Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07QUITO484
2007-03-02 17:25:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Quito
Cable title:
ECUADOR - RESPONSE TO ILLICIT CASH COURIER ACTIVITY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHQT #0484 0611725 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 021725Z MAR 07 FM AMEMBASSY QUITO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6451 INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 6499 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 2422 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ MAR 0470 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 1473 RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA PRIORITY 0812 RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 1523 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 1985 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUEADRO/HQ ICE DRO WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS QUITO 000484
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
EB/ESC/TFS FOR KATHERINE LEAHY AND LEANNE CANNON
S/CT FOR PATTY HILL, GALER, AND NOVIS
TREASURY FOR SGOOCH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ETTC KTFN LE PREL EC
SUBJECT: ECUADOR - RESPONSE TO ILLICIT CASH COURIER ACTIVITY
REQUEST
REF: STATE 16120
UNCLAS QUITO 000484
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
EB/ESC/TFS FOR KATHERINE LEAHY AND LEANNE CANNON
S/CT FOR PATTY HILL, GALER, AND NOVIS
TREASURY FOR SGOOCH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ETTC KTFN LE PREL EC
SUBJECT: ECUADOR - RESPONSE TO ILLICIT CASH COURIER ACTIVITY
REQUEST
REF: STATE 16120
1. (SBU) This a response to State 16120, requesting posts to raise
the problem of illicit cash courier activity with host government
officials. DEA country attache raised the issue of illicit cash
courier activity with Ecuador's Director of the Antinarcotics
Directorate (part of the police department) February 13. The
Director responded positively to encouragement to intensify efforts
on this issue, and resolved that airport police will focus more on
checking inbound flights for cash couriers, and that more training
will be offered on how to identify bulk cash smuggling in airports.
2. (SBU) The GOE is aware of the serious problem of cash couriers,
and is taking action to interdict and prosecute these cases. There
have been a number of recent successes. In August 2006, USD 290
thousand in bulk cash was seized at the Guayaquil airport. In
October 2006, USD 2.2 million in bulk cash was seized at the Quito
airport (the courier was identified as part of an organization that
had used Ecuador as a transit point 23 times previously for cash
smuggling, for a group operating out of Mexico and Colombia). In
January 2007, USD 292 thousand in bulk cash was seized in the
Guatemala City airport; the couriers were Ecuadorian and the final
destination of the cash was Ecuador.
3. (SBU) The GOE implements a number of training plans related to
cash courier activity in conjunction with the Embassy's Narcotics
Affairs section (NAS) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's
Immigration and Customs Enforcement office (ICE). ICE is
considering the possibility of a training program in the Guayaquil
and Quito airports beginning in April or May that would bring
Customs and Border Protection as well as Immigration and Customs
Enforcement agents to Ecuador to provide training on targeting bulk
cash smuggling organizations.
4. (SBU) Although the GOE is making some progress in combating cash
smuggling, many challenges remain. Ecuador has enacted a law that
codifies the requirements of Special Recommendation IX on Cash
Couriers, but lacks strong enforcement of the law. Another problem
is the generally uncontrolled border that exists between Ecuador and
Colombia.
JEWELL
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
EB/ESC/TFS FOR KATHERINE LEAHY AND LEANNE CANNON
S/CT FOR PATTY HILL, GALER, AND NOVIS
TREASURY FOR SGOOCH
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIN ETTC KTFN LE PREL EC
SUBJECT: ECUADOR - RESPONSE TO ILLICIT CASH COURIER ACTIVITY
REQUEST
REF: STATE 16120
1. (SBU) This a response to State 16120, requesting posts to raise
the problem of illicit cash courier activity with host government
officials. DEA country attache raised the issue of illicit cash
courier activity with Ecuador's Director of the Antinarcotics
Directorate (part of the police department) February 13. The
Director responded positively to encouragement to intensify efforts
on this issue, and resolved that airport police will focus more on
checking inbound flights for cash couriers, and that more training
will be offered on how to identify bulk cash smuggling in airports.
2. (SBU) The GOE is aware of the serious problem of cash couriers,
and is taking action to interdict and prosecute these cases. There
have been a number of recent successes. In August 2006, USD 290
thousand in bulk cash was seized at the Guayaquil airport. In
October 2006, USD 2.2 million in bulk cash was seized at the Quito
airport (the courier was identified as part of an organization that
had used Ecuador as a transit point 23 times previously for cash
smuggling, for a group operating out of Mexico and Colombia). In
January 2007, USD 292 thousand in bulk cash was seized in the
Guatemala City airport; the couriers were Ecuadorian and the final
destination of the cash was Ecuador.
3. (SBU) The GOE implements a number of training plans related to
cash courier activity in conjunction with the Embassy's Narcotics
Affairs section (NAS) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's
Immigration and Customs Enforcement office (ICE). ICE is
considering the possibility of a training program in the Guayaquil
and Quito airports beginning in April or May that would bring
Customs and Border Protection as well as Immigration and Customs
Enforcement agents to Ecuador to provide training on targeting bulk
cash smuggling organizations.
4. (SBU) Although the GOE is making some progress in combating cash
smuggling, many challenges remain. Ecuador has enacted a law that
codifies the requirements of Special Recommendation IX on Cash
Couriers, but lacks strong enforcement of the law. Another problem
is the generally uncontrolled border that exists between Ecuador and
Colombia.
JEWELL