NEXT STEPS ON THREE PLUS ONE MECHANISM AND TBA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 001685 SIPDIS SIPDIS WHA FOR CHRIS MCMULLEN, DEBORAH MCCARTHY, CAROLINE CROFT, BRUCE FRIEDMAN AND KENDALL MOSS S/CT FOR VIRGINIA PALMER AND ARNOLD SIERRA FBI FOR COUNTERRORISM DIVISIONI AND OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT FOR ICE/OIA H E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/23/2017 TAGS: PTER EFIN PREL PGOV SNAR KTFN PA BR AR SUBJECT: NEXT STEPS ON THREE PLUS ONE MECHANISM AND TBA COORDINATION REF: A. ASUNCION 688 ¶B. BUENOS AIRES 1370 Classified By: Ambassador E. Anthony Wayne for reasons 1.4(b)(c)and(d) ¶1. (U) This is an action request, please see paragraph 5. ¶2. (C) In Ref B, Embassies Buenos Aires, Asuncion and Brasilia recommended expanding the Three Plus One mechanism (3 1) to encompass other illicit activities and sources of illicit financial flows, while continuing to give preeminence to CT concerns. By encompassing trafficking in drugs, arms, people and contraband as well as terrorist support in our policy dialogue, we believe we would be dealing with the key threats emanating from the Tri-Border Area (TBA) and, if presented well, we think we may be more likely to win more enthusiastic participation from our partners who feel daily threats from these illicit flows. In addition, the sources of much of the money coming from this region to support terrorism likely comes from these other kinds of illicit activities, and any steps we could encourage or support to stop terrorist supporters from earning money illicitly would assist our counter-terror efforts. We realize we may have some convincing to do to expand the dialogue, but we think it is worth the effort. ¶3. (C) In Ref. A, Embassy Asuncion reported on its August 8-9 conference on Tri-Border Area (TBA) terrorist finance and money laundering. Conference participants confirmed the TBA is a hotbed of illicit activities including trafficking in drugs, arms, and counterfeit goods, as well as document fraud and money laundering. They also noted the gaps in our knowledge regarding the amount of money transmitted, its destination, and the identity of the facilitators. Participants identified several initiatives the USG should take to improve its efforts in the TBA: form a virtual working group on TBA issues that periodically reconvenes in person; improve inter-agency communication and resource sharing; expand the 3 1 dialogue to encourage Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay to share data on a range of customs, financial, narcotics and weapons crimes; continue to tighten borders; monitor Venezuelan and Iranian activities in the TBA; and, ensure that officials at post focus on evidence prosecutors need to make criminal cases. ¶4. (C) Host country contacts in Argentina, at least, have responded positively to Embassy's unofficial discussions with them on the notion of expanding 3 1's purview. Expanding the dialogue will require input from and coordination among a greater number of Washington offices, but the added benefit of including in the dialogue those USG offices that combat trafficking in drugs, persons, arms and other criminal activity would outweigh those costs. ¶5. (C) Action Requests: Embassy requests that WHA begin working at the earliest convenience with relevant Department offices (e.g. S/CT, INL, G/TIP) and other Washington agencies (e.g. DEA, Treasury, Homeland Security and FBI) to get a consensus on expanding the 3 1 agenda. In addition, Embassy asks that Department and other agencies discuss the modalities of a possible expanded 3 1 meeting. Paraguay is the host of the next 3 1 meeting, tentatively scheduled for late in the year. At a minimum, Washington should consider asking the Paraguayan hosts to include in the Paraguay meeting a discussion of expanding the dialogue and, perhaps, the proposal's formal adoption by the parties. The modalities of such an expanded dialogue may have to wait for additional discussions and meetings. Depending on the results of Washington consultations, Embassy further requests Department guidance on formally approaching host governments regarding the possible expansion of the 3 1 mechanism and planning for the next meeting in Paraguay. WAYNE