Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04TEGUCIGALPA498
2004-03-02 18:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Cable title:
TERRORIST FINANCE: FOLLOWUP - HONDURAS
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000498
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS, INL/LP, S/CT, DRL/PHD, AND WHA/CEN
JUSTICE FOR OIA, AFMLS AND NDDS
TREASURY FOR FINCEN
PANAMA FOR CUSTOMS ATTACHE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER EFIN ETTC KJUS PREL HO UN
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCE: FOLLOWUP - HONDURAS
REF: A. STATE 37211
B. 03 TEGUCIGALPA 2939
UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 000498
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS, INL/LP, S/CT, DRL/PHD, AND WHA/CEN
JUSTICE FOR OIA, AFMLS AND NDDS
TREASURY FOR FINCEN
PANAMA FOR CUSTOMS ATTACHE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER EFIN ETTC KJUS PREL HO UN
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCE: FOLLOWUP - HONDURAS
REF: A. STATE 37211
B. 03 TEGUCIGALPA 2939
1. (SBU) Honduran cooperation on counter-terrorism finance
continues to be strong. As noted in ref B, the Honduran
Banking and Insurance Commission promptly sends out freeze
orders to the entire regulated financial sector each time the
U.S. Executive Order lists are amended. The financial
sector, particularly the commercial banks, promptly undertake
the requested searches for accounts by terrorist entities.
To date, no terrorist funds have been found in the Honduran
financial system, and Post believes this is the sole reason
that the Government of Honduras has not yet frozen any funds.
2. (SBU) This excellent cooperation has been ongoing in the
context of the implementation of a much-improved Money
Laundering law, approved in early 2002. The GOH established
a Financial Information Unit (FIU),rapidly following the
entry of the law into effect. A small U.S. Treasury
Department money laundering technical assistance project is
ongoing. This work has already resulted in strengthened
accountability by the banking sector in identifying and
reporting suspicious transactions.
3. (SBU) As part of its newly-approved IMF program, the
Honduran government will be working closely with
international experts during 2004 to upgrade regulations on
confiscation, freezing, and seizure of assets and to start
onsite verification of supervised entities' policies
regarding customer acceptance. The government has also
pledged to introduce amendments in the penal code to clarify
that terrorist financing and money laundering are punishable
crimes. These amendments will ensure that, if any terrorist
financing assets are found in Honduras, there would be no
legal grounds for the involved entities to challenge the
freezing of the funds.
PALMER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR EB/ESC/TFS, INL/LP, S/CT, DRL/PHD, AND WHA/CEN
JUSTICE FOR OIA, AFMLS AND NDDS
TREASURY FOR FINCEN
PANAMA FOR CUSTOMS ATTACHE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER EFIN ETTC KJUS PREL HO UN
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCE: FOLLOWUP - HONDURAS
REF: A. STATE 37211
B. 03 TEGUCIGALPA 2939
1. (SBU) Honduran cooperation on counter-terrorism finance
continues to be strong. As noted in ref B, the Honduran
Banking and Insurance Commission promptly sends out freeze
orders to the entire regulated financial sector each time the
U.S. Executive Order lists are amended. The financial
sector, particularly the commercial banks, promptly undertake
the requested searches for accounts by terrorist entities.
To date, no terrorist funds have been found in the Honduran
financial system, and Post believes this is the sole reason
that the Government of Honduras has not yet frozen any funds.
2. (SBU) This excellent cooperation has been ongoing in the
context of the implementation of a much-improved Money
Laundering law, approved in early 2002. The GOH established
a Financial Information Unit (FIU),rapidly following the
entry of the law into effect. A small U.S. Treasury
Department money laundering technical assistance project is
ongoing. This work has already resulted in strengthened
accountability by the banking sector in identifying and
reporting suspicious transactions.
3. (SBU) As part of its newly-approved IMF program, the
Honduran government will be working closely with
international experts during 2004 to upgrade regulations on
confiscation, freezing, and seizure of assets and to start
onsite verification of supervised entities' policies
regarding customer acceptance. The government has also
pledged to introduce amendments in the penal code to clarify
that terrorist financing and money laundering are punishable
crimes. These amendments will ensure that, if any terrorist
financing assets are found in Honduras, there would be no
legal grounds for the involved entities to challenge the
freezing of the funds.
PALMER