GOJ FINANCIAL CRIMES DIVISION PROVIDES HEADS-UP ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 000624 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR (BENT),INL/LP (KBROWN) AND S/CT SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD AND J7 (RHANNAN) E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2015 TAGS: EFIN PTER ETTC SNAR JM SUBJECT: GOJ FINANCIAL CRIMES DIVISION PROVIDES HEADS-UP ON MONEY-LAUNDERING INVESTIGATION OF PAKISTANI-JAMAICAN Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Ronald S. Robinson. Reasons 1.5 (b) a nd (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Finance Ministry Financial Investigations Division (FID) Chief Technical Director Mike Surridge told Pol/Econ Chief March 4 that FID is investigating a naturalized Jamaican of Pakistani origin for suspected narcotics-related money laundering. The suspect, Mohammed Tufail Ahmed, (aka Mushtaq Ahmad Mian) owns Zulfiqar Motors in Kingston. Acting on a tip, FID uncovered suspicious information about Mian before recently seizing approximately 120 cars from the dealership. Surridge said that due to possible money laundering/Miami links uncovered by the investigations, and given Mian's original nationality, Minister of Finance Omar Davies had instructed him immediately to bring the information to the attention of the Embassy. End Summary. ¶2. (C) At the urgent request of Michael Surridge, Chief Technical Director of the Ministry of Finance's Financial Investigations Division (FID),Pol/Econ Chief met on 4 March with Surridge and Christine Chambers, FID Principal Director (both protect). Surridge, a UK national, told P/E Chief that FID is conducting a money laundering investigation of a "shadowy" Pakistani national (who is a naturalized Jamaican citizen) who imports large numbers of Japanese automobiles, and who FID suspects may be laundering narcotics money. ¶3. (C) According to Surridge, on 24 February, FID received a tip from a Jamaican woman who purchased an automobile locally from Zulfiqar Motors, a Jamaica-registered company operated by Mushtaq Ahmad Mian. When she went to take possession of the car, the woman found that it was in poor condition and refused to accept it, at which time Mian offered to substitute the car for a different one, while using the same registration information from the damaged vehicle. Wondering how a legitimate businessman could make such an offer, the woman became suspicious and contacted FID, which initiated an investigation. FID's investigation raised questions about Zulfiqar Motors, which, Surridge said, has "directors who cannot be traced." On 28 February, FID officers seized approximately 120 vehicles parked at Zulfiqar Motors, using the pretext of customs duty violations. They discovered that Mian has falsified numerous invoices for the cars in order to pay less duty to the GOJ. Including the 120 vehicles seized, FID suspects that the case may involve a total of 450 vehicles, with the remainder in Japan awaiting shipping, or en route to Jamaica via ship. Once FID seized the cars, said Surridge, other customers came to FID when they realized that they were now unable to collect vehicles on which they had already paid their deposits. ¶4. (C) FID has submitted an official request to GOJ authorities for permission to trace bank accounts linked to Mian and to Zulfiqar Motors, which he expected would soon be forthcoming. He also said that there appears to be a financial trail to Florida from Mian, but he did not offer specifics. Surridge agreed to provide further information as his investigation continues, but requested that the information be held in strict confidence. He added that he strongly suspects that the case involves money laundering at the least. He added, however, that because a financial trail appears to lead to the U.S., the primary suspect is of Pakistani origin, given the large number of vehicles involved, and the possibility that there could be a terrorism finance angle, Minister of Finance Omar Davies thought it prudent that Surridge inform the Embassy immediately. Pol/Econ Chief thanked Surridge and Chambers for the information, and asked him to convey Post's appreciation to the Minister as well. -------------- Details on FID Suspect -------------- ¶5. (C) Surridge provide the following biographic information on his suspect: Birth Name: AHMED, Mohammed Tufail. DPOB: 21 May 1957, Lahore, Pakistan. Current name used: MIAN, Mushtaq Ahmad. Nationality: Jamaican (naturalized); probably Pakistani. Residence in Jamaica: 38 Dorchester Building 11 Oxford Road Kingston (Note: This address is less than two blocks from the Embassy, and visible from Chancery offices.) Suspect's Wife: MUSHTAQ, Yashmin Suspect's Mother: BEGUM, Rasheda Begum ¶6. (SBU) The Kingston telephone directory contains the following listing: Zulfiqar Motors Ltd Shp 7, 3 Beechwood Ave (5) tel. (876)906-2083/2084 ¶7. (C) At P/E Chief's request, Surridge agreed to provide Ahmed's Jamaican passport information shortly. As it happens, Mian is a social contact of an Embassy officer. Emboff reports that Mian was formerly resident in Tokyo and may maintain a residence there. ¶8. (SBU) This message has been cleared with CONS, RSO and DEA Country Attache. ¶9. (C) Comment: We will follow up with Surridge for additional details from his investigation as they become available. ROBINSON