Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KABUL755
2007-03-05 13:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
TERRORIST FINANCE - USG CONCERN OVER ILLICIT CASH
how-toVZCZCXRO5393 PP RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHYG DE RUEHBUL #0755 0641316 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 051316Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6602 INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC 0348 RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/OSD WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 3719
UNCLAS KABUL 000755
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EB/ESC/TFN, SC/T, IO/UNP, SCA/FO, SCA/RA, AND SCA/A
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
TREASURY PASS TO LMCDONALD, ABAUKOL, JCIORCIARI, AND ASHARMA
OSD FOR BRZEZINZSKI
E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: EFIN KTFN PTER ETTC PREL AF
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCE - USG CONCERN OVER ILLICIT CASH
COURIERS
REF: STATE 16120
UNCLAS KABUL 000755
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EB/ESC/TFN, SC/T, IO/UNP, SCA/FO, SCA/RA, AND SCA/A
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
TREASURY PASS TO LMCDONALD, ABAUKOL, JCIORCIARI, AND ASHARMA
OSD FOR BRZEZINZSKI
E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: EFIN KTFN PTER ETTC PREL AF
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCE - USG CONCERN OVER ILLICIT CASH
COURIERS
REF: STATE 16120
1.(SBU) In a February 11 meeting with Central Bank Governor
Delawari, ECON Counselor emphasized the importance of implementing
the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standard and guidance for
monitoring the cross-border transportation of illicit currency and
other bearer negotiable instruments. After the meeting, we left
paras 10-12 from reftel as a non-paper. Treasury Attach and
visiting Treasury official Amit Sharma followed up on the issue on
March 3.
2.(SBU) During the February 21 Strategic Partnership Prosperity
Working Group meeting, the Central Bank Financial Intelligence Unit
(FIU) Director briefed on the steps that his organization is
undertaking to implement the FATF guidelines. Working with Customs
at Kabul International Airport and airlines landing there, he
advised that the FIU has implemented requirements that arriving
passengers complete a cash declaration form and provide it to
customs officials. USDEL leaders noted that they had completed the
form upon arrival and applauded this important step. The FIU
Director stated that the next step is to expand the program to
Afghanistan's other airports and border crossing points.
BACKGROUND
3.(SBU) The Afghan anti-money laundering law, issued by decree in
December of 2003, contains FATF Special Recommendation IX ("Cash
Courier")-compliant provisions for currency reporting at borders.
In July of 2006, a memorandum of understanding was signed by the DAB
Governor and the Deputy Minister of Finance for Customs and Revenue.
The MOU describes the respective roles and responsibilities of the
two parties in implementing the relevant provisions of the law. As
a result of the MOU, DAB and the Ministry of Finance have worked
closely to deploy a declaration form and process. The initial
prototype implementation has been targeted at Kabul International
Airport. Training has been delivered on both the form and the
process to airport customs and border police staff, as well as to
airline representatives and Kabul-area travel agents. The prototype
is currently operating in a full declaration mode (i.e. everybody
has to make a declaration whether positive or negative) in an effort
to raise public awareness and to institutionalize the process. A
voluntary declaration mode will begin after a period of ninety days
has elapsed. So far, the system has not been implemented at land
border crossings. Implementation at these points will depend
largely upon the success of capacity building efforts. There is an
effort currently underway to integrate the declaration system into
overall planning for building border management capacity.
NEUMANN
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR EB/ESC/TFN, SC/T, IO/UNP, SCA/FO, SCA/RA, AND SCA/A
NSC FOR AHARRIMAN
TREASURY PASS TO LMCDONALD, ABAUKOL, JCIORCIARI, AND ASHARMA
OSD FOR BRZEZINZSKI
E.O. 12958 N/A
TAGS: EFIN KTFN PTER ETTC PREL AF
SUBJECT: TERRORIST FINANCE - USG CONCERN OVER ILLICIT CASH
COURIERS
REF: STATE 16120
1.(SBU) In a February 11 meeting with Central Bank Governor
Delawari, ECON Counselor emphasized the importance of implementing
the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standard and guidance for
monitoring the cross-border transportation of illicit currency and
other bearer negotiable instruments. After the meeting, we left
paras 10-12 from reftel as a non-paper. Treasury Attach and
visiting Treasury official Amit Sharma followed up on the issue on
March 3.
2.(SBU) During the February 21 Strategic Partnership Prosperity
Working Group meeting, the Central Bank Financial Intelligence Unit
(FIU) Director briefed on the steps that his organization is
undertaking to implement the FATF guidelines. Working with Customs
at Kabul International Airport and airlines landing there, he
advised that the FIU has implemented requirements that arriving
passengers complete a cash declaration form and provide it to
customs officials. USDEL leaders noted that they had completed the
form upon arrival and applauded this important step. The FIU
Director stated that the next step is to expand the program to
Afghanistan's other airports and border crossing points.
BACKGROUND
3.(SBU) The Afghan anti-money laundering law, issued by decree in
December of 2003, contains FATF Special Recommendation IX ("Cash
Courier")-compliant provisions for currency reporting at borders.
In July of 2006, a memorandum of understanding was signed by the DAB
Governor and the Deputy Minister of Finance for Customs and Revenue.
The MOU describes the respective roles and responsibilities of the
two parties in implementing the relevant provisions of the law. As
a result of the MOU, DAB and the Ministry of Finance have worked
closely to deploy a declaration form and process. The initial
prototype implementation has been targeted at Kabul International
Airport. Training has been delivered on both the form and the
process to airport customs and border police staff, as well as to
airline representatives and Kabul-area travel agents. The prototype
is currently operating in a full declaration mode (i.e. everybody
has to make a declaration whether positive or negative) in an effort
to raise public awareness and to institutionalize the process. A
voluntary declaration mode will begin after a period of ninety days
has elapsed. So far, the system has not been implemented at land
border crossings. Implementation at these points will depend
largely upon the success of capacity building efforts. There is an
effort currently underway to integrate the declaration system into
overall planning for building border management capacity.
NEUMANN