SYNOPSIS OF FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES IN LAGOS,

1. (SBU) Summary: Within the past 6 months, six LES
members and four guards have been fired from ConGen Lagos
for visa-related fraud and malfeasance. Ongoing
investigations by the DS Anti-Fraud agent and the RSOs
office indicate that there is still more internal fraud to
be uncovered. Post believe the situation to be serious and
asks that Department send a TDY AFU agent assist with the
current investigations (reftel) and to cover the AFU summer
staffing gap. The Chief of the Consular Section concurs
with this request. End summary



2. (SBU) Malfeasance in the Consular Section consists of
altering case files, documents, electronic records, and
issuing improper appointments. The most common internal
fraud theme seems to be money for documents, mainly visas
and appointment letters. In the past six to eight months,
six locally employed staff have been fired. In addition,
four guards from the Local Guard Force (LGF) have been fired
for accepting money for visa appointments and two Mobile
Police Officers (MOPOL) were asked to be removed from the
Consulate detachment due to their involvement in accepting
money from visa applicants in line.



3. (SBU) The DS Anti-Fraud Agent has a number of cases
open at any given time, the majority regarding malfeasance
in the Consular Section. Due to the sensitivity of said
cases, the Agent must often work alone or ask for RSO
assistance. Most of the investigations are complex,
convoluted and have multiple channels. For example, a
former Consulate gardener was instrumental in facilitating
the sale of expedited appointments to visa applicants
through secondary persons outside the Consulate.
Ultimately, the trail always seems to lead back to a locally
employed staff person.



4. (U) ARSO/I is scheduled to depart post in early July
and his replacement is not due to arrive until mid-October.
Post is concerned that a four-month gap will inundate the
AFU successor with many of the same issues that have been
resolved. Post respectfully requests that consideration be
given to support a TDY AFU Agent for the reasons outlined
above and in reftel.

Hinson-Jones