Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08YAOUNDE366
2008-04-15 14:28:00
SECRET
Embassy Yaounde
Cable title:
CAMEROON'S ANIF DIRECTOR DISCUSSES TERRORIST
how-toVZCZCXYZ0018 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHYD #0366 1061428 ZNY SSSSS ZZH R 151428Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8805 INFO RUEHKU/AMEMBASSY KUWAIT 0005 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2052 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
S E C R E T YAOUNDE 000366
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE ALSO FOR EEB/ESC/TFS
TREASURY FOR FINCEN
TREASURY FOR AI DERICK POLITZER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2018
TAGS: CM EFIN ETTC PGOV PREL PTER KTFN
SUBJECT: CAMEROON'S ANIF DIRECTOR DISCUSSES TERRORIST
FINANCE AND CORRUPTION
REF: A. SECSTATE 34888
B. YAOUNDE 313 (NOTAL)
C. YAOUNDE 272
Classified By: Political Officer Tad Brown for Reasons 1.4 b and d.
S E C R E T YAOUNDE 000366
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE ALSO FOR EEB/ESC/TFS
TREASURY FOR FINCEN
TREASURY FOR AI DERICK POLITZER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2018
TAGS: CM EFIN ETTC PGOV PREL PTER KTFN
SUBJECT: CAMEROON'S ANIF DIRECTOR DISCUSSES TERRORIST
FINANCE AND CORRUPTION
REF: A. SECSTATE 34888
B. YAOUNDE 313 (NOTAL)
C. YAOUNDE 272
Classified By: Political Officer Tad Brown for Reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. (S) Summary: In an April 11 meeting with Poloff, Hubert
Nde Sambone, Director of Cameroon's National Agency for
Financial Investigations (ANIF),welcomed Washington's
response (ref a) to ANIF's request for more information
regarding financial transfers from the Revival of Islamic
Heritage Society (RIHS) headquarters in Kuwait to an
organization in Cameroon (ref c). Sambone further promised
to keep the USG abreast of the Government of Cameroon's (GRC)
ongoing investigations into the Cameroonian recipient.
Turning to domestic corruption, Sambone expressed fear that
recent high-profile arrests (ref b) were driven by political
factors and that powerful corrupt networks within the GRC
threatened ANIF, whistle-blowers and Cameroon's stability.
Sambone flagged trade-based money laundering as a pervasive
problem in Cameroon. Both Sambone and Post welcome
engagement from FINCEN, EEB and other Washington agencies.
End summary.
2. (S) Poloff conveyed ref A talking points to Hubert Nde
Sambone, the Director of Cameroon's National Agency for
Financial Investigations (ANIF),during an April 11 meeting.
Sambone appreciated the encouraging words from Washington and
said ANIF did not yet have further information despite
ongoing investigations. Sambone said that ANIF had contacted
the Direction de la Surveillance du Territoire (an
intelligence unit in the national police that monitors
individuals who threaten national security and stability) and
legal officials in Foumban, where the Organization de
Bienfaisance pour le Developpement Social et Culturelle du
Cameroun (OBDSCC) is located. Sambone said the GRC had
identified the leaders of OBDSCC (none of whom was already
known by the GRC as an individual of concern) so that local
legal officials and the DST can question them.
3. (SBU) Sambone warmly welcomed the proposed visits later
this year (dates not yet certain) by ANIF to Washington and
by officials of the U.S. Department of Treasury's FINCEN for
dialogue with ANIF. Sambone expressed optimism that this
visit would help "begin the cooperation with the U.S.
Government that we so desire." Poloff briefed Sambone on the
content and background of Presidential Proclamation 7750 and
the concomitant visa ineligibility.
4. (C) Addressing recent high-profile anti-corruption
arrests (based on files compiled by ANIF),Sambone expressed
concern that the motivation for the arrests was more politics
than law enforcement. Sambone said Cameroon's political
leadership was so corrupt that most powerful figures sought
to frustrate ANIF's efforts, and he worried that some
individuals would be willing to foment instability in order
to derail anti-corruption prosecutions. Sambone said his own
and ANIF's security had been bolstered, but that he was most
worried for ANIF's "collaborators" in the banks, who were
coming under increasing pressure for their cooperation with
ANIF. Sambone said one bank official had fled to France out
of concern for his safety in Cameroon.
5. (C) Sambone said that trade-based money laundering was
rampant in Cameroon, especially among senior officials
secreting money out of Cameroon to Europe. The crime is
SIPDIS
evident, according to Sambone, in the discrepancy between the
funds that Cameroonian-based entities report they are
shifting to Europe in order to import products and the value
of those products that actually arrive in Cameroon. Sambone
said ANIF had completed about ten dossiers presenting
evidence of trade-based money laundering, including one of a
French company with "hundreds of billions of CFA" (hundreds
of millions of dollars) worth of suspicious accounting.
6. (C) Comment: With a degree of professionalism and
discretion that is rare in GRC agencies, Sambone and ANIF
continue to impress. We share Sambone's fear that powerful
networks of corruption pose a real threat to ANIF and others
who seek to enforce Cameroonian law. Post greatly
appreciates the continued interest and engagement from
FINCEN, EEB and others.
NELSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE ALSO FOR EEB/ESC/TFS
TREASURY FOR FINCEN
TREASURY FOR AI DERICK POLITZER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2018
TAGS: CM EFIN ETTC PGOV PREL PTER KTFN
SUBJECT: CAMEROON'S ANIF DIRECTOR DISCUSSES TERRORIST
FINANCE AND CORRUPTION
REF: A. SECSTATE 34888
B. YAOUNDE 313 (NOTAL)
C. YAOUNDE 272
Classified By: Political Officer Tad Brown for Reasons 1.4 b and d.
1. (S) Summary: In an April 11 meeting with Poloff, Hubert
Nde Sambone, Director of Cameroon's National Agency for
Financial Investigations (ANIF),welcomed Washington's
response (ref a) to ANIF's request for more information
regarding financial transfers from the Revival of Islamic
Heritage Society (RIHS) headquarters in Kuwait to an
organization in Cameroon (ref c). Sambone further promised
to keep the USG abreast of the Government of Cameroon's (GRC)
ongoing investigations into the Cameroonian recipient.
Turning to domestic corruption, Sambone expressed fear that
recent high-profile arrests (ref b) were driven by political
factors and that powerful corrupt networks within the GRC
threatened ANIF, whistle-blowers and Cameroon's stability.
Sambone flagged trade-based money laundering as a pervasive
problem in Cameroon. Both Sambone and Post welcome
engagement from FINCEN, EEB and other Washington agencies.
End summary.
2. (S) Poloff conveyed ref A talking points to Hubert Nde
Sambone, the Director of Cameroon's National Agency for
Financial Investigations (ANIF),during an April 11 meeting.
Sambone appreciated the encouraging words from Washington and
said ANIF did not yet have further information despite
ongoing investigations. Sambone said that ANIF had contacted
the Direction de la Surveillance du Territoire (an
intelligence unit in the national police that monitors
individuals who threaten national security and stability) and
legal officials in Foumban, where the Organization de
Bienfaisance pour le Developpement Social et Culturelle du
Cameroun (OBDSCC) is located. Sambone said the GRC had
identified the leaders of OBDSCC (none of whom was already
known by the GRC as an individual of concern) so that local
legal officials and the DST can question them.
3. (SBU) Sambone warmly welcomed the proposed visits later
this year (dates not yet certain) by ANIF to Washington and
by officials of the U.S. Department of Treasury's FINCEN for
dialogue with ANIF. Sambone expressed optimism that this
visit would help "begin the cooperation with the U.S.
Government that we so desire." Poloff briefed Sambone on the
content and background of Presidential Proclamation 7750 and
the concomitant visa ineligibility.
4. (C) Addressing recent high-profile anti-corruption
arrests (based on files compiled by ANIF),Sambone expressed
concern that the motivation for the arrests was more politics
than law enforcement. Sambone said Cameroon's political
leadership was so corrupt that most powerful figures sought
to frustrate ANIF's efforts, and he worried that some
individuals would be willing to foment instability in order
to derail anti-corruption prosecutions. Sambone said his own
and ANIF's security had been bolstered, but that he was most
worried for ANIF's "collaborators" in the banks, who were
coming under increasing pressure for their cooperation with
ANIF. Sambone said one bank official had fled to France out
of concern for his safety in Cameroon.
5. (C) Sambone said that trade-based money laundering was
rampant in Cameroon, especially among senior officials
secreting money out of Cameroon to Europe. The crime is
SIPDIS
evident, according to Sambone, in the discrepancy between the
funds that Cameroonian-based entities report they are
shifting to Europe in order to import products and the value
of those products that actually arrive in Cameroon. Sambone
said ANIF had completed about ten dossiers presenting
evidence of trade-based money laundering, including one of a
French company with "hundreds of billions of CFA" (hundreds
of millions of dollars) worth of suspicious accounting.
6. (C) Comment: With a degree of professionalism and
discretion that is rare in GRC agencies, Sambone and ANIF
continue to impress. We share Sambone's fear that powerful
networks of corruption pose a real threat to ANIF and others
who seek to enforce Cameroonian law. Post greatly
appreciates the continued interest and engagement from
FINCEN, EEB and others.
NELSON