Cablegate: Nigerian Fiu Request for Assistance

VZCZCXYZ0044
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHUJA #2103 2271224
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 151224Z AUG 06 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6793
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASH DC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS 4804

UNCLAS ABUJA 002103

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

TREASURY FOR FINCEN
DOJ FOR CD/AFMLS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN KCRM CVIS SNAR NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN FIU REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE

1. This is a request for guidance; see para 4.

2. After the recent training done by FINCEN through the Department
of the Treasury, the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) has
asked for assistance in information sharing. In June of this year,
following a visit from the FATF, Nigeria was removed from the list
non-cooperating countries. The FATF recognizes the progress that
GON has made in implementing anti-money laundering reforms,
including establishment of a financial intelligence unit and
progress on money laundering investigations, prosecutions and
convictions. Nigeria has begun to receive requests from other FATF
member countries for assistance in investigations as a result of
this delisting.

3. The NFIU has open investigations on a number of multimillion
dollar advance fee fraud (419) cases that involve money laundering
to offshore banking institutions near the U.S. They believe some of
the suspects are frequent travelers to the U.S. that may have
applied for and received visas in Nigeria. They requested Embassy
assistance in the investigations. The NFIU asked whether if they
supplied the name, passport number, and date of birth of the
suspects and in return the Embassy could release information (i.e.
does suspect have a visa, reasons for traveling, and what
companies/people they plan to visit etc.) to them about the
traveler.

4. Request for Guidance: Post requests guidance on our response to
this request. What information we should seek from and provide to
the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and what legal, privacy and
other considerations need to be considered? We would be interested
in putting the names of those under investigation into the Visa
lookout system, but don't expect the Nigerian side will provide this
information without some sort of quid pro quo.
CAMPBELL

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