Cablegate: Montevideo: Potential White Powder

VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMN #0718 3591028
ZNY EEEEE ZZH
O 241028Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8677
INFO RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 2605
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RUCNFB/FBI WASHDC

UNCLAS E F T O MONTEVIDEO 000718

NOFORN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR S/IP/CC, DS/SPS/WMD, DS/IP/WHA, DS/TIA/PII,
S/ES-O DEPT. ALSO FOR WHA/EX

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC MCAP MOPS PARM PTER AR UY
SUBJECT: MONTEVIDEO: POTENTIAL WHITE POWDER
INCIDENT-SUSPICIOUS LETTER

1. (SBU/NF) On Tuesday December 23, 2008, at 1145, a local
guard at U.S. Embassy Montevideo intercepted a suspicious
letter while conducting routine screenings of
local/international mail on the outside of the Embassy
compound. The envelope matched the description and
photograph of the letter in the DS/TIA/PII BOLO forwarded to
RSO last week. RSO alerted Embassy Staff, the State
Department Operations Center, and all appropriate DS offices
soon after the suspicious letter was discovered. DCM also
alerted WHA/BC and the Secretary General of the Foreign
Ministry. RSO staff notified the local Fire Department and
the Chief of Police, who in turn notified the local postal
service.

2. (SBU/NF) The envelope was placed unopened in a sealed bag
and then placed in the DS-approved "glove" box in a screening
area located outside the Chancery. Embassy First Responders
cordoned off the mail screening area. Per DS guidelines and
EAP, one person, a FSN driver, was decontaminated. Samples
were taken and sent to a local police laboratory, and via DHL
to CDC in Atlanta, GA on December 23, 2008. Tracking number
is 9883707901.

3. (SBU/NF) Embassy Medical staff provided the affected
driver with guidelines on symptoms and precautionary
measures. There was no disruption of Embassy activities or
Consular services. The envelope was transported by first
responders to the screening area via the main vehicle
entrance and at no time ever entered any Embassy building,
leaving the Chancery and CAC as well as clientele and
employees unaffected.

4. (SBU/NF) Post is coordinating appropriate as-needed press
guidance with Washington. As of COB December 23, no news
reports about the incident had circulated.
Matthewman

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