US embassy cable - 04DJIBOUTI794

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000794 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR DS/IP/ITA, DS/DSS/IP, DS/IP/AF, DS/ICI/PII AND S/CT 
ADDIS ABABA, NAIROBI, ASMARA AND SANAA FOR RSOS 
CJTF HOA FOR J2, J2X, ATFP, AND MARCENT ATFP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC, DJ 
SUBJECT: DJIBOUTI: WALK IN 06/09/2004 
 
1. (SBU) On 06/09/2004 at about 0930 hours an individual 
walked into the American Embassy in Djibouti requesting to 
speak with an American official.  After careful screening, 
RSO and Embassy Force Protection Officer (FPO) conducted a 
preliminary interview with the individual.  The individual 
stated that his name is Ali Shire Adan Abdulle; D/POB - 
03/03/1954, Mogadishu, Somalia and provided an identification 
card to corroborate his information.  Abdulle claimed that he 
came to the Embassy on behalf of a friend that wished to sell 
the U.S. government radioactive material.  RSO and FPO 
convinced Abdulle to contact his friend so that he could come 
to the Embassy and discuss his situation in person.  His 
friend agreed and arrived at the Embassy approximately 20 
minutes later. 
 
2. (SBU) RSO and FPO interviewed Mr. Mahdi Ubaidi Muhsen; 
DPOB - 06/09/1957, Ethiopia.  Muhsen did not have any form of 
identification.  Muhsen claims that he is in possession of a 
container full of plutonium and that he wishes to sell it to 
the U.S. government.  When questioned as to how he obtained 
this product, Muhsen stated that he is part of a group of 
Ethiopians that acquired the container in late 2001, but 
could not provide more detail.  Muhsen also stated that he 
had a brief-case full of vials that contained a substance 
that he referred to as Red Mercury.  He further states that 
he had tried to notify someone at the American Embassy in 
Sanaa, but that his story was not believed by the person he 
spoke to.  Muhsen could not remember any details of his 
conversation. 
 
3. (SBU) RSO recognized the details of a scam that had been 
attempted on a number of U.S. Embassies in the region 
including Djibouti and U.S. Military personnel at Camp 
Lemonier several times before.  Subjects were confronted and 
advised that there attempts to extort money from the U.S. 
Government was a serious matter and RSO would report them to 
the authorities.  RSO strongly encouraged Subjects to cease 
and desist their attempts to sell their products.  In 
addition, RSO informed Subjects that he would be advising the 
Host Nation Police Forces and other Diplomatic Missions of 
their activities.  Furthermore, RSO informed them that if it 
is discovered that they are attempting to pull another scam 
they could be subject arrest. 
 
4. (SBU) RSO has photos of both individuals and can E-MAIL 
them.  The following information was obtained during the 
interview: 
 
Mahdi Ubaidi Muhsen 
Cell - 253-83-42-82 
Hm - 00 967-511-231 
Wk - 00 967-380-673 
 
Ali Shire Adan Abdulle 
Cell - 253-83-25-92 
 
5. (U) RSOs and J2 personnel, please inform RSO Djibouti if 
these individuals appear in your areas.  POC is RSO Marc 
Ramos at 253-35-39-95 ext. 2307. 
RAGSDALE