CUBAN SEIZURE OF PANAMANIAN SHIP IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-450-7-4-0
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: November 18, 2011
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: December 7, 1971
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/02/19T 10C-HAK-450-7-4-0 c
IP L -
MEMORANDUM
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
-71:317"-sk-E-Sit-rta..1 UMBRA ATTACHMENTS
MEMORANDUM FOR: DR. KISSINGER
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Arnold Nachman?
35478
INFORM.ATION
7 December 1971
Cuban Seizure of Panamanian Ship in
International Waters
Late Sunday Cuban naval units seized the Panamanian-flag ship LAYLA EXPRESS
in international waters off the eastern tip of Cuba. The freighter was inter-
cepted by a Cuban subchaser and was boarded by Border Guardsmen and a navy
staff commander who took the ship into Nipe Bay early Monday morning.
25X1
There is no indication, however, that any other ships have been
seized. Two of these vessels, the WILLIAM EXPRESS and the JOHNNY EXPRESS
had been shadowed by Cuban patrol boats in early November. All are owned by
Teofilo Babun, who has been active in Cuban exile movements since the early
years of the Castro regime.
In October exiles from the Miami area mounted a commando raid on a small
Cuban village in which four Cubans reportedly were killed. The raid was re-
portedly carried out from a Panamanian-flag ship. The present seizure, which
was obviously approved?by Havana and was probably planned in advance, is
undoubtedly in reaction to that in'cident. The Cubans may also suspect the
EXPRESS ships of carrying supplies for use by exile raiders. They will un-
doubtedly search the ship thoroughly.
State is presently checking to see if any of the above-mentioned EXPRESS ships
are American-owned. I will keep you informed of any further developments,
but this incident again demonstrates the types of problems which uncontrolled
exile activity can produce. The Cuban Government is already taking advantage
of the incident to try to implicate the CIA in such exile activities (press report
at Tab B).
ION-FILE NSC RELEASE INSTRUCTIONS APPLY
Tab A -- Intercepted communications
Tab B ? FBIS 50 dtd 7 Dec 1971
NSA review completed
TOP UMBRA ATTACHMENTS
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/02/19: LOC-HAK-450-7-4-0