THE SAUDI ARABIAN FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT'S

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 RIYADH 008987 SIPDIS SIPDIS TREASURY PLEASE PASS TO FINCEN'S AHMED ELBASHARI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KTFN PTER EFIN ETTC SA SUBJECT: THE SAUDI ARABIAN FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT'S URGENT REQUEST FOR TRAINING ¶1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraphs 6 and 9. ¶2. (U) Summary. EconOff met with the Saudi Arabian Financial Intelligence Unit (SA FIU) on November 5 and December 4, 2006 to discuss the status of their Egmont application and technical assistance. In attendance at the meeting was the SA FIU overall supervisor, Colonel Fah'd Al-Maglooth, Acting Director and Deputy Director of the SA FIU, Khalid Luhaidan, and SA FIU consultant for training needs, Dr. Hamza Al Salem. The SA FIU presented EconOff with a letter detailing their technical assistance needs. Post requests FinCEN and FBI assistance in upcoming training needs. End Summary. ¶3. (U) The SA FIU has hired a consultant, Dr. Hamza Al Salem, to focus on training SA FIU employees and obtaining advanced technology support. In doing so, the SA FIU is in need of training at the beginner level to the advanced level. At the beginner level the focus is on requirements, goals and duties of an analyst and basic analytical concepts and tools. For the advanced level, the SA FIU is seeking a job-share program where analysts go to FinCEN for a period of time to learn advanced concepts, software programs, and to see a case from start to finish. ¶4. (U) In order to accomplish this long-term training overhaul the SA FIU would like to have a FinCEN analyst work at the SA FIU for a period of three to six months to train and develop procedures, methods and best practices. In doing so, the SA FIU stressed that no sensitive information can be divulged to the FinCEN analyst, however ongoing joint cases with the U.S. can be used as a model. Also, the SA FIU is open to all training programs and would be receptive to all invitations from FinCEN and the FBI regarding training on FIU operations, investigations, terrorist financing and anti-money laundering. ¶5. (U) To accommodate this training need in the short term, the SA FIU would like a one-day seminar to address basic analytical concepts and how a Suspicious Transaction Report (STR) is addressed from start to finish. This training will likely take place during the week of December 16, 2006. Also, the SA FIU would like procedural manuals that give step-by-step instructions on how to run a successful FIU. ¶6. (U) In EconOff's December 4 meeting, Dr. Hamza Al Salem indicated that he had heard from FinCEN that the SA FIU is no longer a candidate for 2007 Egmont membership. Due to this news, the SA FIU is even more focused in obtaining the necessary training to become a 2008 Egmont candidate. Currently, the SA FIU has one sponsor, the U.S., and is looking for FinCEN to suggest another co-sponsor. Action Requests: Post request FinCEN to provide information regarding the SA FIU's Egmont status and to update Post on discussions between the SA FIU and FinCEN regarding technical assistance. ¶7. (U) Comment. EconOff will be working with the SA FIU to develop a training plan for the next year that addresses their current and future needs. End Comment. ¶8. (U) The SA FIU letter reads as follows: --"Saudi Arabia Financial Investigative Unit (SAFIU) appreciates the United States of America cooperation for helping to take a positive role on Anti-Money Laundering. That is clear in the responsible saying of Mr. William J. Fox, the Director of FINCEN before the US house of representatives committee on financial services subcommittee on oversight and investigations "We are poised to offer whatever assistance the Kingdom will accept in standing this unit up" May, 2005. --Our training needs are not limited only in particular subjects or courses. Our training needs are comprehensive to cover all aspects necessary to stand our unit up. That will include references, and extensive training courses in house, in the USA, and with cooperation of other international FIUs and the GPML. In addition to that, we need trainers for each department in our unit to set our departments up to perform our responsibilities perfectly and match the best FIUs in the world, so we can move from this stage to be a good model and benchmark for other FIUs. RIYADH 00008987 002 OF 003 Sincerely yours, Saudi Arabia Financial Investigative Unit (U) The SA FIU letter attachments read as follows: Examples showing some of our assistance needs References: Including organizational, operational, technical, managerial, and specialized references. Extensive training on analysis subjects such as but not limited to: ¶1. Training in information reporting and record keeping requirements. ¶2. Training for data analysis of possible financial crime. ¶3. Training to perform tactical analysis which is the process of collecting the data needed to build a case (tactical data). ¶4. Training to perform operational analysis and how to formulate difference hypotheses on the possible activities of a suspected criminal. ¶5. Training to perform researches and strategic analysis to develop the main characteristic of new issues or trends. ¶6. Training to basic financial investigation. ¶7. Training to analysis of the Hawala System. ¶8. Training for case management and creating timelines. ¶9. Any further training needs in modern financial investigative techniques. ¶10. Other analysis miscellaneous subjects such as: Accounting system documents; business corruption; exposing concealed income; fraud and money laundering statutes; net worth analysis and financial calculations; types of financial frauds and schemes; the intelligence cycle; operational planning; external information sources; response analysis; analytical methods & techniques; report writing for analysts; financial aspects of criminal investigations; case summary and trial preparation; concealed income analysis; flows of money through financial and non-financial institutions (domestic and international); international criminal organizations; investigative techniques; money laundering (methods & approaches and trends); domestic and international fund transfers; conspiracy; indicators of financial fraud; interviewing privileges; and tracing funds through financial institutions. whatever needs for training SA FIU staff on related computer issues such as but not limited to: Technical Requirement: -Help SA FIU design its information framework based on international requirements and in compliance with Egmont group and FATF recommendations. -The use of FINCEN knowledge and expertise to help SA FIU establish an effective policies and procedures --Using software and intelligence tools related to money laundering issues. Training for the Visual Link System: For using anti-money laundering analytical software, our requirements are: -Administrative training classes provide those responsible for administering the anti-money laundering analytical software with the knowledge, tools, and techniques they need to install, configure and maintain the system in the most effective and efficient manner possible. -Modeling training class that provides system administrators with the concepts and techniques required to integrate and model data for use with anti-money laundering analytical software services. -Troubleshoot guidance education program. Office Productivity Training: -Introduction to computers. -Training SA FIU staff on Microsoft office. RIYADH 00008987 003 OF 003 --Using email systems and internet browsing Security Training: IT personnel training -Application and systems development security. -Managing and configuring firewalls, perimeter protection, and VPNs. -Design and implement an effective security policy based on international standards. -Intrusion detection and prevention systems in depth. -Hacker techniques, exploits, and incident handling. -Securing Windows networks. -Risk assessment. -Business continuity planning and disaster recovery planning. -Auditing networks, perimeters and systems. -System forensics, investigation and response. -Security and audit framework -Assessing and securing wireless network. -Internet investigations training program. -Investigative techniques for computer related search and seizure. Staff Training: -Introduction to (information security) training course. -A comprehensive security awareness program for the staff and management. System Development: -Java programming primer course. -Java programming for developers course. -Advanced Java course. -Managing Microsoft SQL server database. -Programming database using Microsoft development tools. ¶9. (U) Action Requests. Post requests FinCEN and FBI assistance in developing and presenting training to the SA FIU. Most importantly for the short term, Post requests FinCEN to provide basic analytical and financial crimes investigation training materials to the LEGAT office at Post to conduct a one-day seminar by December 15, 2006. Also, Post requests any FinCEN training manuals or reference guides to assist the SA FIU. Post appreciates the assistance of FinCEN and the FBI. OBERWETTER