PORTUGAL: 2006 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM

UNCLAS LISBON 002861 SIPDIS SIPDIS S/CT FOR RHONDA SHORE DEPT FOR NCTC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC PREL PO SUBJECT: PORTUGAL: 2006 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM REF: STATE 175925 ¶1. As requested reftel, the following text comprises Embassy Lisbon's Country Report on Terrorism. Despite assistance from Washington offices, our offices were unable to access the Intellipedia option to submit this report. ¶2. Begin text: Portugal supports international efforts to combat terrorist networks and actively pursues indications of extremist group activity in Portugal. Portuguese government agencies have taken steps to minimize exploitation of its financial sector and to maintain the integrity of its passports and other documents. On 14 November, Portugal's Judicial Police (PJ) simultaneously executed 48 search warrants on small currency exchange operations. The effort, in cooperation with the Bank of Portugal, was intended to investigate money laundering operations with links to Lusophone Africa and South Asia that could be exploited by extremist organizations. The investigation into the "mixed Hawala" system netted equipment, documents, and over 300,000 Euros, but no arrests to date. In August, Portugal began issuing biometric passports with greater security protections than previous iterations. In addition to the additional security features, the new Portuguese passport law passed July 16 centralized the production of all passports to counter the fraudulent acquisition of Portuguese documents by criminal and extremist organizations. Portugal deported Sofiane Laib on September 30 to his home country of Algeria upon completion of his three and a half year sentence. Imprisoned on racketeering and forgery charges, authorities suspected Laib to have contacts with European-based extremist organizations. Portugal maintains its active participation in the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). Portugal's participation in the Container Security Initiative (CSI) is in full operation. U.S. government personnel support Portugal,s CSI efforts on a temporary duty basis and Portugal continues to use loaned U.S. equipment in advance of purchasing its own. Portugal announced that it will restructure the PJ to create four major operational commands regarding: terrorism, corruption, drug trafficking, and technological investigation. End text. ¶3. Embassy Lisbon contact for this report is: Troy Fitrell Tel: 351-21-770-2240 E-mail: fitrelltd(at)state.gov Classified e-mail: fitrelltd(at)state.sgov.gov O'Neal