Cryptonym: AMPANIC-7
104-10193-10049: He was also known as "Agent 2637" and may have used the name "Luis Comellas" (see below).
See 1993.08.11.19:16:31:090058 - page 15.
See 104-10217-10350, p. 3: Rivero was 201-276080 - the Government of Cuba said in 1971 that it distinguished between rebel and belligerent and as long as he acted belligerent they would "leave him to rot" in prison.
104-10103-10120: INTERVIEW WITH MR. JAMES S. PEKICH
In this HSCA-era memo, the identification of AMPANIC-7 as Emilio Adolfo Rivero Caro is made. CIA retiree James S. Pekich recalled AMPANIC-7 as a "Cuban lawyer who was intrigued with disguises and who enjoyed wearing a wig to cover his bald spot...when (AMPANIC-7) was captured during the round-up he was carrying a gun. He didn't take my advice." Pekich's job was organizing nets, per se, which could be compromised by active operational programs during the organization phase...Mr. Pekich has absolutely no recollection of Alfredo Izaguirre Renvoi (AMPUG-1) or Juan Manuel Guillot Castelloro (AMBRONC-5)."" Pekich said he ordered AMPANIC-7 "to establish communication channels, and to organized resistance, and that is all." Also see 104-10103-10121: This typed note contains the following: "AMPANIC-7 uses the name 'Brand' and 'Pancho'."
104-10103-10128: CONTACT REPORT ON AUGUST 5/60 AT 7 A.M. BRAND MADE CONTACT WITH
This 1960 contact report with Brand contains a wealth of details obtained from his underground meetings with various resistance figures inside Cuba, often conducted in various safehouses. The concern with disguises mentioned by Mr. Pekich in the first reference recurs in this report. (At p. 6 of 10): "Through Emilio Rodriguez (AMIRE-1), Brand met a man named Alfredo Izaguirre Rivas (AMPUG-1). This man told Brand that he had been trained in sabotage and that he had about 200 men also organized in the city and province of Havana. Brand told him that in due course weapons and sabotage and incendiary materials would be provided and that all Izaguirre had to do was to keep their men organized and ready to enter into action...(at p. 7 of 10) (Brand) notified the Company that all his men were going to work under the name of 'Cuba Libre' and that this organization was going to be led by five - Benito Fernandez, Jose Cabanas, Helio Nardo, Alfredo Izaguirre, and Brand." - - - For the unredacted version see: https://www.archives.gov/files/research/jfk/releases/2021/docid-32356993.pdf
1960: "Records relating to this man mention his infiltration into Cuba in August 1960 and his exfiltration in November 1960 (prior to being issued a POA). His 'mission' during this period is mentioned tersely as being 'to organize resistance groups...for mounting sabotage operations...and assassination of prominent Cuban Communist members in the Castro entourage'...The records refer to 'his own personal objectives' during this period and criticizes how he functioned during his stay in Cuba from August to November of 1960. The record then specifies how he is to conduct himself and focus efforts on his return, which was to develop sabotage operations. We were able to contact one of his two case officers, who has retired (the other has died) to ascertain his recollections. Stating that at the time the focus was on developing organizations for operations, he stated that an assassination mission, such as attributed to AMPANIC-7 on his earlier time in Cuba, was not only not authorized, but would have compromised the effort to organize. Any such assassination mission, the case officer states, would have been at AMPANIC-7's own initiative."
178-10002-10261: DOCUMENTS FROM DPD FILES RE CUBAN OPERATIONS, 1959-61
"Cable, dated January 9, 1961, to JMBELL from Guatemala...'ESOLEO-1 was advised below-listed names provided by REDACTED with statement they all Cubans except as noted who are on way or REDACTED with (the) mission assassination (of) ESVEHICLE-1 and ESOLEO-1 (there follows a list of eight names). This cable apparently reflects information received by the CIA that certain people REDACTED were targets of Cuban assassination plots..." (Statement made by Mason Cargill of the Rockefeller Commission, 1975)
104-10162-10099: CABLE RE AMBIDDY-1 AND SEVEN TEAM MEMBERS
2/8/61 cable DIR 24219 from WH/4/Security J. Kennedy to JMADD: "For RAND: Concur...request re AMBIDDY-1 (Manuel Artime Buesa) and seven team members." Secure trip to JMFIG is the focus. "For MADD: AMBIDDY-1 and team will be joined on (ES-54-135) by AMPANIC-7 and his two man team for return to FIG. AMPANIC-7 and team must be compartmented in crew area to prevent AMBIDDY-1 team and AMPANIC-7 team from seeing each other. BELL AMHAZE suggests (CIA) rep Thompson (A) with AMPANIC-7 team be used enroute FIG to ensure compartmentation...Please arrange appropriate handling (of) AMPANIC-7 team to fly A-7 and team and Jackson (A) to HQs ASAP..." Seven sets of initials are given for A-1's team, two sets for A-7's team. SP numbers range from 673 to 743." See 1993.08.11.19:16:31:090058 - p. 15 - which provides the basis for 104-10103-10183, p. 5 - this internal CIA memo says Rivero was infiltrated into Cuba on 3/3/61, arrested on or about 3/9/61, and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment in Cuba.
3/27/61 memo is signed by "Monty" (the double agent AMFOX-1, aka Juan Falcon Tamar), with a circle around his name is "201-281397". Marginalia next to his name is "Agent 2637" (also known as AMPANIC-7/Emilio Adolfo Rivero Caro), as well as AMBRONC-5/Juan Manuel Guillot Castelloro: "March 23 I told Luis Bueno to ask (your) opinion regarding sabotage CIA electrical (electric company) in order to leave Havana 10 days without power. We can coordinate attempt against Fidel in public appearance (at) Sports Palace. Suggest attempt against Fidel in accordance with general plan. Light and Fidel possibly can be coordinated with Pinar del Rio. Reply urgent. Monty."
157-10005-10221: DOCUMENTS FROM DPD FILES RE: CUBAN OPERATIONS BETWEEN 1959-1961
3/29/61 cable from BELL to RIMM...This cable recounts another message apparently received from an agent within Cuba. The agent who sent this message used the NOTLOX channel as his ID. The English translation of this cable reads as follows: 'Plan (4) 9 April. Fidel will talk at the palace. Assassination attempt at said place followed by a general shutting off of main electrical plants in Havana Veladura. Occupy the public square, telephone company, atares (arsenal), and MINFAR (Ministerio de Fuerzos Armados Revolucionario - Armed Forces Ministry.) Action throughout the entire island combined with your debarkation at Salado and Santa Maria del Mar. We need arms enter Havana. We have sufficient men and courage. State of mind desperate impossible to endure this longer. Every day situation worse daily arrest. We can blow up any electrical company at any time. Consider what this represents for us after the action. Answer before 1 April. Agent 2637."
104-10103-10162: CABLE:PASS FOLLOWING MSG TO NOTLOX:WE AGREE MAJOR EFFORT SHOULD BE LAUNCHED HAVANA
3/31/61 cable from WH/4/PM Tony Sileo to BELL Signal Center: "Pass following message to NOTLOX..."For WAVE "#15. Your msg 86. We agree major effort should be launched Havana on date you selected. Recommend you contact Brand, Chacho, and Luis Ravelo. They have arms and demolition equipment. Brand in particular can help you. Try to arrange coordinated action by other groups throughout island to commence immediately after Havana uprising. We will contact all groups with whom we have communication and ask them to cooperate. Once uprising commences we will provide all available support. Arms for DZ NINO will arrive night of 6 April. Keep us advised your progress."
4/5/61 cable translates a Spanish message regarding "Brand's activities: "Brand, Chacho (AMCOAX-1), and Luis (AMPUG-1) only have arms for 50 men. Blowing up (of) Central Electric plant and possibly attempt on Fidel will be decidedly carried out 9 April." Also see 104-10193-10145, 4/10/61 cable from WH/4/Pm Tony Sileo, x 8324 (Query: is he the same as WH/4/PM Carl Jenkins at 104-10169-10257) "Pass following msg in English to PEKLOK - 20. Brand. This message extremely important and confidential...We would like you (to) contact Agent 2637 and tell him very discreetly that we want to find out whether Quintero was arrested at time when his radio set picked up by G-2. MRR reported Quintero was in bad situation but did not give details. Now MRR wants use Quintero as principal radio operator in Havana. We must find out if Quintero was arrested and released. You can understand why we cannot tell MRR through their own channel. Ask 2637 to report on this matter using your own channel. Immediate reply is expected." Redacted version: 1994.05.13.15:51:38:590005 - Reel 28, Folder G - MRR. Also see https://impunityobserver.com/2020/09/09/a-passable-evening/ - this book recounts that Rivero was arrested on 4/23/61.
This CIA commentary on the Church Committee's Schweiker-Hart Report has a section on AMPANIC-7, providing details on his recruitment (a "walk-in"), and his mission which according to this document included assassination, in contradiction to the recollections of his handler Mr. Pekich. See 104-10193-10049: He was also known as "Agent 2637" and "Luis Comellas". This note of 4/14/61 informs Tony (probably Tony Sforza) that this agent "is person contacting MRP representative inside Cuba". However 104-10193-10447 describes Luis Comellas and his sister Maria Comellas as being in asylum in the Venezuelan Embassy in Havana as of 10/61, so there it is unclear whether the above information is accurate.
AMPANIC-7 was arrested in April 1961 shortly after the sabotage and possible assassination mission noted in an earlier reference. This cable refers to possible ransom. See 1994.06.02.15:07:15:780005 - p. 313 - 5/8/61 memo by WH/4/PM Cal Hicks: "Andres, Luis and Brand are three principal agents working through W/T operator Jorge with Sig Plan PEKLOK. HQS is handling. They have no known connection with the Unidad Revolucionaria (UR)." The next page describes Andres as the war name for "Comandante Gil", military coordinator of UR, appointed to replace Sori Marin.
104-10217-10081: CABLE RE: BELOW IS A STATUS REPORT ON CONTACT WITH EX-PRISONERS BEING CONTACTED
2/80 "Emilio Rivero Lopez" is identified as 201-276080. From other ransom negotiation files (such as 104-10217-10087) it is clear that this is the 201 number for AMPANIC-7. This document provides 201 numbers for many ex-prisoners.