KUWAIT RESPONSE TO CSG TASKING

S E C R E T KUWAIT 001061 NOFORN SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY: (REVISED CAPTION) NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2019 TAGS: PTER EFIN KCRM ECON KTFN KU SUBJECT: KUWAIT RESPONSE TO CSG TASKING REF: A. SECSTATE 112368 ¶B. KUWAIT 1021 ¶C. KUWAIT 1017 Classified By: Economic Counselor Oliver John for reasons 1.4(b) and (d ). ¶1. (C/NF) Summary. In response to reftel a, Kuwait's resources and capabilities currently devoted to terrorist financing are outlined below to include staffing resources, evaluation of host country institutions, and recommendations for addressing gaps and enhancing capabilities. End Summary. ¶2. (S/NF) Kuwait Personnel dedicated to Terror Finance: Terrorist Financing Coordinating Officer (TFCO) Name: Oliver John Title: Counselor for Economic Affairs Tour End Date: July 2011 Office Phone: (965) 2259-1230 Cellular Phone: (965) 9937-0334 Fax: (965) 2259-1097 Deputy Terrorist Financing Coordinating Officer (DTFCO) Name: Tamra Hackett Title: Economic Officer Tour End Date: July 2011 Office Phone: (965) 2259-1287 Cellular Phone: (965) 9943-4450 Fax: (965) 2259-1097 Other elements at post that deal with terror financing include the Counter-Intelligence Working Group (CIWG), chaired by the Deputy Chief of Mission, the Law Enforcement Working Group (LEWG),chaired by the Regional Security Officer, two U.S. Customs and Border Patrol advisors embedded with the Kuwaiti Custom's office, and additional GRPO assets which are devoted to the counter terrorism portfolio. ¶3. (C/NF) The Ambassador and DCM provide overall guidance and direction on Counter Terrorism (CT) Cooperation and Terrorism Finance (TF) issues. For non-intelligence related matters the main point of contact is the TFCO. Members of the country team involved in TF and CT matters regularly consult both formally and informally. ¶4. (C/NF) Host country institutions involved in terrorist finance efforts are those ministries who currently have financial crimes oversight including Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Justice, Customs and Borders, and the Central Bank. See reftel b for post's full assessment of GOK capabilities, efforts, and constraints along with post's way forward. ¶5. (C/NF) With regard to the current level of USG staffing on terror financing, post notes that we have been able to draw extensively on regional expertise, including the Treasury Attach and Office of Foreign Assets Control Attach in Abu Dhabi, the ICE attach in Abu Dhabi and the Justice Attach in Cairo. Large increases in staffing from multiple agencies could overwhelm a relatively small Kuwaiti bureaucracy and not improve overall coordination efforts. ********************************************* ********* For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: visit Kuwait's Classified Website at: http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Kuwa it ********************************************* ********* JONES