Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASMARA428
2008-08-27 14:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asmara
Cable title:  

ERITREANS USING FRAUDULENT TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

Tags:  CVIS KFRD CPAS CMFT ASEC ER 
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R 271422Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASMARA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9870
INFO IGAD COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI 
AMEMAAASY ANKARA 001

RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS 
AMEMBASSY CAIRO 
AMEMBASSY ROME 
AMEMBASSY SANAA 
AMCONSUL DUBAI 
AMCONSUL FRANKFURT 
AMCONSUL ISTANBUL
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASMARA 000428


SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/CA, AF/E, CA/FPP
PASS TO INL/HSTC
POSTS FOR FRAUD PREVENTION MANAGERS
FRANKFURT FOR RCO

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/26/2018
TAGS: CVIS KFRD CPAS CMFT ASEC ER
SUBJECT: ERITREANS USING FRAUDULENT TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

REF: ASMARA 000346


Classified By: CDA Melinda Tabler-Stone for Reason 1.4 (d)

1, (SBU) Summary: Well-placed Embassy contacts have
informed post that Eritreans are using false travel documents
to leave the country. Hundreds of Eritreans reportedly
purchased Turkish visas, while at least five others purchased
false Belgian or Italian passports, obtained exit permission
from the Eritrean government, passed through Eritrean
immigration, and boarded aircraft destined for Frankfurt.
Asmara's visa section remains closed to visa services and is
therefore not experiencing these trends first-hand. End
Summary.

ERITREANS PURCHASE TURKISH VISAS
--------------

2. (C) A well-placed Egypt Air employee in Asmara informed
Emboff that between 25 and 50 Eritreans with Turkish visas
depart Asmara on each of the twice weekly Egypt Air flight to
Cairo, a sharp increase from previous numbers. He believed
these visas were purchased illegally. Three Embassy LES
recently showed Emboff their Eritrean passports containing
new Turkish visas, although the LES did not admit the visas
were fraudulently obtained.


3. (SBU) Visas to Turkey are obtained in Asmara through
Turkish Honorary Consul Amanuel Tesfay, who is also an Amcit.
Tesfay accepts the visa applications and forwards them to
the Turkish Embassy in Sana'a for processing. The Turkish
visas seen by Emboff were both signed by Sinan Kuzum,
believed toQbQ a Turkish Coslar Officer stationed in Sana'a.

BELGIAN AND ITALIAN PASSPORTS FOR SALE IN DUBAI
-------------- --

4. (SBU) Lufthansa's head in Asmara Maha Lueck told Emboffs
six Eritreans with fraudulent passports boarded Lufthansa's
Asmara to Frankfurt flight in separate incidents occuring
over several weeks. Only one of the six passengers' passport
was detected by Eritrean immigration, and the person was
removed from the aircraft after boarding. The other five
individuals arrived in Frankfurt and claimed asylum. Four of
the passports appeared to be genuine. The fifth passport,
Belgian, was obviously altered, with lifted lamination and
cut marks on the bio page. According to German immigration
officials, the passports were purchased in Dubai for $10,000
each. Eritrean immigration implied to Lueck they are
primarily concerned with the Eritrean entrance and exit visas
of European and American passport holders, and paid little
attention to the passport's validity.


5. (C) Comment: Conoff notes an increasing number of
Eritrean contacts plan to leave Eritrea permanently, hoping
to claim asylum in Europe or the U.S. Increasing shortages
of basic necessities, bad economic news, increased
repression, and a poor rainy season lead more Eritreans to
give up hope on their country and look for a way out.
Consular officers should be aware of these trends when
adjudicating visas for Eritrean applicants. End Comment.


TABLER-STONE