Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASMARA394
2008-08-08 10:40:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:
GSE CONFISCATES AMCIT PASSPORT AND $9,000
how-toVZCZCXRO6346 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHAE #0394 2211040 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 081040Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9832 INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RUMICEA/JICCENT MACDILL AFB FL RUEPADJ/CJTF-HOA J2X CAMP LEMONIER DJ RHRMDAB/COMUSNAVCENT RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000394
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2018
TAGS: CASC CPAS PREL PGOV ER
SUBJECT: GSE CONFISCATES AMCIT PASSPORT AND $9,000
REF: ASMARA 376
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000394
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2018
TAGS: CASC CPAS PREL PGOV ER
SUBJECT: GSE CONFISCATES AMCIT PASSPORT AND $9,000
REF: ASMARA 376
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: On August 4, an American citizen reported
that the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) confiscated
from him $8,550 of undeclared funds and $700 of declared
funds at the Asmara airport. Officials later informed the
AmCit that one of his $100 bills was counterfeit; they then
confiscated his U.S. passport as well. End Summary.
2. (C) The AmCit reported that on his July 9 arrival into the
Asmara airport, he declared $700 on official forms and failed
to declare the rest. He told PolOff that the additional
funds were to purchase construction materials so that his
mother could build a house. (Note: according to the AmCit,
his friends told him that construction materials must be
purchased in dollars rather than local currency. End Note.)
When queried further, he admitted to having an additional
$8,550 on hand. The Customs Office immediately confiscated
both the undeclared amount and the declared amount, in
contrast to the experience of another AmCit (reftel). At one
point during the month-long process of attempting to get the
money back, the GSE informed the AmCit that one of his $100
bills was a counterfeit. As a result, the Ministry of
Finance allegedly confiscated his U.S. passport. The
Ministry of Finance informed the AmCit that it would release
his passport on bail, provided that the bail be paid by an
Eritrean who holds an Eritrean business license.
3. (C) The AmCit, who is staying in Keren (approximately 40
miles NW of Asmara),says his in-country travel is now
severely restricted without his passport, which would prove
his status as an expatriate and allow him greater range of
movement. The AmCit also states that his friends advised him
to resolve the issue personally with the GSE rather than to
raise the profile of his situation by seeking assistance from
the U.S. government.
4. (C) COMMENT: Post has advised the AmCit to contact his
travel agent and have his return to the U.S. moved up to as
soon as possible (he was originally scheduled to depart in
mid-September). If the AmCit is unable to retrieve his
passport from the MOF, Post will issue a limited-validity
passport to allow his re-entry into the United States. Post
will ask the GSE about the AmCit's passport after the AmCit
has left Eritrea. Beginning inquiries beforehand may bring
undue attention on the AmCit, and lead to a variety of
potential punishments, including fines, imprisonment, or an
inability to leave the country. End Comment.
MCMULLEN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/E
LONDON AND PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHERS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/07/2018
TAGS: CASC CPAS PREL PGOV ER
SUBJECT: GSE CONFISCATES AMCIT PASSPORT AND $9,000
REF: ASMARA 376
Classified By: Ambassador Ronald K. McMullen for reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) SUMMARY: On August 4, an American citizen reported
that the Government of the State of Eritrea (GSE) confiscated
from him $8,550 of undeclared funds and $700 of declared
funds at the Asmara airport. Officials later informed the
AmCit that one of his $100 bills was counterfeit; they then
confiscated his U.S. passport as well. End Summary.
2. (C) The AmCit reported that on his July 9 arrival into the
Asmara airport, he declared $700 on official forms and failed
to declare the rest. He told PolOff that the additional
funds were to purchase construction materials so that his
mother could build a house. (Note: according to the AmCit,
his friends told him that construction materials must be
purchased in dollars rather than local currency. End Note.)
When queried further, he admitted to having an additional
$8,550 on hand. The Customs Office immediately confiscated
both the undeclared amount and the declared amount, in
contrast to the experience of another AmCit (reftel). At one
point during the month-long process of attempting to get the
money back, the GSE informed the AmCit that one of his $100
bills was a counterfeit. As a result, the Ministry of
Finance allegedly confiscated his U.S. passport. The
Ministry of Finance informed the AmCit that it would release
his passport on bail, provided that the bail be paid by an
Eritrean who holds an Eritrean business license.
3. (C) The AmCit, who is staying in Keren (approximately 40
miles NW of Asmara),says his in-country travel is now
severely restricted without his passport, which would prove
his status as an expatriate and allow him greater range of
movement. The AmCit also states that his friends advised him
to resolve the issue personally with the GSE rather than to
raise the profile of his situation by seeking assistance from
the U.S. government.
4. (C) COMMENT: Post has advised the AmCit to contact his
travel agent and have his return to the U.S. moved up to as
soon as possible (he was originally scheduled to depart in
mid-September). If the AmCit is unable to retrieve his
passport from the MOF, Post will issue a limited-validity
passport to allow his re-entry into the United States. Post
will ask the GSE about the AmCit's passport after the AmCit
has left Eritrea. Beginning inquiries beforehand may bring
undue attention on the AmCit, and lead to a variety of
potential punishments, including fines, imprisonment, or an
inability to leave the country. End Comment.
MCMULLEN