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Cablegate: Portugal: 2006 Country Report On Terrorism

Published: Tue 19 Dec 2006 03:01 PM
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RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHLI #2861 3531501
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R 191501Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5429
INFO RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS LISBON 002861
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SIPDIS
S/CT FOR RHONDA SHORE
DEPT FOR NCTC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC PREL PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL: 2006 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM
REF: STATE 175925
1. As requested reftel, the following text comprises Embassy
Lisbon's Country Report on Terrorism. Despite assistance
from Washington offices, our offices were unable to access
the Intellipedia option to submit this report.
2. Begin text:
Portugal supports international efforts to combat terrorist
networks and actively pursues indications of extremist group
activity in Portugal. Portuguese government agencies have
taken steps to minimize exploitation of its financial sector
and to maintain the integrity of its passports and other
documents.
On 14 November, Portugal's Judicial Police (PJ)
simultaneously executed 48 search warrants on small currency
exchange operations. The effort, in cooperation with the
Bank of Portugal, was intended to investigate money
laundering operations with links to Lusophone Africa and
South Asia that could be exploited by extremist
organizations. The investigation into the "mixed Hawala"
system netted equipment, documents, and over 300,000 Euros,
but no arrests to date.
In August, Portugal began issuing biometric passports with
greater security protections than previous iterations. In
addition to the additional security features, the new
Portuguese passport law passed July 16 centralized the
production of all passports to counter the fraudulent
acquisition of Portuguese documents by criminal and extremist
organizations.
Portugal deported Sofiane Laib on September 30 to his home
country of Algeria upon completion of his three and a half
year sentence. Imprisoned on racketeering and forgery
charges, authorities suspected Laib to have contacts with
European-based extremist organizations.
Portugal maintains its active participation in the
Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). Portugal's
participation in the Container Security Initiative (CSI) is
in full operation. U.S. government personnel support
Portugal,s CSI efforts on a temporary duty basis and
Portugal continues to use loaned U.S. equipment in advance of
purchasing its own.
Portugal announced that it will restructure the PJ to create
four major operational commands regarding: terrorism,
corruption, drug trafficking, and technological investigation.
End text.
3. Embassy Lisbon contact for this report is:
Troy Fitrell
Tel: 351-21-770-2240
E-mail: fitrelltd(at)state.gov
Classified e-mail: fitrelltd(at)state.sgov.gov
O'Neal
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