http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2010/08/23/feature-01 

By Fidet Mansour for Magharebia in Algiers – 23/08/10

Algerian customs officials met special agents from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last week for a workshop in Algiers on money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Participants in the five-day event, which ended Thursday (August 19th), focused on international regulations and best practices in investigating and preventing bulk cash smuggling (BCS).

The joint training provided an opportunity to share techniques and experiences throughout the three days of class presentations and practical exercises and the two days of operational exercises at Houari Boumediene International Airport in Algiers, where the techniques and concepts discussed were put into practice in real time.

This was the second BCS exchange workshop involving the ICE and Algerian law-enforcement agencies. The first was held November 11th-14th, 2007 at the École supérieure de police in Algiers, and was attended by Algerian police and customs officers, as well as two representatives of the CTRF, a financial investigation department.

"Because electronic monitoring of money transfers has been tightened, the traditional methods of hiding money in fake boxes of sweets or freight containers have become increasingly common," stated a communiqué issued by the US embassy in Algiers on the occasion of the meeting.

The document continued on to say that "close cooperation and the sharing of resources and expertise between law-enforcement agencies all over the world will make it possible to stop the circulation of funds that support illegal activities and finance terrorist and criminal organisations."

Under condition of anonymity, an Algerian customs officer attending the seminar told Magharebia that "during the seminar, the Americans shared their experience in this area and gave specific examples".

"Seminars like this are to be encouraged," the officer added. "They strengthen the international community's desire to reinforce cooperation in this field in order to reduce terrorists' room for manoeuvre, capacity for harm and capacity for action."

An expert in the financial sector, Mrs. Hassiba Beledi, explained that there is too much money circulating in cash in Algeria. "For years, this has benefited smugglers and, in particular, terrorist groups who have used this cash to stock up on food, weapons and vehicles needed for transportation, as well as real estate."

Algeria has already implemented a number of measures to tackle money laundering and stop the financing of terrorism. The latest of these dates from July 14th, with a decree requiring checks to be made on all payments of 500,000 dinars or more made by bankcard, payment card, or any other means involving bank money was published. This revolution in Algerians' payment habits will take effect as from March 31st, 2011, the decree states.

Government authorities, public institutions, companies that run public services, and public sector and private sector operators will have to abide by the regulations on transactions, invoices and other debts involving bank-related means of payment, the new law states.

Large supermarkets will also be obliged to introduce electronic payment equipment to promote the use of cheques. The aim of the law, says the Association of Banks and Financial Establishments (ABEF), is to monitor the flow of cash circulating within clandestine networks.

It may be recalled that the ICE is one of the first American bodies to have shared its practical experience with counterparts in other countries. The ICE is part of the Working Group on Terrorist Financing, a cross-institutional group made up of representatives of US ministries, the Treasury, the judiciary, and the national security forces.