US State Dept Narcotics Report 2011 (introduction):
No report available
US State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report 2011 (introduction):
(Tier 2)
Gabon is primarily a destination and transit country for children and
women from Benin, Nigeria, Togo, Mali, Guinea, and other West African
countries who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. Some
victims transit Gabon en route to Equatorial Guinea. The majority of
victims are boys forced to work as street hawkers or mechanics. Girls
are subjected to conditions of domestic servitude and forced labor in
markets or roadside restaurants. Increased coastal surveillance,
especially following the October 2009 arrival of the M/S Sharon carrying
34 child trafficking victims, reportedly caused traffickers to change their
routes to estuaries and rivers when transporting children. The majority of
victims aboard the M/S Sharon were young girls, a departure from
previous patterns of trafficking in the region. Traffickers appear to
operate in loose ethnic-based crime networks. Most child traffickers are
women, who serve as intermediaries in their countries of origin. In some
cases, child victims report that their families had turned them over to
intermediaries promising employment opportunities in Gabon. There is
also evidence that some traffickers have moved their operations to
Lambarene to avoid detection in Libreville, as well as of the involvement
of Nigerian syndicates in bringing trafficking victims into Gabon. West
Africans between the ages of 18 and 25 are forced into domestic
servitude or prostitution in Gabon.
The Government of Gabon does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making
significant efforts to do so. The government showed a marked
improvement in its anti-trafficking performance, particularly by
investigating trafficking in Libreville and Port Gentil, rescuing and
protecting an unprecedented number of victims during the reporting
period, and initiating the prosecutions of several cases. Nonetheless, it
produced no convictions during in 2010. The government continued to
provide care to child trafficking victims through government-funded and
government-run shelters. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Inter-
Ministerial Committee also sent delegations to source countries and
worked with foreign embassies in Libreville to address victims’ needs and
raise awareness.
For full report click here
US State Dept Terrorism Report 2009
Despite its lack of resources, Gabon cooperated with the United States
in its efforts to combat terrorism, where possible, and participated in
numerous training programs, seminars, and exercises offered by U.S.
Africa Command (AFRICOM). Gabon lacked the resources necessary to
protect its borders adequately and to monitor the movement of potential
terrorists, especially along its unpatrolled land borders. Airfields in
Gabon are unsecured and generally in need of significant security
infrastructure improvements. The Government of Gabon made
significant strides in improving its maritime security and restricting illegal
access to the country via the Gulf of Guinea. Gabon has taken steps to
upgrade security at its port facilities in Owendo, Port Mole, and Port
Gentil.
AML News / Updates
Statement by Kossi Assimaidou, Executive Director for Gabon
February 18, 2011 giving overview of economic situation (extracted from
IMF report)
Read Statement (internal link)
Links:
Worldwide AML Legislation (International Bar Association)
No report available
US State Dept Trafficking in Persons Report 2011 (introduction):
(Tier 2)
Gabon is primarily a destination and transit country for children and
women from Benin, Nigeria, Togo, Mali, Guinea, and other West African
countries who are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking. Some
victims transit Gabon en route to Equatorial Guinea. The majority of
victims are boys forced to work as street hawkers or mechanics. Girls
are subjected to conditions of domestic servitude and forced labor in
markets or roadside restaurants. Increased coastal surveillance,
especially following the October 2009 arrival of the M/S Sharon carrying
34 child trafficking victims, reportedly caused traffickers to change their
routes to estuaries and rivers when transporting children. The majority of
victims aboard the M/S Sharon were young girls, a departure from
previous patterns of trafficking in the region. Traffickers appear to
operate in loose ethnic-based crime networks. Most child traffickers are
women, who serve as intermediaries in their countries of origin. In some
cases, child victims report that their families had turned them over to
intermediaries promising employment opportunities in Gabon. There is
also evidence that some traffickers have moved their operations to
Lambarene to avoid detection in Libreville, as well as of the involvement
of Nigerian syndicates in bringing trafficking victims into Gabon. West
Africans between the ages of 18 and 25 are forced into domestic
servitude or prostitution in Gabon.
The Government of Gabon does not fully comply with the minimum
standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making
significant efforts to do so. The government showed a marked
improvement in its anti-trafficking performance, particularly by
investigating trafficking in Libreville and Port Gentil, rescuing and
protecting an unprecedented number of victims during the reporting
period, and initiating the prosecutions of several cases. Nonetheless, it
produced no convictions during in 2010. The government continued to
provide care to child trafficking victims through government-funded and
government-run shelters. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Inter-
Ministerial Committee also sent delegations to source countries and
worked with foreign embassies in Libreville to address victims’ needs and
raise awareness.
For full report click here
US State Dept Terrorism Report 2009
Despite its lack of resources, Gabon cooperated with the United States
in its efforts to combat terrorism, where possible, and participated in
numerous training programs, seminars, and exercises offered by U.S.
Africa Command (AFRICOM). Gabon lacked the resources necessary to
protect its borders adequately and to monitor the movement of potential
terrorists, especially along its unpatrolled land borders. Airfields in
Gabon are unsecured and generally in need of significant security
infrastructure improvements. The Government of Gabon made
significant strides in improving its maritime security and restricting illegal
access to the country via the Gulf of Guinea. Gabon has taken steps to
upgrade security at its port facilities in Owendo, Port Mole, and Port
Gentil.
AML News / Updates
Statement by Kossi Assimaidou, Executive Director for Gabon
February 18, 2011 giving overview of economic situation (extracted from
IMF report)
Read Statement (internal link)
Links:
Worldwide AML Legislation (International Bar Association)
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Sanctions:
None applicable
Offshore Jurisdiction Blacklists – Further Information:
Information unavailable.
US State Department Money Laundering Report - 2011
Gabon is not a regional financial center. Despite the abundance
of natural resources, poor fiscal management and widespread
corruption hobble the economy. Embezzlement of state funds,
including by politically exposed persons, frequently gives rise to
money laundering. Gabon also suffers from porous borders.
General smuggling is widespread and is facilitated by organized
criminal groups.
The Bank of Central African States (BEAC), a regional central
bank that serves six countries of Central Africa, supervises Gabon’
s banking system. The actual monitoring of financial transactions
is conducted by the Economic Intervention Service that
harmonizes the regulation of currency exchanges in the member
States of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community
(CEMAC).
DO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ENGAGE IN CURRENCY
TRANSACTIONS RELATED TO INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS
TRAFFICKING THAT INCLUDE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF US
CURRENCY; CURRENCY DERIVED FROM ILLEGAL SALES IN
THE U.S.; OR THAT OTHERWISE SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE
U.S.: NO
CRIMINALIZATION OF MONEY LAUNDERING:
“All serious crimes” approach or “list” approach to predicate
crimes: Not available
Legal persons covered: criminally: Not available civilly: Not
available
CRIMINALIZATION OF TERRORIST FINANCING:
Ability to freeze terrorist assets without delay: Not available
UN lists of designated terrorists or terrorist entities distributed to
financial institutions: Not available
(Please refer to the Department of State’s Country Reports on
Terrorism, which can be found here: http://www.state.
gov/s/ct/rls/crt/)
KNOW-YOUR-CUSTOMER RULES:
Covered entities: Banks, exchange houses, stock brokerages,
casinos, insurance companies, lawyers, and accountants
Enhanced due diligence procedures for PEPs: Foreign: NO
Domestic: NO
SUSPICIOUS TRANSACTION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:
Covered entities: Banks, exchange houses, stock brokerages,
casinos, insurance companies, lawyers, and accountants
Number of STRs received and time frame: Not available
Number of CTRs received and time frame: Not available
MONEY LAUNDERING CRIMINAL
PROSECUTIONS/CONVICTIONS:
Prosecutions: Not available
Convictions: Not available
Assets forfeited: criminally: Not available civilly: Not available
RECORDS EXCHANGE MECHANISM:
With U.S.: NO
With other governments/jurisdictions: NO
Gabon is not a member of a Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-
style regional body (FSRB).
ENFORCEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES AND
COMMENTS:
In September 2005, the Government of Gabon (GOG) created the
National Financial Investigations Agency (ANIF), a body designed
to lead the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.
Though ANIF is now functional, it lacks the necessary resources
(both human and financial) to be effective in its mission.
The gendarme and police have an anti-narcotics unit, the Central
Anti-Drug Office dedicated to investigation and arrests. The unit is
under-equipped and under-funded and lacks necessary training
to operate at a high level of functionality.
The judiciary remains inefficient and susceptible to inappropriate
influence. Police inefficiency, corruption, and impunity remain
serious problems. Additionally, official corruption is widespread.
Oversight efforts to reign in corruption are weak, making it
possible for public officials to exploit their positions for personal
enrichment. The National Commission of the Fight Against Illicit
Enrichment, a government anti-corruption organization, enjoys a
high profile but has not prosecuted many alleged criminals
identified as taking bribes or committing other malfeasance.
There is a large Lebanese expatriate community in Gabon
engaged in the timber industry, construction, and general trade.
In order avoid tight fiscal controls for the repatriation of profits,
many Lebanese families have obtained Gabonese nationality.
Hawala and trade are also used to transfer funds and value from
Gabon to Lebanon.
The GOG should work with the CEMAC, BEAC, and international
organizations to establish a viable anti-money laundering/counter-
terrorist financing regime. Within CEMAC, there is the Banking
Commission of Central Africa (COBAC) and the Action Group
against Money Laundering in Central Africa (GABAC). Although
there is no recognized FSRB in the region, GABAC is working with
banks and member states to ensure implementation of
international FATF recommendations through two formalized
relationships. GABAC works directly with the ANIF in each member
state. GABAC also engages with all banking institutions to urge
them to become members of COBAC and then ensures the banks
are implementing and enforcing due diligence procedures, as
outlined in the international standards.
None applicable
Offshore Jurisdiction Blacklists – Further Information:
Information unavailable.
US State Department Money Laundering Report - 2011
Gabon is not a regional financial center. Despite the abundance
of natural resources, poor fiscal management and widespread
corruption hobble the economy. Embezzlement of state funds,
including by politically exposed persons, frequently gives rise to
money laundering. Gabon also suffers from porous borders.
General smuggling is widespread and is facilitated by organized
criminal groups.
The Bank of Central African States (BEAC), a regional central
bank that serves six countries of Central Africa, supervises Gabon’
s banking system. The actual monitoring of financial transactions
is conducted by the Economic Intervention Service that
harmonizes the regulation of currency exchanges in the member
States of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community
(CEMAC).
DO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ENGAGE IN CURRENCY
TRANSACTIONS RELATED TO INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS
TRAFFICKING THAT INCLUDE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF US
CURRENCY; CURRENCY DERIVED FROM ILLEGAL SALES IN
THE U.S.; OR THAT OTHERWISE SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE
U.S.: NO
CRIMINALIZATION OF MONEY LAUNDERING:
“All serious crimes” approach or “list” approach to predicate
crimes: Not available
Legal persons covered: criminally: Not available civilly: Not
available
CRIMINALIZATION OF TERRORIST FINANCING:
Ability to freeze terrorist assets without delay: Not available
UN lists of designated terrorists or terrorist entities distributed to
financial institutions: Not available
(Please refer to the Department of State’s Country Reports on
Terrorism, which can be found here: http://www.state.
gov/s/ct/rls/crt/)
KNOW-YOUR-CUSTOMER RULES:
Covered entities: Banks, exchange houses, stock brokerages,
casinos, insurance companies, lawyers, and accountants
Enhanced due diligence procedures for PEPs: Foreign: NO
Domestic: NO
SUSPICIOUS TRANSACTION REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:
Covered entities: Banks, exchange houses, stock brokerages,
casinos, insurance companies, lawyers, and accountants
Number of STRs received and time frame: Not available
Number of CTRs received and time frame: Not available
MONEY LAUNDERING CRIMINAL
PROSECUTIONS/CONVICTIONS:
Prosecutions: Not available
Convictions: Not available
Assets forfeited: criminally: Not available civilly: Not available
RECORDS EXCHANGE MECHANISM:
With U.S.: NO
With other governments/jurisdictions: NO
Gabon is not a member of a Financial Action Task Force (FATF)-
style regional body (FSRB).
ENFORCEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES AND
COMMENTS:
In September 2005, the Government of Gabon (GOG) created the
National Financial Investigations Agency (ANIF), a body designed
to lead the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.
Though ANIF is now functional, it lacks the necessary resources
(both human and financial) to be effective in its mission.
The gendarme and police have an anti-narcotics unit, the Central
Anti-Drug Office dedicated to investigation and arrests. The unit is
under-equipped and under-funded and lacks necessary training
to operate at a high level of functionality.
The judiciary remains inefficient and susceptible to inappropriate
influence. Police inefficiency, corruption, and impunity remain
serious problems. Additionally, official corruption is widespread.
Oversight efforts to reign in corruption are weak, making it
possible for public officials to exploit their positions for personal
enrichment. The National Commission of the Fight Against Illicit
Enrichment, a government anti-corruption organization, enjoys a
high profile but has not prosecuted many alleged criminals
identified as taking bribes or committing other malfeasance.
There is a large Lebanese expatriate community in Gabon
engaged in the timber industry, construction, and general trade.
In order avoid tight fiscal controls for the repatriation of profits,
many Lebanese families have obtained Gabonese nationality.
Hawala and trade are also used to transfer funds and value from
Gabon to Lebanon.
The GOG should work with the CEMAC, BEAC, and international
organizations to establish a viable anti-money laundering/counter-
terrorist financing regime. Within CEMAC, there is the Banking
Commission of Central Africa (COBAC) and the Action Group
against Money Laundering in Central Africa (GABAC). Although
there is no recognized FSRB in the region, GABAC is working with
banks and member states to ensure implementation of
international FATF recommendations through two formalized
relationships. GABAC works directly with the ANIF in each member
state. GABAC also engages with all banking institutions to urge
them to become members of COBAC and then ensures the banks
are implementing and enforcing due diligence procedures, as
outlined in the international standards.
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| GABON |
| KnowYourCountry |
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| Last Updated: 16 April 2012 |