DIPLOMATIC VISA FRAUD BY NIGERIA MFA UNCOVERED

UNCLAS ABUJA 000897

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR CA/FPP; CA/VO/L/A; DS/ICI/CR/VF

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS KFRD PREL NI
SUBJECT: DIPLOMATIC VISA FRAUD BY NIGERIA MFA UNCOVERED



1. SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection began
intercepting travelers at ports of entry on March 31, 2006
who had received their A or G diplomatic visas in Abuja
through diplomatic notes containing fraudulent information.
These notes were genuinely issued by the Nigerian Ministry
of Foreign Affairs but the travelers paid corrupt officials
within the government to be included on these genuine notes.
Post has reviewed visa issuances since December 2005 and has
identified cases to be revoked. Post is assisting in a
criminal investigation initiated by Nigerian authorities.
Lagos will provide an FSN fraud investigator to assist in
contacting all affected applicants to ascertain their true
status. END SUMMARY.


2. On March 31, 2006 post was notified that CBP had
intercepted multiple travelers with fraudulently obtained A-
2 and G-2 visas. The Department revoked their visas and the
travelers departed via expedited removal. Post investigated
the cases in question and determined that the visas were
issued on the strength of Diplomatic Notes received from the
Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since the beginning of
April, post is aware of nine other A or G visa cases
intercepted by CBP while the traveler is en route.


3. Post takes these cases very seriously and has taken the
following steps in response:
-- Abuja ConOffs along with the Lagos-based Country
Fraud Prevention Manager have identified 91 cases from
December 2005 through the present that are suspect and
potentially fraudulent. 69 of these have been forwarded to
CA/VO/L/A for revocation. The other 22 will follow by COB
April 24.

-- Lagos' Anti-Fraud Unit will provide FSN
investigative support beginning the week of April 24 to
assist with verification of credentials for the 91 suspect
cases.

-- Post is assisting with an investigation into public
corruption at the MFA that was initiated by the Nigerian
Economic and Financial Crime Commission. The EFCC is
Nigeria's premier anti-corruption body and says they will
place a high priority on this case. The EFCC became aware of
this case when applicant AYOZIEUWA, Patrick (18 July 1968,
Nigeria) filed a complaint with them regarding the A-2 visa
he had paid for but did not receive from the corrupt
officials he had bribed. EFCC regarded this as an individual
incident until post notified them of the other confirmed
cases. Interestingly, Mr. AYOZIEUWA appeared at the embassy
on April 11, 2006, as a walk-in to see the RSO and passed
information which was primarily actionable for the Drug
Enforcement Administration.

-- Post is applying additional scrutiny to all
Diplomatic Note cases received from the MFA. ConOffs are
paying particular attention to first-time travelers,
abnormal purposes of travel, applicants traveling officially
on regular passports, and travelers who seem unusually young
for their purported positions. Post has significantly
increased the number of applicants called in for personal
interview, and is referring applicants that are unqualified
for A or G visas to Lagos to apply for a B1/B2 visa.


4. The DCM plans to demarche the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
at the Permanent Secretary level sometime during the week of
May 1. Post will request an explanation for the fraudulent
diplomatic notes, and the development of a reliable
mechanism to verify the bona fides of Nigerian official
travelers. The demarche was delayed at the request of the
EFCC so that they could detain and question officials from
the consular and protocol office at the MFA.


5. Post appreciates the constructive involvement and
assistance of the Department and the National Targeting
Center in these cases.

FUREY