Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03ROME226
2003-01-17 18:20:00
SECRET
Embassy Rome
Cable title:  

ITALY IMPOUNDS LIBYA-BOUND CARGO OF MORPHOLINE

Tags:  PARM PREL IT BE LY GM IR MT UN 
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S E C R E T ROME 000226 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2013
TAGS: PARM PREL IT BE LY GM IR MT UN
SUBJECT: ITALY IMPOUNDS LIBYA-BOUND CARGO OF MORPHOLINE

REF: A. FBIS EUP20030116000096
SECRET

PAGE 02 ROME 00226 171900Z

B. FBIS EUP20030117000024

CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL-MINISTER COUNSELOR TOM COUNTRYMAN FOR
REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)

PLEASE SEE ACTION REQUEST IN PARA 6.

S E C R E T ROME 000226

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/17/2013
TAGS: PARM PREL IT BE LY GM IR MT UN
SUBJECT: ITALY IMPOUNDS LIBYA-BOUND CARGO OF MORPHOLINE

REF: A. FBIS EUP20030116000096
SECRET

PAGE 02 ROME 00226 171900Z

B. FBIS EUP20030117000024

CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL-MINISTER COUNSELOR TOM COUNTRYMAN FOR
REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D)

PLEASE SEE ACTION REQUEST IN PARA 6.


1. (S) THIS MESSAGE SUPPLEMENTS OFFICIAL GOI INFORMATION IN
JANUARY 16-17 PRESS REPORTS THAT, IN DECEMBER, 2002, THE
ITALIAN FINANCE POLICE (GUARDIA DI FINANZA/GDF) SEIZED IN THE
PORT OF GENOA CONTAINERS CONTAINING THE CHEMICAL SUBSTANCE
MORPHOLINE.


2. (S) EMBASSY LEGATT ON JANUARY 17 WAS TOLD BY THE ITALIAN
NATIONAL POLICE (STRICTLY PROTECT) THAT ON DECEMBER 9, 2002
THE GDF STOPPED A SHIP IN THE PORT OF GENOA BECAUSE OF ITS
SUSPICIOUS CARGO. THE SHIP, THE NORTH STAR, WAS OPERATING
UNDER A MALTESE FLAG AND HAD BEEN RENTED BY THE ISLAMIC
REPUBLIC OF IRAN SHIPPING LINES. THE NORTH STAR HAD MADE A
STOP IN NAPLES, PRIOR TO TRAVELING TO GENOA WHERE IT WAS
SCHEDULED TO OFFLOAD ITS CARGO.


3. (S) THE CARGO IN QUESTION WAS IDENTIFIED BY THE GDF AS
MORPHOLINE AND WAS SHIPPED IN THREE LARGE CONTAINERS
IDENTIFIED WITH THE FOLLOWING NUMBERS: IRSU-2197890,
IRSU-2203837, AND IRSU-2261427. THE SUBSTANCE WAS PRODUCED
IN GERMANY BY BASF AND SUBSEQUENTLY DISTRIBUTED BY A BELGIAN
COMPANY THAT WAS IDENTIFIED AS SOLOMONT NV, BASED IN ANTWERP.
SOLOMONT SOLD THE MORPHOLINE TO A LIBYAN ENTITY, IDENTIFIED
AS JOWFE COMPANY, WHICH REPORTEDLY SPECIALIZES IN PETROLEUM
SECRET

PAGE 03 ROME 00226 171900Z
TECHNOLOGY AND IS BASED IN BENGHAZI. ACCORDING TO THE
NATIONAL POLICE, JOWFE IS INVOLVED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
CHEMICAL WEAPONS AND ITS DIRECTOR IS THE HEAD OF THE LIBYAN
INTELLIGENCE SERVICE.


4. (C) ALSO ON JANUARY 17, POL-MIN COUNSELOR RAISED THE
MORPHOLINE MATTER WITH MFA DEPUTY DIRECTOR-GENERAL FOR MIDDLE
EAST AFFAIRS, FRANCESCO CERULLI. CERULLI SAID THAT HIS DG,
ANTONIO BADINI, WAS KEENLY CONCERNED ABOUT SUCH SHIPMENTS AND
ON JANUARY 16 HAD ALREADY RAISED THE GENOA SEIZURE WITH THE
LIBYAN AMBASSADOR TO ITALY, ABDUL ATI AL-OBEIDI. AL-OBEIDI
HAD NO SPECIFIC REACTION.


5. (S) COMMENT. CUSTOMS ROME IS FOLLOWING UP WITH THE GDF,
THE LEAD ITALIAN AGENCY ON THIS CASE, IN AN ATTEMPT TO
ACQUIRE FURTHER INFORMATION, WHICH EMBASSY WILL REPORT
SEPTEL. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS MESSAGE WAS
OBTAINED FROM THE ITALIAN POLICE WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF
GENOA-BASED PROSECUTORS WHO ARE INVESTIGATING THE CASE, AND
THEREFORE SHOULD BE STRICTLY PROTECTED. END COMMENT.


6. (C) ACTION REQUEST: EMBASSY WOULD APPRECIATE
WASHINGTON'S ANALYSIS FOR SHARING WITH THE GOI OF HOW
MORPHOLINE MIGHT BE APPLICABLE TO WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT LIBYA'S
CHEMICAL WEAPONS PROGRAM.
SEMBLER

SECRET

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2003ROME00226 - Classification: SECRET