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DOCUMENT  0246


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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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