DHS/ICE CONDUCTS UAE CASH COURIER TRAINING

C O N F I D E N T I A L ABU DHABI 002421 SIPDIS SIPDIS TREASURY FOR U/S SLEVEY, RLEBENSON, PHEFFERNAN, KHECHT FBI FOR TFOS MMOREHART, FWAIKART DHS FOR ICE KDELACOLLI, JGALLION MANAMA FOR JBEAL NSC FOR FTOWNSEND, JZARATE, NSHAMPAINE, MMALVESTI E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2016 TAGS: PTER KTFN AE SUBJECT: DHS/ICE CONDUCTS UAE CASH COURIER TRAINING REF: ABU DHABI 2211 Classified By: Ambassador Michele J. Sison for reasons 1.5 b and d. ¶1. (SBU) At the request of Central Bank Governor Sultan Nasser al-Suweidi (reftel),DHS/ICE attache conducted a seminar on cash courier operations on June 10, 2006 at the Dubai branch of the UAE Central Bank. The purpose of the seminar was to outline the procedures for conducting cash courier operations targeting individuals knowingly avoiding UAE currency reporting requirements. The seminar was attended by approximately 200 officials from the UAE federal and emirate-level customs authorities, the federal Ministries of Interior and Justice, Dubai police, federal and emirate-level public prosecutor offices, and the Central Bank. Topics for the seminar included a discussion of U.S. cash courier targeting methods, explaining currency reporting requirement notification procedures, and discussing how to exploit passenger manifests and profile passengers. ¶2. (C) Officials at the seminar were unable to commit to a time to implement the proposed cash courier operation. The senior UAE official, Abdulrahim al-Awadi, head of the Central Bank's Anti-Money Laundering and Suspicious Cases Unit, said he would refer the proposal to the UAE's National Anti-Money Laundering Committee for a decision. Ambassador sent a letter on June 11 to Central Bank Governor al-Suweidi expressing her hope that the operation would be implemented during the summer months. Embassy will follow-up with the Central Bank and continue to push the operation forward. SISON