CONGO/B: 2004-2005 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS

UNCLAS KINSHASA 000151

SIPDIS

FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE

FOR INL AND AF/C

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: KCRM KSEP PTER SNAR KTFN EFIN CF
SUBJECT: CONGO/B: 2004-2005 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS
CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT (INCSR) - FINANCIAL CRIMES AND
MONEY LAUNDERING

REF: (A) 04 STATE 254401


1. In response to Reftel, Embassy Brazzaville provides
the following narrative report as per instructions in
Paragraph 17.

BEGIN TEXT:

The Republic of Congo (also called Congo-Brazzaville)
is not considered a major drug producer, exporter or
transit country. As far as we are able to determine,
it is not a major money-laundering country. The
Republic of Congo has consistently expressed
willingness to work with us and other countries through
Interpol and other organizations to combat drug
trafficking, money laundering and terrorism. However,
it lacks both training and financial and human
resources, and officials often inquire about
opportunities for training in the United States and
elsewhere.

Congo-Brazzaville strengthened its laws against money
laundering in 2003 by adopting the CEMAC regional
regulations for prevention and repression of money
laundering and financing of terrorism in central
Africa. These rules include penalties of both fines
and imprisonment for money laundering and financing of
terrorism. They also regulate the operations of banks,
money changers and casinos. Export and import of CFA
franc bank notes, the regional currency, is prohibited
outside the CFA franc zone. Travelers may not enter or
leave the country with more than $1,980 (FCFA 1
million) in local currency.

In addition, Congo-Brazzaville requires that foreign
transfer of more than $990 (FCFA 500,000) in local
currency must receive prior approval of banking
regulators.

In 2003, Congo-Brazzaville applied the anti-money-
laundering laws against Salu Humberto Brada, an export-
import company accused of inappropriate microfinance
operations and charging excess interest. No money-
laundering cases were tried during 2004.

Congo-Brazzaville has bilateral extradition treaties
with France, the Democratic Republic of Congo (Congo-
Kinshasa) and Cuba. It is a party to the multilateral
Antananarivo Convention on Matters of Justice of 1961.

On drug trafficking, Congo-Brazzaville reported to the
UN Security Council in 2003 that no inter-agency
coordination mechanism existed to control drugs at the
country's borders. That situation continued in 2004.

In the same report, Congo-Brazzaville noted that, at
the national level, it has the Committee against
Criminality, the National Council of Security, and the
Action Group against Money Laundering in Central
Africa.

END OF TEXT


2. Brazzaville Embassy Office - Sanders

MEECE