January

21, 1982

DIRECCION DE INTELIGENCIA NACIONAL

(DIRECTORATE OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE)
(DINA)

of the Chilean Intelligence

Service until late 1977, when it was renamed
DINA was

the

name

the Centro Nacional de Informaciones

Information Center) (CNI).

(National

Assistant United States Attorney Eugene M.

the chief prosecutor inh'the Orlando Letelier
assassination case, and author Taylor Branch are collaborating
in writing a book detailing the United States investigation of
the assassination of Orlando Letelier, the former Chilean
Ambassador to the United States, who was killed on
September 21, 1976 in Washington, D. C. Propper and Branch
advised that during their research they secured a number of
letters which were sent from the United States by
self-admitted DINA agent, Michael Vernon Townley, to Gustavo
Etchepare, his DINA/CNI "cut-out" in Chile, They made copies
of these letters available to the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) in September, 1981. In many instances the
letters were extremely cryptic and Townley utilized code words
The subject matter of the letters,
and code names throughout.
among other topics, covered DINA activities circa 1974-1976.
Former

Propper,

contained

Set forth below is a topical

in

Townley

's letters:

of information

summary

contains neither recommendations nor conclusions

the property of the FBI, and is loaned to
it and its contents are not to be distributed
outside your agency.
105-309859
1 185-789
This document
of the FBI.
your agency;

R.M

Asss.

Ak.

"

1 Mr. Monroe
1 Mr. O' Malley
1 Mr. Bresson
1 Mr. CaStOnguay
Ivey
1 Mr. Scherrer
1 Mr. O' Hara
1 Mr. Cornick

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's Mail in Chile:

In several of his letters, Townley expressed concern
that someone was intercepting his mail in Chile. Specific
references in this regard were contained in Townley's letter
to his wife dated 6/18/78, and in letters dated 3/17/79, and
6/29/79 to Gustavo Etchepare.
In the latter communication,
Townley advised Etchepare that his Chilean attorney, Manual
Acuna, informed him that General Manuel Contreras, the former
Director of DINA, was responsible for the interception of
's mail in Chile and that Contreras still had contacts in
Townley
the Chilean Post Office who were in positions to continue
interceptinq Townley 's mail.
Interception

of

Tow~nle

Visit of Chilean President Pinochet to

Spain During November, 1975, With

General

Contreras

Where They Met With

Italian Terrorist; DINA Cbnnections

With Italian and French Terrorists:
An

Townley

"ALFA, " althouqh

following

made

reference to an individual known as

disclose his true identity, in the

he did not

communications

to Etchepare:

Letters dated 4/26/79,

8/29/79 and 9/2/79.

6/11/79, 6/16/79, 8/23/79,

to Propper and Branch, "ALFA" is

identical with an Italian terrorist whose true

Accordinq

is Stafano Delle Chiaie.

In his 4/26/79 letter to Etchepare, Townley,
speaking of General Contreras, stated "There were meetings
between him (Contreras), his Excellency (President Pinochet)
Also the
and the Italians in Spain after Franco died.
numerous
acts
of
Italians carried out
military espionage against
name

the Peruvians and Argentines

and Arqentina. "

not only in Europe,

but also in Peru

In his 8/23/79 letter to Etchepare, Townley stated

I have no idea where they
spoken about the Italians.
I
nor
do
to know! ALFA got
nor
where
have
been
care
are
they
business
with
various
to
do
in Argentina. Some of
mixed up
people
Argentine
law enforcement
backgrounds
whom
had
bad
them
very
agencies were seekinq. Among other thinqs they tried to cash a
check from Luis Felipe for $25, 000, also they owed several

"I haven't

dollars includinq a 840, f)00 deb!-. to Daniel, also he;. as

in dirtv deals in Spain. . . . " " . he problem with the
Italians 1, serious, very serious! !!azno got marri ed to thesz some
time back and he marriec: thezo i. n a manner much more indissolvable
than with the Cubans.
Por your information, Pinochet had a
meetina with Yiazso and ALPA in Spain some time back. ALPA can be
much zl~ore embarrass i ng for Eamo and the government
in the long
One thing obviously
run than oerhaps the Cubans.
is that ALFA
doesn' t. have anywhere to qo and you know that' as well as I do.
As!: Chico o Don Cristian who ran ALFA about it. "
thousand

mi. ::ed up

Propper

and Branch

identified

"Daniel" as

Albert Spaggiari, a French znaster crizninal who

ascist terrorist activities in
was active in
France. Spagoiari was arrested for the July,
1976, 710 million robbery of the Societe
Generale Bank in Nice, France.
In Townley's 8/29/79 letter to Etchepare,
indicated that he w'as attaching a clippinq frozz. the
8/21/79 issue of the "Rocky Ziountain News" captionez! "Tunnel
Builders 'Robbed' of Riel' Haul in France. " The article described
the arrest by French law enforcement authorities of a group of
into the Left Bank branch of the
banli robbers who were tunneling
Societe Generale i n 'Prance. The article compared this attempteo
bank robbery with the 1976 robbery of the Soci.ete Generale 'branch
In his
in I'lice, which z!as zeasterminded! hy Albert Spagqiari.
question is it
letter, Townley cozmmented as follows: "I ask the
" "I am very sorry
or is it not? This is the style of Daniel.
about ALFA, whatever happened happened and the reasons which
Sometime back ne to!d me how much he
brought hizn oroblems.
Be wanted to find'himself
an
wanted to qet out of everything.
island or some other sanctuarv without having to worry about !..is
responsibilities toward his people. . "
Townley

...

made reference to "Daniel" in one

presumably to Etchepare, which was
communication,
undated and hore the heading "SIGO CON CONPUTACION. " In this
as to what happened
communication,
Townley requested information

additional

Townley

to "Daniel. "

In another

communication,

Townley

informed

Etchepare

that Enrique Arrancibia traveled from Buenos Aires, Argentina,

California during the Fall of 1977 on ban!-ing business for

to

nALFA

Enrique Arrancibia Clavel was a DISA/CNI agent who

operated in Buenos 'Aires, Argentina, from 1974 until
the time of his arrest by Argentine milit:ary
intel3igence officers in mid 1978 on charges of
Propper and Branch advised that '.rrazcibia
espionazi

Coo='":So

operated by Townl ey anc3 hat "Lui s Pelipe, "

re. erred to in ..ov!nlel! ' s 8/? 3/79, 1 et ter was
Arranci!=la's coc&e narae.
"ldamo, " mentionec1 in Townley's 8/23/79 letter,
is identical with Ceneral Contreras, suora.
was

Proppex' and Branch advisec1 that "Chico"

mentioned in Tornley's 8/23/79 letter, is
identical with Chilean Arm&y Captain Paul
Iturriaga 1&1eumann, a forr&!er official of DII'IIA.

of "Don Christian, " who r&as also

in !ownley's 8/23/79 letter could

The i. clentity

mentioned
not be determined.

Internal

DIl1A

Intrigues:

Based on the content of several of Townley's

appears that CxiI requested Townley and his wife
to provide any deroqatoxy information that could be used
!'own3ey expressed his reluctance
against General Contreras.
to provide such information and furnished Etchepare with the
identities of former DIic&A personnel x!ho had cetailed personal

letters, it

lcnowledqe

Contreras

of irregularities
and

other

DiicA

sr

c1

illegalities

officials.
letter Townley

committec3

by

In his 4/26/79
informec3 Etchepare that
Colonel Vaniel Valc1ivieso stole money from Dl!4&A accounts.
Townley also informed Ptchepare that Bonis, last name not
mentioned, Valdivieso's DliQA secretary, helped him to organize a
networic of secretaries within DINA a!ho report d everythinq
coming
to their knowledge to Valdivieso. In the same communication to
Etchepare, Townley also suqgested that Valdivieso and Contreras
were involved in extorting money from 3TT in Chile, as well as
the Racal Company in England in connection with contracts
for the purchase of eauip&sent
participated in by these companies
at the "Bloqueo de !Iaiou. "
Townley's Concexn Regarding the Assassination
of Chilean Army General Carlos Prats ar. d his
I&?ife, Carmen, in Buenos Aires, Argentina,
on 9/30/74,
and the Attempted Assassination
of Former Chilean
Vice President Bernardo Leighton and his rgife,
Anita, in Rome, Ital , on 10/6/75:

Retired Chilean Army General Car3. os Prats

Gonzalez anc3 his v!ife, Carmen, were
assassinated in Buenos Aires on 9/30/74, v!hen
their car as
a bomb;!as detonated underneath
they approached

their x'esidence.

Vice President Bernardo

his wife; Anita, were shot

Forrzer Chilean

Leighton

anc?

Rome street on
their residence on
prominent member of the

several times in a downtown

10/6/75, as they approached

foot. Leighton is a
Chilean Christian Democratic

Party.

Townlev e::pressed concern

the "Arqentines" would submit Letters
Rogatory seekinq information from him concerning the Prats
assassinations anc? the attempted assassination of the Leightons.
Townlel! expressed fear that the "Italians, " specific?ly "ALFA, "
concerning the
and General Contreras would provi'de information
of the Leiqhtons which woulcl contradict
atternptedi assassination
what Townley miqht salr in responding to Letters Rogatory frora the
Italian Government, thereby placingTownley in the position of
perjuring himself. Townley ezoressed similar concern that
unidentified elements of one o! the Argentine securitv services
and Enrique Arrancibia woulc? furnish information
concerning the
Prats assassination, which woulc? contradict;!hat Townley might
sal! in responding to ?Letters Rogatory from tne Argentine
Government, thereby placinq Townley in the position of perjurinc.
himself. Townley concluded that the solution to his dilemma
?!ould be to take the Fifth Araendment in responding to Letters
However,
Rogatory !rom the Italian and Argentine Governments.
quilt on his
To?zr!ley noted that by takinq the Fifth Amendment,

communications

In numerous

that the "Italians"

cart

would

and

be impliec?.

The letters in rrhich Townley mentioned his concern

over Letters Pugatory from the Italian and Argentine
Governments concerning the Leighton and Prats raatters are
listed below:

4/26/79,

Letters to Etchepare dated 6/23/78, 11/25/78, 4/18/79,

6/4/79,

6/16/79,

6/22/79,

7/5/79,

8/13/79 and 8/23/79.

Letter to General Hector Orozco dated 11/24/78.

Army General Hector Orozco Sepulveda

the Chilean Eilitary orosecutor
investigating irregularities in the
acquisition and use of Chilean official
passports by DIN?A agents. Be was also the
Director of DINE, the Chilean Army

Chilean

was

Intelligence

Service.

Activities of Virgilio Paz in

Northern

Ireland clurinq 1975

Virqilio Paz is
Na'cionalist

a member of the Cuban

Rove?sent, a Cuban exile terrorist

cirganization, -who a'ccording .to. Townley,

involved in . the assassination ofOrlando
-"Letelier. Paz':also traveled 'extensively.
throughout

tyas

1975.

Europe 'with. Townley during

In. an undated lettex':, to':Chilean President' Piriochet,

.

, ---

'.:-'. -'

-;advised, :;that ':photographs, of-"iBritish''concentration'

-in. Northern:,,'-Irelan'd 'were:.taken:by"Virgilio, Paz''as- part, '., ;
. :. of' a DIHA assi gnmeiit'. ". .:-"The-'"photographs: subsequently!appeaii d-;-in .
" a-', Spanish;. Language. daily- newspaper
an: art'icle'", in, ."-El: Nercuiio,
'
published, in, Santiago, Chi. le.
. ;.'Vi.'sit;b ".Guillermo:-Novi-'Sam ol to Chi. le:.:in''1976
. :Townley.

camps-',

-.

"".

",

Gu'illermo":Novo'. Sampol -:is the leade~. of ..the Cuban

Nationalist. '-:v'ement who';:, 'accor'd'ing. 'to:~Townley,
" =-:='. ,:: -assisted. :-'in 'the assass'ination of Orlando', Letelier;-::,-.
--

':.

-,

-.

--'

":'

'
Based .'on", information: Pr'ovi'd'ed, by'. Proppei -:and -Brarich
b'
coneexni'ng .an alleged-plaiined
ki'dnapping", ;to e'. c'ar'ried, out -'in'
-. Buenos-. -Apexes, --Argentina', ',:during-:, -.the':Sum'mer;of, =1976".'in', -'which 'the"Cuban. . Nationalist. :;Movement was -to;:.play, 'a", role, .".Townley::;. ,-';, '::*-;.:;;;;!':--':''-:.'- '= was, -in@'eiviewed'-'concern'ing. ,'.this .allegation:on';10/20/81', .by'Special=Townley ';:.', ;-. -:-.!-,
Agents: of-'.the, -.Federal .B'ureau', of-: Investigati'on.
--'previous'ly: furnishe'd, :infor'mation":during
1978'which indicated~that"'k";;--', '-;.
1976';;::-however,.;:=.
,Novo. :::-Saiiipo1: had, -'visited, Ch'ile "during:the 'Summer'o'f
''.
.
"s":visi't':.
.
-'-'Town3ey.
:not".
.
related:to':the
Leteliei
;
stated"that';;Novo,
was
,
. assassination--"i'nd:. -!d'id not::=iriv'olye";a. violation;;. of; United States':, -' ";.';-:.'

.''

'.

';

;,

!:

to':participate
Uiigil'io
:Chile,
-, ''-. ;advised','that:::Novo'. :.'Sampol:-:ag'reed-, :".to

:,
"!. ';:, ':: ;'Hat'aonalist!=-'.
--,

[-&.

,':he:.", :.

j.

'"'. :. .., '.:::,:During~":-inte'i view-". with, '!Townle'y, in,-:,10/20/81.

":==.'::.'; -:, -',.
i;;*,':::
,
;,
,:=':;;-;
::&,:",.':-'"-:-:-.advised th'at- Hovo'iSampol:visited -Saritiago', Chile while, -',::. ", . :I,
'-.
Paz'-, was'-:, -''i.
; Towril'ey~'. '-:.'~:--".'", :
n.,
-during, June, . 'or'-:
.
.
,

'

-'

.commit"'

July, , 1976.

the.

Cuban

'in:, the, , ki'dnapping: of::;an':-'"', l".'; :::.urireca'lied~Pre'sident':. 'of-:::a'-.;Dutch, :.'hank:, -:in,:='Buenos","Aires, '....''. :-,". .:,-=';. ',
Argent'1'n'a. -.;,::.According"to:;Townley:, '::=-'.civil'i. an.'riiember's, :&ofthe, :. .''. :
Movement,

",

:, :,'Stat'e"-. ':Secretai
, ".

',

:.

!7'-';... L7"

:.

erin

!'

.,';.'=-: =" .:

'

ci. liari:

1o

vi:.
.: '-'.
";
a'ssass'inate
,

6,

-.

"

='m'

"the;-Dut'ch". "::be~uk'er' Is';-'=diiyer;-

. ;,',

a's ..'a".'so'urm. ;."an'd::,'ut'i, 'li:zed. '-i'n'formatxon:. ':..". -':;-".", '.", '',

-."kidnap'. ,the, -: Diitch":"'
=to&~~make'&tentative'"plans' ' to,
-"' '"'''"'
"-doth'at ithe". , =",-,'
ghimgfoiQ@ra'ns'o"'-'mTo

',

-;,'--, : ,-, ",",

,

':

~ ~

who"customari.

'.)

"..

Fhxx.

wm

;:'-;, ,".',

".

customarily took place. Townley advised t':.)at I!Iovo Sampol

provided 96, 000 from the Cuban Nationalist Novem!ent, which
was forwarded to the civilian members of SIDE in Argentina
as
the Cuban 'Nationalist EIovement's share toward the operat. ional
expenses for the kidinapping operation.
Townlev st. ated that
Novo Sampol, after returning
to the United States, forwarded
a stock of paper to Townley in Chile, which was utilized. to
orint pamphlets in the name of "Grupo Bojo" (Red Group}, a
nonexistent Argentine Narxist terrorist organization which
the civilian members of HIDE created in order to utilize this
or the !-id1nappin!. of the Dutch banker.
group to claim credit
Townley advised that the "Grupo Bojo" pamphlets were printed in
Chile and forwarded to the civilian members cf HIDE in Argentina,
distributed in Nendoza and Cordoba
where they were subsequently
in connection with bombings caceried out by the SIDE civilian
Townley noted that the purpose of. utilizing the "Grupo
members.
Rojo" pamphlets in claix!ing credit for the bombings in Nendoza
and Cordoba was to create the impression that the "Grupo Rojo"
was a viable Narxist terrorist organization.
Townley stated that
Novo Sampol agreed to arrange for the piclrup of the ransom for
the Dutch banker in Europe and dispatched two unidentified Cuban
Nationalist }iovement members to establish necessary contacts in
Townley recall. ed Chat the ransom
Europe to receive the ransom.
for the Dutch banker was to be paid in diamonds. Townley advised
that the HIDE civilian members procrastinated in carrying out the
kidnapping and indicated thai the kidnapping never too}; place.
Townley recalled that Novo Hampol traveled to Chile on a Braniff
International Airways flight and returned to the United States
via LAN-Chi3. e. Town3ey a!ivised that Novo Sampol utilized his
true name to perform this travel; however, Townley arranged that
Eiovo Sampol's entry into Chile and his r}eoarture not be entered1
into the records of the Chilean International Police in order to
avoid the existence of cocumentation of I'!ovo Sampol's trave].
,