CAMEROON'S FIU SEEKS CLOSER TIES WITH US

C O N F I D E N T I A L YAOUNDE 001374 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE ALSO FOR INL/AML INL ALSO FOR ERIN BARCLEY AND ANDY BURNETT TREASURY FOR FINCEN TREASURY FOR WILLIAM BAITY AND DAVID BRADLEY TREASURY FOR LARRY MCDONALD, JEFF ROSS, ANNE WALLWORK AND JOHN RAYLEA PRETORIA FOR DONALD PRZYBYLA AND WILLIS REEVES ABUJA FOR LEGATT RON NOLAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/14/2017 TAGS: KTFN EAID ECON EFIN KCOR PTER CM SUBJECT: CAMEROON'S FIU SEEKS CLOSER TIES WITH US COUNTERPARTS Classified By: Poloff Tad Brown for Reasons 1.4 b and d. ¶1. (SBU) This is an action request for INL. See para. 5. ¶2. (SBU) In a November 14 conversation with Poloff, Hubert Nde Sambone, the Director of Cameroon's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) said he was eager to build working relationships with USG counterparts and to begin the process of joining the Egmont Group. Sambone claimed that Cameroon's FIU, which is called the National Agency for Financial Investigation (ANIF in the French acronym),is the only functional FIU in Central Africa and boasted that ANIF had completed more than 52 dossiers over the last two years. ¶3. (C) Sambone suggested that a number of ANIF's completed and on-going cases would be of interest to the USG, offering the following examples: -- A prominent Cameroonian businessman, with links to a large international bank in Cameroon, who has relocated to Singapore, is reported to be engaged in drug trafficking through Cameroon and in arms smuggling to groups in Congo and Equatorial Guinea. -- A Nigerian bank, the United Bank of Africa, is seeking to establish a presence in Cameroon. ANIF has received reports that the bank has been involved in money laundering for terrorist organizations. -- A case involving Cameroonian nationals who defrauded American investors out of $71,300 by posing as a legitimate international telecommunications firm. ¶4. (SBU) Sambone was enthusiastic about the prospect of engaging with USG agencies to enhance ANIF's operations and international connections, explaining that the Government of Cameroon has set up a committee to explore how to reach out to other FIUs. Sambone said ANIF would welcome whatever international assistance was available, including exchange visits, conference calls, provision of computer hardware or software, and the exchange of information relevant to ongoing cases. ¶5. (SBU) Comment and Action Request: We perceive Sambone and ANIF to be serious, credible interlocutors on these issues. The USG stands to benefit from the engagement to the extent that ANIF is able to share information of value regarding the flow of money within the region, including Chad and Nigeria, and large-scale domestic corruption. We have shared interests in helping Sambone and ANIF investigate and prosecute criminals engaged in money-laundering, drug-trafficking, arms smuggling and terrorist finance. Post would appreciate Department's guidance on how we can best support ANIF. End comment. GARVEY