Home/ Resources / Projects / CIA Cryptonyms / bigram: ZR / cryptonym: ZRWAGON

Cryptonym: ZRWAGON

Return to Main Crypts Page

Definition:
A program of overseas dockside sabotage operations, including the recruitment of seamen. The target was commercial shipments to Cuba.
Status:
Probable
Discussion:
A provocative question is whether Juan Consuegra Valdes, a CIA source that was involved in ZRWAGON operations in 1963, is the same Juan Valdes that was associated with Dr. Mary Sherman and Lee Oswald. Valdes was exfiltrated in Operation CARROT in 1961, working in an operation with a man brought in from JMMOVE. https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=37893#relPageId=3&tab=page The title of this program brings to mind the well-known threat to "fix your wagon".
Sources:

104-10233-10186: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR TRAINING OF ADDITIONAL CUBAN OFFICERS IN EXILE

11/12/62: Juan Consuegra Valdes is an officer in training in US, and a Cuban in exile - a professional career army soldier. https://www.maryferrell.org/mffweb/archive/viewer/showDoc.do?mode=searchResult&absPageId=418124 Some of these officers should be given ci and ce training, after 10 weeks of counterinsurgency training in Panama https://www.maryferrell.org/mffweb/archive/viewer/showDoc.do?docId=24705&relPageId=3 Valdes was one of eight officers named, youngest at 22, 4-6 of these 8 should get the training.

104-10100-10099: CUBA ECONOMIC DENIAL PROGRAM

9/24/63, SAS/EOB W. COWGILL, x 6567, Book Cable DIR 72666: "(CIA) operations supporting general (US) economic denial program against Cuba are becoming so pervasive and complex it now necessary set up program in order channel correspondence of all interested components, categorize assets, ensure efficient coordinated HQs action, maintain satisfactory record of assignments, etc. IDEN A (104-10100-10095: MHVIPER) is traffic slug assigned this program...(MHVIPER) should be used on all traffic concerned with Cuban machinations involving buying, selling, and shipment of parts and supplies, e.g., Lomar(?) attempts displace Rabien and Stadtlander (ships), Sybell/Unsigma(?) when they involved etc. Do not confuse with Iden B (104-100-10095: ZRWAGON) which separate program involved with recruitment (of) Cuban seamen and sabotaging of Cuban ships and cargoes...(MHVIPER) file, a CS (clandestine services) subject file, has been assigned no. 200-120-58, restricted to correspondence of a general nature of concern to all addees. Intel reporting on this subject should also be slugged (MHVIPER). Prospects attaining almost complete coverage Cuban purchasing, bartering, and other commercial arrangements via penetrations and audio appear excellent...FYI following are principal economic denial targets in priority order: A. Economic power generating plants with emphasis on replacement vital parts; B. Petroleum refineries and industries with emphasis on denial vital parts and denial bright stock and lube oil additives; C. Transportation, with emphasis on denial of replacement parts for ships, diesel locomotives, tractors, trucks, buses, and automobiles; D. Miscellaneous items with emphasis on parts for machinery used in key industries...actual denial action therefore should normally be handled by (State Dept.), ODMARK (Treasury?), or (US) private business and undertaken by (CIA) personnel when such is the only or best alternative."

104-10529-10160: CABLE: ECONOMIC OFFICER HAS REPORT FROM TWO INDEPENDENT

10/5/63: Memo with ZRWAGON slugline. Regarding the shipping of 275,000 tons of soft wheat destined for Cuba between Oct-Dec 1963. "If this wheat to be shipped on Cuban bottoms may offer excellent chance implement buzzard-style operation on ships of larger capacity than those calling at Vera Cruz in past. If mounted at Mazatlan station could count on LITISSUE to furnish small boat if required...LITISSUE still in sport fishing business, has fleet of boats."

104-10527-10424: FBIS ITEM REGARDING CASTRO'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF ATTEMPTED SABOTAGE OF A MERCHANT SHIP

Slugline includes both ZRWAGON and ROME (where Bill Harvey was Chief of Station). Re Castro's 10/21/63 speech: "Castro reveals that his security forces have just discovered an attempted sabotage of the merchant ship Las Villas. Castro claims that the CIA placed a bomb aboard the vessel in Genoa, Italy, but that it was defective and failed to go off. The bomb was found, he says, when the ship was being unloaded." CIA policy is "no comment and complete denial if specifically asked".

104-10077-10346: CABLE: REQUEST AMSHAFT CABLE VALDES ADVISING THAT MESSAGE PASSED

12/9/63 memo: ZRWAGON slugline: HQ requesting KUJUMP to contact (Juan Consuegra) Valdes and arrange resettlement "White Hair" will ensure that Valdes is contacted and aided. Must make sure resettlement takes place.

104-10076-10405: JMWAVE CABLE REQUESTING COMMENTS ON VALDES

12/13/63 memo: ZRWAGON slugline. "23 Nov last meeting with Valdes. In last meeting Valdes advised his p/a he did not want (CIA) employ and P/A now convinced Valdes overall behavior irrational. Valdes left area 25 Nov without advising P/A as to plans. Based on above JMWAVE reluctant to employ Valdes and would only do so after thorough psych assessment. Another ZRWAGON memo - the same day - says KUJUMP got Valdes a job at a New York deli and will get him a longshoreman's job if the first one doesn't work out: https://www.maryferrell.org/showDoc.html?docId=22822&relPageId=2

104-10179-10210: BELIEVES ARREST OF MEMBERS OF GROUP WHO HELPED HIM CARRY OUT SAB ASSIGNMENT

June 1964 In document slugged ZRWAGON, source CASAILOR__ "believes arrest of members of group who helped him carry out sab assignment...not directly connected with sab op."

Joan Mellen, A Farewell to Justice (2005), pp. 48-53.

Summer, 1964: Mellen reports that Juan Valdes was the witness in New Orleans who found scientist Mary Sherman's mutilated body. Lee Oswald reportedly was a frequent visitor to Valdes' home. Garrison subpoenaed Juan Valdes for questioning, statement was taken on 5/24/67. Is this the same Juan Valdes?

104-10183-10170: PROTECTING SECURITY BOTH ZRWAGON AND LOCAL PARI OPS, REQUEST AMSPORT/1 BE SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCTED NOT TO CONTACT ANY OLD PBRUMEN FRIENDS

9/30/64: A note about ZRWAGON and local Paris ops states: "concerned future dockside sab, ops".

Contributors:
Bill Simpich

© Mary Ferrell Foundation. All Rights Reserved. |Site Map |MFF Policies |Contact Us