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ACTION AF-08
INFO OCT-01 NEA-10 ISO-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 INR-07 NSAE-00
PA-01 USIA-06 PRS-01 SP-02 EB-07 COME-00 TRSE-00
OMB-01 AID-05 /049 W
--------------------- 109542
R 241510Z NOV 76
FM AMEMBASSY DAKAR
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7384
INFO AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT
AMEMBASSY BANJUL
AMEMBASSY BEIRUT
LIMITED OFFICIAL USE DAKAR 7759
E.O. 11652: N/A
TAGS: AGEN, SG
SUBJECT: GOS CRACKDOWN ON IMPORT FRAUD
1. SUMMARY: ON NOVEMBER 12, AND FOR DAYS FOLLOWING, SENEGAL'S
GOVERNMENT-OWNED DAILY LE SOLEIL FRONT-PAGED ARREST OF NINE
LEBANESE BUSINESSMEN, AND SUSPENSION OF SIX CUSTOMS OFFICE
EMPLOYEES FOR ALLEGED COMPLICITY IN MASSIVE IMPORT FRAUD
SCHEME. RING APPARENTLY PRODUCED, IN COLLUSION WITH SEVERAL
MAJOR TRANSIT/FREIGHT FORWARDERS, GOGUS TRANSIT CERTIFICATES
FOR GOODS ACTUALLY SOLD IN SENEGAL. CASE, AND PROMINENT
PRESS COVERAGE, POINTS UP DELICATE SITUATION OF LEBANESE
BUSINESSMEN, AS WELL AS GOS DETERMINATIONSTOP LOSS OF
REVENUES. END SUMMARY.
2. SINCE NOVEMBER 12, SENEGAL'S GOVERNMENT-OWNED DAILY
LE SOLEIL HAS FRONT-PAGED ARTICLES, EDITORIALS, AND
COMMENTARY DEALING WITH ARREST OF NINE PROMINENT LEBANESE
IMPORTERS, AND SUSPENSION OF SIX CUSTOMS OFFICERS. FOUR
FREIGHT-FORWARDING COMPANIES WHICH WERE ALLEGEDLY IN ON
SCHEME HAVE HAD THEIR LICENSES REVOKED, ALL IMPORT
CERTIFICATES ISSUED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS ARE
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BEING EXAMINED, AND COMPLETE TURNOVER HAS BEEN PROMISED
OF ALL CUSTOMS PERSONNEL SERVING IN PORT OF DAKAR.
3. SCHEME APPARENTLY INVOLVED ISSUANCE OF FALSE TRANSIT
CERTIFICATES SHOWING MERCHANDISE DESTINED FOR BANJUL AND
NOUAKCHOTT, WHICH THEN ENTERED SENEGAL DUTY-FREE. SHORT
LISTING AND UNDERVALUING OF IMPORT INVOICES WAS ALSO
ALLEGEDLY PART OF OPERATION.
4. ARTICLES, COMMENTARY, AND LETTERS POINT UP DELICATE
POSITION OF RESIDENT LEBANESE COMMUNITY, MOST OF WHOM HAVE
NEVER TAKEN SENEGALESE CITIZENSHIP. LEBANESE ARE ACTIVE IN
IMPORT AND RETAIL SECTORS OF ECONOMY THIER FORMER FIELD
AS BUYERS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION HAS
BECOME GOS MONOPOLY. HIGHLY VISIBLE, AND OFTER WEALTHY
LEBANESE ARE TEMPTING TARGETS FOR ACCUSATIONS
OF CORRUPTION. ALTHOUGH LEBANESE GO
TO CONSIDERABLE LENGTH TO LEARN LOCAL LANGUAGES AND
SOCIALIZE WITH AFRICANS, ALLEGATIONS PERSIST THAT THEY
EXPLOIT SENEGALESE.
5. GOS MOTIVATION IN GIVING PROMINENT PUBLICITY TO CASE
MAY BE DUE TO SEVERAL FACTORS, INCLUDING: (A)
CONCERN AT FALLING CUSTOMS REVENUES; (B) DESIRE TO MAKE
AND EXAMPLE IN ORDER TO FRIGHTEN OTHERS; AND STUBBORN-
NESS OF SOME HONEST OFFICIALS. SOME OBSERVERS CYNICALLY
MAINTAIN THAT ACCUSED LEBANESE WERE UNWILLING TO BRIBE MORE
OF PORT CUSTOMS FORCE, AND THAT THOSE WHO WERE SLIGHTED
BECAME JEALOUS AND BLEW WHISTLE ON ALLEGED WRONGDOING.
AGGREY
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