ARMS TRANSSHIPMENT EL BLUFF PORT FACILITY, NICARAGUA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90T00784R000100020004-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 7, 2011
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: November 21, 1982
• Content Type: REPORT

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Attachment to Z-11679/82
NPIC/PEG (11/82)
THREE PART GRAPHIC
ARMS TRANSSHIPMENT
EL BLUFF PflRT FAC:TT.TTY_ NICARAGUA
1. (SWN) SIGNIFICANCE: A.SOVIET ARMS SHIPMENT HAS ARRIVED IN
NICARAGUA.
REMAIN IN PORT (GRAPHIC 2). "ARACELY" ARRIVED 25X1
WHILE "NICARAO" ARRIVED NORMALLY THESE TWO 25X1
SHIPS ARE USED TO TRANSFER HEAVY MILITARY CARGO FROM EL BLUFF
TO RAMA PORT FACILITIES WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 25X1
50 NM UP THE RIO ESCONDIDO. THE TRANSFER OF CARGO FROM LARGER
SHIPS TO THESE SHALLOW-DRAFT RO/RO SHIPS IS REQUIRED DUE TO THE
RIVER DEPTH AND LIMITED FACILITIES AT RAtNA.
ROLL-ON/ROLL-OFF (RO/RO) SHIPS "ARACELY" AND "NICARAO" ALSO
2. (SWII) REMARKS: A SOVIET GEROI PANFILOVTSY-CLASS HERSHIP HAS
ARRIVED SINCE (GRAPHIC 1). AT LEAST FIVE 25X1
PROBABLE IIEDIUM TANKS ARE IN HOLD NUMBER 4. THE NICARAGUAN
(SWN) THE LAST OBSERVED ARMS TRANSSHIPMENT OCCURRED ON
WHEN AN ALGERIAN MERCHANT SHIP WAS AT EL BLUFF
PORT FACILITY WITH THE "ARACELY" ALONGSIDE. A ZHUK PATROL BOAT
WAS OFFLOADED AT EL BLUFF, AIID GSP HEAVY AMPHIBIOUS FERRIES AND
POSSIBLE BI-1-21 MULTIPLE ROCKET LAUNCHERS WERE TRANSFERRED TO
RAMA PORT FACILITIES.
(SUN) ADDITIONAL POSSIBLE ARMS-RELATED ACTIVITY IS AT EL BLUFF
AIRFIELD WHERE THREE CESSNA U-17A LIAISON
AIRCRAFT, ONE HIP C HELICOPTER, AND ONE ALOUETTE HELICOPTER
HAVE ARRIVED (GRAPHIC 3). THESE AIRCRAFT MAY
BE HERE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SECURITY DURING ARMS TRANSLOADING
OPERATIONS.
COORDINATES 11-59-40N 083-40-39W
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed ana-
lytical work. Their use should be restricted to the particular briefing board(s) they were prepared for
and must be considered valid only for the reporting period as indicated by the date of issue.
WARNING NOTICE
Intelligence Sources
and Methods Involved
SECRET
25X1
25X1
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/07: CIA-RDP90T00784R000100020004-9