THE GAMBIA: TERRORIST FINANCE:USG CONCERN OVER

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANJUL 000076 SIPDIS SIPDIS DAKAR PLS PASS RAO E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/12/2017 TAGS: EFIN ETTC KTFN PREL PTER GA SUBJECT: THE GAMBIA: TERRORIST FINANCE:USG CONCERN OVER ILLICIT CASH COURIERS REF: STATE 16120 Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOSEPH STAFFORD, REASON 1.4 (D AND G) ¶1. (SBU) Ambassador made reftel demarche to Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary William Joof, emphasizing need for redoubled efforts by the international community to prevent illicit cash smuggling used to finance terrorism and other illegal activity. Providing non-paper, Ambassador urged the GOTG, as a valued partner in the Global War on Terrorism, to do its part to combat illicit cash courier activity. Asked about the GOTG's current efforts against such activity, Joof undertook to consult with knowledgeable Gambian officials in order to respond. ¶2. (C) COMMENT: We plan to make follow-up demarches on this dossier to other GOTG officials. There have been no programs of bilateral cooperation (e.g., joint operations) on this specific counterterrorism issue, but given the Gambians' limited expertise, we believe that they would welcome capacity-building assistance, in particular. At this point, we do not have a clear sense as to the extent of illicit cash smuggling in this country; however, Hizballah supporters in the local Lebanese-origin community may well be involved in such activity. END COMMENT. STAFFORD