US embassy cable - 05KINGSTON622

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KINGSTON 000622 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CAR (BENT), INL/LP (KBROWN) AND S/CT 
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD AND J7 (RHANNAN) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/04/2015 
TAGS: EFIN, PTER, ETTC, SNAR, JM 
SUBJECT: GOJ FINANCIAL CRIMES DIVISION PROVIDES HEADS-UP ON 
MONEY-LAUNDERING INVESTIGATION OF PAKISTANI-JAMAICAN 
 
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Ronald S. Robinson.  Reasons 1.5 (b) a 
nd (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary:  Finance Ministry Financial Investigations 
Division (FID) Chief Technical Director Mike Surridge told 
Pol/Econ Chief March 4 that FID is investigating a 
naturalized Jamaican of Pakistani origin for suspected 
narcotics-related money laundering.  The suspect, Mohammed 
Tufail Ahmed, (aka Mushtaq Ahmad Mian) owns Zulfiqar Motors 
in Kingston.  Acting on a tip, FID uncovered suspicious 
information about Mian before recently seizing approximately 
120 cars from the dealership.  Surridge said that due to 
possible money laundering/Miami links uncovered by the 
investigations, and given Mian's original nationality, 
Minister of Finance Omar Davies had instructed him 
immediately to bring the information to the attention of the 
Embassy.  End Summary. 
 
2. (C) At the urgent request of Michael Surridge, Chief 
Technical Director of the Ministry of Finance's Financial 
Investigations Division (FID), Pol/Econ Chief met on 4 March 
with Surridge and Christine Chambers, FID Principal Director 
(both protect).  Surridge, a UK national, told P/E Chief that 
FID is conducting a money laundering investigation of a 
"shadowy" Pakistani national (who is a naturalized Jamaican 
citizen) who imports large numbers of Japanese automobiles, 
and who FID suspects may be laundering narcotics money. 
 
3. (C) According to Surridge, on 24 February, FID received a 
tip from a Jamaican woman who purchased an automobile locally 
from Zulfiqar Motors, a Jamaica-registered company operated 
by Mushtaq Ahmad Mian.  When she went to take possession of 
the car, the woman found that it was in poor condition and 
refused to accept it, at which time Mian offered to 
substitute the car for a different one, while using the same 
registration information from the damaged vehicle.  Wondering 
how a legitimate businessman could make such an offer, the 
woman became suspicious and contacted FID, which initiated an 
investigation.  FID's investigation raised questions about 
Zulfiqar Motors, which, Surridge said, has "directors who 
cannot be traced."  On 28 February, FID officers seized 
approximately 120 vehicles parked at Zulfiqar Motors, using 
the pretext of customs duty violations.  They discovered that 
Mian has falsified numerous invoices for the cars in order to 
pay less duty to the GOJ.  Including the 120 vehicles seized, 
FID suspects that the case may involve a total of 450 
vehicles, with the remainder in Japan awaiting shipping, or 
en route to Jamaica via ship.  Once FID seized the cars, said 
Surridge, other customers came to FID when they realized that 
they were now unable to collect vehicles on which they had 
already paid their deposits. 
 
4. (C) FID has submitted an official request to GOJ 
authorities for permission to trace bank accounts linked to 
Mian and to Zulfiqar Motors, which he expected would soon be 
forthcoming.  He also said that there appears to be a 
financial trail to Florida from Mian, but he did not offer 
specifics.  Surridge agreed to provide further information as 
his investigation continues, but requested that the 
information be held in strict confidence.  He added that he 
strongly suspects that the case involves money laundering at 
the least.  He added, however, that because a financial trail 
appears to lead to the U.S., the primary suspect is of 
Pakistani origin, given the large number of vehicles 
involved, and the possibility that there could be a terrorism 
finance angle, Minister of Finance Omar Davies thought it 
prudent that Surridge inform the Embassy immediately. 
Pol/Econ Chief thanked Surridge and Chambers for the 
information, and asked him to convey Post's appreciation to 
the Minister as well. 
 
---------------------- 
Details on FID Suspect 
---------------------- 
 
5. (C) Surridge provide the following biographic information 
on his suspect: 
 
Birth Name:  AHMED, Mohammed Tufail. 
DPOB:  21 May 1957, Lahore, Pakistan. 
Current name used:  MIAN, Mushtaq Ahmad. 
Nationality:  Jamaican (naturalized); probably Pakistani. 
Residence in Jamaica:  38 Dorchester Building 
                       11 Oxford Road 
                       Kingston 
(Note:  This address is less than two blocks from the 
Embassy, and visible from Chancery offices.) 
 
Suspect's Wife:  MUSHTAQ, Yashmin 
Suspect's Mother:  BEGUM, Rasheda Begum 
 
6. (SBU) The Kingston telephone directory contains the 
following listing: 
 
Zulfiqar Motors Ltd 
Shp 7, 3 Beechwood Ave (5) 
tel. (876)906-2083/2084 
 
7. (C) At P/E Chief's request, Surridge agreed to provide 
Ahmed's Jamaican passport information shortly. 
 
As it happens, Mian is a social contact of an Embassy 
officer.  Emboff reports that Mian was formerly resident in 
Tokyo and may maintain a residence there. 
8. (SBU) This message has been cleared with CONS, RSO and DEA 
Country Attache. 
 
9. (C) Comment:  We will follow up with Surridge for 
additional details from his investigation as they become 
available. 
ROBINSON