UNCLAS BRASILIA 001257

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: KTFN PTER PINR EFIN VE BR SNAR AND KCRM PREL
SUBJECT: BRAZIL- DEMARCHE DELIVERED -OFAC NARCOTICS KINGPIN ACT
DESIGNATION OF THREE SENIOR VENEZUELAN OFFICIALS

REFTEL A) State 97316 B) Brasilia 1226


1. (SBU) On September 18, 2008 ECONOFF delivered reftel demarche to
the Council for the Control of Financial Activities (COAF) at the
Ministry of Finance. COAF officials Joaquim da Cunha Neto and
Bernardo Mota took delivery of the document, which outlined the
reasons behind the designation of three senior Venezuelan officials
under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act for materially
assisting the narcotics trafficking activities of the Revolutionary
Armed Forces of Colombia.


2. (SBU) COAF officials explained that they would continue to
cooperate with the U.S. government at a technical level on issues of
illicit financing and narcotics trafficking. However, COAF
officials cautioned that, given the political implications of the
matter, any decision to proceed against the Venezuelan officials
would have to be made at the highest levels of the Brazilian
government.

SOBEL