metal chain onto high-tension electrical power
lines in the
countryside. This will cause a short circuit capable
of
destroying generating transformers at the [power] plant
causing damage
that takes a good while to repair
-Throw pieces of metal onto the sugar cane that is being
taken to the
processors, such as the motor parts from any car. When
the
machinery starts to crush these metals the damage to the
gears in the
mechanism is considerable.
-A box of matches and a cigar. Light up a cigar and
take two
draws; open the match box, remove half of them and place the
cigar in a
corner; close it and leave the box close to fuel or in a
sugar cane
field. When the cigar burns down it will ignite the
matches,
serving as a delayed wick [fuse].
-When there is a power outage, throw stones at glass
windows; write graffiti on walls saying Abajo Fidel! [Down
with Fidel!]
-Set fire to the ‘Diploshops' during power outages.
-Take two pieces of metal such as iron chisels and put them
with the
narrow point on railroad tracks pointing in the direction on
oncoming
trains. Put one on each rail, one 10 inches further
than the
other. When the train passes by the target, it will
derail
destroying the rails and causing damage to the
machinery. Try to
do this in unpopulated area.
Remove the spark plug from any vehicle and put gunpowder
inside the
piston [cylinder]. Replace the spark plug. When
the motor
starts up, the spark plug will ignite the gun powder causing
an
explosion that will destroy the motor's piston and valves
appearing to
be a defect in the motor.
-During power outages, cut telephone lines and electrical
power lines in the countryside far from your home.
-Write anonymous letters to the council of state threatening
them with
revolt. Send the letters from a nearby city, not your
own.
-Set fire to governmental centers such as tourist offices
and tourist restaurants.
-Set fire to sugar cane fields and tobacco houses in the
countryside.
-Punch out the tires on internal transportation vehicles
with a knife or razor, such as the inter-city guaguas
[buses]
-Destroy the city's water mains or main gas lines with a
sledge hammer or iron bar.
-Every Cuban who visits the Island can be very useful if
he/she will
bring a small radio to his/her family members. Radio
Shack has a
battery-operated and plug-in AM/FM and short-wave radio for
$129; it
has very good reception and is quite small. For every
radio taken
to every family, between 3 and 7 people start getting
information and
begin to rebel.
-In Cuba there is a 240,000-volt electrical power line which
supplies
[electricity] to the entire Island. Prepare a sack of
fertilizer
with a powerful detonator and place lit alongside a light
pole.
When it detonates the explosion will destroy the light pole,
the lines
will break and the Island is left without electricity.
-The lack of electricity is the most effective method for
increasing
discontent on the Island and for stopping what little
industry there
is. If you (pl) concentrate on the electrical power
lines, it is
the most effective way of letting the world know that there
is a
dissidence and political discontent on the Island.
-Do not try to make explosives here in the U.S. since it is
illegal and
also extremely dangerous. Try to get these documents
to
trustworthy dissidents on the Island who can do something
for our
fatherland. In order to remove Fidel Castro, economic
sabotage
must be carried out against him so that he, in turn, will
bring more
pressure to bear on the people, increasing discontent.
-Try not to criticize other Cubans on the radio or in
public. One
of the reasons why Castro is still in power is because he
has been able
to divide the exile community with subjects such as the
embargo, family
assistance, travel to Cuba, military intervention,
etc. A long
time ago a famous person said that the best way to conquer
the enemy is
DIVIDE AND CONQUER, and that is what Castro is doing with
the exile
community.
<<A Cuban>>
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