Bourbonnais slid into the seat beside Calamaris, who drove toward Third Avenue with Rosal and Tarditi following closely behind in the taxi. At Third Avenue the two cars swung north and still the occupants were totally unaware that their cars were bracketed by the automobiles carrying Narcotics and Customs agents.
At 75th Street, the taxi was halted by a stop light while the station wagon continued on. Gaffney made a sudden decision. “Let’s not tail them any farther,” he snapped into the microphone. “Let’s get them now.” The control car quickly shot forward and swerved in front of the cab. Other cars closed in to block the station wagon.
Mike Cozzi leaped from his car to the taxi, jerked open the door and flashed his agent’s badge. “We’re Treasury agents,” he said. “Don’t make a move.”
“What is this?” Rosal exclaimed.
Tarditi protested, “Do you know who this man is? He is a diplomat! He is entitled to diplomatic immunity!”
The agents began firing questions at the two men.
“A diplomat to what country?”
“I am the Guatemalan ambassador to Brussels.”
“Are you on a diplomatic mission to the United States?”
“No.”