Angola Real Estate
Money Laundering and Financial Crimes
Iran's real estate market is widely used as an alternative remittance system. For example, real estate transactions take place in Iran, but no funds change hands there; rather, payment is made overseas. This typically is done because of the difficulty in transferring funds out of Iran and the weakness of Iran's currency, the rial. The real estate market, in at least one instance, has been used to launder narcotics-related funds. ... Macau's free port, offshore financial services, lack of foreign exchange controls, disaggregated law enforcement agencies, problematic (albeit improving) law and order situation, and nascent anticorruption efforts create an environment conducive to money laundering. Macau serves as a gateway to China, and can be used as a transit point to remit funds and criminal proceeds to and from China, Hong Kong, and other Asian countries. Organized crime groups based in Macau are believed to launder their proceeds through joint ventures and real estate purchases in China, or through cross border cash transfers, front companies, real estate purchases, currency exchanges, and alternative remittance systems. Gaming and related services play a critical role in the Macau economy. They account for approximately 40 percent of GDP. Direct taxes from gambling accounted for 43 percent of government revenue in 1999. Organized crime groups are associated with the gambling industry through such activities as ... [Read More]
International Narcotics Control Strategy Reports
US DEPARTMENT OF STATEBUREAU OF INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS MATTERSINTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRAGEGY REPORTAPRIL 1994FINANCIAL CRIMES AND MONEY LAUNDERING1994 INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORTINTERNATIONAL MONEY LAUNDERINGOVERVIEWIntelligence findings from North and South America, Eastern and Western Europe, South and East Asia, Africa and the Middle East confirm that another significant shift has occurred in money laundering trends and methods, requiring changes in policy and strategy for 1994.The critical aspects are the volume of non-drug related money laundering; increased investment of illegal proceeds in legitimate business, including the financial industry; and the targeting of financial systems in countries/territories (some with little or no domestic involvement in drug trading or other serious proceeds-generating crimes) to launder drug and other proceeds generated by crimes committed in other jurisdictions.In 1988, when the United Nations Convention was ... [Read More]
Authentication of Documents For Use Abroad
No authority designated: refer requests to the U.S. Department of State, Authentications Office, 2400 M Street, NW, Washington, DC 20520. 202-647-5002 Authentication of Foreign Documents for Use in U.S.: In countries party to the Hague Legalization Convention, foreign documents are authenticated by the foreign competent authority listed in our separate information flyer on the Convention. See "Additional Information" below. In non-Hague countries, documents can be authenticated by a consular officer at the U.S. embassy or consulate. Effective June 1, 2002, the consular fee for authentication is $30.00 per seal. See Federal Register, ... [Read More]
M) Money Laundering and Financial Crimes
Iran’s real estate market is widely used as an alternative remittance system. For example, real estate transactions take place in Iran, but no funds change hands there; rather, payment is made overseas. This typically is done because of the difficulty in transferring funds out of Iran and the weakness of Iran’s currency, the rial. The real estate market, in at least one instance, has been used to launder narcotics-related funds. ... Member states shall ensure that the obligations laid down in this Directive are imposed on the following institutions: credit institutions (as defined previously); financial institutions (as defined previously); and on the following legal or natural persons acting in the exercise of their professional activities: auditors, external accountants and tax advisors; real estate agents notaries and other independent legal professionals, when they participate, whether: (a) by assisting in the planning or execution of transactions for their client concerning the (i) buying and selling of real property or business entities; (ii) managing of client money, securities or other assets; (iii) opening or management of bank, savings or securities accounts; (iv) organization of contributions necessary for the creation, operation or management of companies (v) creation, operation or management of trusts, companies or similar structures; (b) or by acting on behalf of and for their client in any financial ... [Read More]
Cote d'Ivoire (06/05)
Annual real growth rate (2004 est.): 0.7%. Real GDP declined by 1.6% in 2002 and declined by 1.7% in 2003. ... By developing country standards, Cote d'Ivoire has an outstanding infrastructure. There is an excellent network of more than 8,000 miles of paved roads; good telecommunications services, including a public data communications network, cellular phones, and Internet access. There are two active ports. Abidjan is the most modern in West Africa and the largest between Casablanca and Cape Town on the West African littoral. Rail links from the port north into Burkina Faso are being upgraded. There is regular air service within the region and to and from Europe and modern real estate developments for commercial, industrial, retail, and residential use. Abidjan remains one of the most modern and livable cities in the region. Its school system is good by regional standards and includes an international school--whose enrollment dropped sharply due to the November 2004 crisis--based on U.S. curriculum and several excellent French-based schools. ... [Read More]
Links
Civil Rights Oral History Interviews: Spokane, Washington [Real Player] ... Duke University's on-line archival collections featuring scanned pages and texts of the writings of African-American women. Includes the memoirs of Elizabeth Johnson Harris (1867-1942), an 1857 letter from Vilet Lester, a slave on a North Carolina plantation, and several letters from Hannah Valentine and Lethe Jackson, slaves on the estate of David Campbell, a governor of Virginia. ... [Read More]
U.S. Embassy Abidjan - Côte d'Ivoire - Examples of Scam E-mails
I AM SAMB C. MODOU, THE ONLY SON OF LATE CHIEF AND LOLO JOHN MODOU . MY FATHER WAS A VERY WEALTHY COCOA MERCHANT BASED IN ABIDJAN, THE ECONOMIC CAPITAL OF IVORY COAST BEFORE HE WAS POISONED TO DEATH BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES ON ONE OF THEIR OUTING TO DISCUSS ON A BUSINESS TRIP. WHEN MY MOTHER DIED ON THE 21ST OCTOBER 1984, MY FATHER TOOK ME SO SPECIAL BECAUSE AM MOTHERLESS. BEFORE THE DEATH OF MY FATHER ON 29TH JUNE 2000 IN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL HERE IN ABIDJAN, HE SECRETLY CALLED ME ON HIS BEDSIDE AND TOLD ME THAT HE HAS A SUM OF US$17,500,000 (SEVENTEEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND UNITED STATES DOLLARS) LEFT IN A SUSPENCE ACCOUNT IN A LOCAL BANK HERE IN ABIDJAN, THAT HE USED MY NAME AS THE NEXT OF KIN IN DEPOSIT OF THE FUND. HE ALSO EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF MY WEALTH AND THE BUSINESS WHICH AMOUNT TO US$34.000.000 THEY ARE HAVING AT HAND, THAT HE WAS KILLED BY HIS BUSINESS ASSOCIATES, THAT I SHOULD SEEK FOR A FOREIGN PARTNER IN A COUNTRY OF MY CHOICE WHERE I WILL TRANSFE ... [Read More]
USIS Washington File: TRANSCRIPT: STATE DEPT. BRIEFING ON KOSOVO LANDMINE PROBLEM
First, while the picture of conditions on the ground is only now emerging, it is clear that the combination of extensive Serb mine fields planted along virtually the whole southern border, KLA, Serb and NATO unexploded ordnance -- including cluster bombs, and mines and booby-traps laid by the Serb and KLA military and paramilitary forces -- have made Kosovo among the world's most dangerous real estate. To put this in perspective, the United States has programs in about 30 countries around the world to assist mine clearance, mine awareness and survivors assistance. In the space of a few months, Kosovo has risen to the top of our agenda. ... [Read More]
Department of State Washington File: White House Report, May 7: Rice, Nominations, Week Ahead
John D. Rood to be ambassador to the Bahamas. Rood currently serves as chairman of the Vestcor Companies, which he founded in 1983. The Jacksonville, Florida, company develops multifamily rental and condominium communities, controls a real estate investment portfolio, and provides construction services to its clients. Rood earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Montana. ... "We have always been in contact with all parties in the region, including the Palestinians," the spokesman said. "The Palestinians have a real opportunity before them to take steps that can help create the institutions necessary for a viable and democratic Palestinian state to exist." ... [Read More]
Angola
UNITA military units reportedly pillaged rural areas, depopulated parts of the country, killed traditional leaders, and eliminated all opposition, real or potential. UNITA troops committed numerous killings during attacks on villages. Interviews with many refugees indicated that UNITA committed abuses, including public executions, as a deliberate policy. UNITA increased attacks against population centers and other civilian targets during the year; however, after September 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S., UNITA attacks against civilian targets significantly decreased, reportedly as a result of a direct order from Savimbi. Prior to September 11, UNITA had conducted eight major attacks against civilian targets during the year. This was part of a strategy that likely was designed to create insecurity and draw international attention. UNITA abducted numerous persons during the year; many, including children, died or were killed while in captivity (see Section 1.b.). UNITA killed numerous c ... [Read More]
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