Premium Episode 121 - Spyclopedia #5 - Eight Years with the CIA pt. 1: Into the Car Trunk - the Glamorous Life of a Cuban Double Agent

Programmed to Chill

[originally published on Patreon February 1, 2024]

I continue the extended story of the Tupamaros by examining the life of Manuel Hevia Coscullela, the Cuban double (or triple) agent embedded in the CIA in Uruguay. I obtained his memoir, Pasaporte 11333 : ocho años con la CIA (1978) and translated various passages into English. As far as I know, this is the first time this has ever been done.

Hevia's story begins before the Cuban revolution, and I explain his education and upbringing as well as his activities before, during, and after the Cuban Revolution. Hevia was involved with the Cuban AAA during the revolution and with Che's JUCEPLAN after the revolution. Hevia got in bed with some unsavory Uruguayans at their embassy and then defected, snitched and flipped for the CIA (wink), and was sent to Uruguay to work for the agency.

From there, we get into Uruguayan deep state politics which is not uninteresting but which sets the stage for all the Mitrione stuff to come later. This is the story of deep espionage.

[episode artwork based off the book cover]

Songs:

Todo por la Reforma Agraria by Carlos Puebla

Yo También Soy Miliciano by Carlos Puebla