Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 251287 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AEMR ASEC AMGT AE AS AMED AVIAN AU AF AORC AGENDA AO AR AM APER AFIN ATRN AJ ABUD ARABL AL AG AODE ALOW ADANA AADP AND APECO ACABQ ASEAN AA AFFAIRS AID AGR AY AGS AFSI AGOA AMB ARF ANET ASCH ACOA AFLU AFSN AMEX AFDB ABLD AESC AFGHANISTAN AINF AVIATION ARR ARSO ANDREW ASSEMBLY AIDS APRC ASSK ADCO ASIG AC AZ APEC AFINM ADB AP ACOTA ASEX ACKM ASUP ANTITERRORISM ADPM AINR ARABLEAGUE AGAO AORG AMTC AIN ACCOUNT ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU AIDAC AINT ARCH AMGTKSUP ALAMI AMCHAMS ALJAZEERA AVIANFLU AORD AOREC ALIREZA AOMS AMGMT ABDALLAH AORCAE AHMED ACCELERATED AUC ALZUGUREN ANGEL AORL ASECIR AMG AMBASSADOR AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ADM ASES ABMC AER AMER ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AOPC ACS AFL AEGR ASED AFPREL AGRI AMCHAM ARNOLD AN ANATO AME APERTH ASECSI AT ACDA ASEDC AIT AMERICA AMLB AMGE ACTION AGMT AFINIZ ASECVE ADRC ABER AGIT APCS AEMED ARABBL ARC ASO AIAG ACEC ASR ASECM ARG AEC ABT ADIP ADCP ANARCHISTS AORCUN AOWC ASJA AALC AX AROC ARM AGENCIES ALBE AK AZE AOPR AREP AMIA ASCE ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI AINFCY ARMS ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AGRICULTURE AFPK AOCR ALEXANDER ATRD ATFN ABLG AORCD AFGHAN ARAS AORCYM AVERY ALVAREZ ACBAQ ALOWAR ANTOINE ABLDG ALAB AMERICAS AFAF ASECAFIN ASEK ASCC AMCT AMGTATK AMT APDC AEMRS ASECE AFSA ATRA ARTICLE ARENA AISG AEMRBC AFR AEIR ASECAF AFARI AMPR ASPA ASOC ANTONIO AORCL ASECARP APRM AUSTRALIAGROUP ASEG AFOR AEAID AMEDI ASECTH ASIC AFDIN AGUIRRE AUNR ASFC AOIC ANTXON ASA ASECCASC ALI AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN ASECKHLS ASSSEMBLY ASECVZ AI ASECPGOV ASIR ASCEC ASAC ARAB AIEA ADMIRAL AUSGR AQ AMTG ARRMZY ANC APR AMAT AIHRC AFU ADEL AECL ACAO AMEMR ADEP AV AW AOR ALL ALOUNI AORCUNGA ALNEA ASC AORCO ARMITAGE AGENGA AGRIC AEM ACOAAMGT AGUILAR AFPHUM AMEDCASCKFLO AFZAL AAA ATPDEA ASECPHUM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
ETRD ETTC EU ECON EFIN EAGR EAID ELAB EINV ENIV ENRG EPET EZ ELTN ELECTIONS ECPS ET ER EG EUN EIND ECONOMICS EMIN ECIN EINT EWWT EAIR EN ENGR ES EI ETMIN EL EPA EARG EFIS ECONOMY EC EK ELAM ECONOMIC EAR ESDP ECCP ELN EUM EUMEM ECA EAP ELEC ECOWAS EFTA EXIM ETTD EDRC ECOSOC ECPSN ENVIRONMENT ECO EMAIL ECTRD EREL EDU ENERG ENERGY ENVR ETRAD EAC EXTERNAL EFIC ECIP ERTD EUC ENRGMO EINZ ESTH ECCT EAGER ECPN ELNT ERD EGEN ETRN EIVN ETDR EXEC EIAD EIAR EVN EPRT ETTF ENGY EAIDCIN EXPORT ETRC ESA EIB EAPC EPIT ESOCI ETRB EINDQTRD ENRC EGOV ECLAC EUR ELF ETEL ENRGUA EVIN EARI ESCAP EID ERIN ELAN ENVT EDEV EWWY EXBS ECOM EV ELNTECON ECE ETRDGK EPETEIND ESCI ETRDAORC EAIDETRD ETTR EMS EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EBRD EUREM ERGR EAGRBN EAUD EFI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ETRO ENRGY EGAR ESSO EGAD ENV ENER EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ELA EET EINVETRD EETC EIDN ERGY ETRDPGOV EING EMINCG EINVECON EURM EEC EICN EINO EPSC ELAP ELABPGOVBN EE ESPS ETRA ECONETRDBESPAR ERICKSON EEOC EVENTS EPIN EB ECUN EPWR ENG EX EH EAIDAR EAIS ELBA EPETUN ETRDEIQ EENV ECPC ETRP ECONENRG EUEAID EWT EEB EAIDNI ESENV EADM ECN ENRGKNNP ETAD ETR ECONETRDEAGRJA ETRG ETER EDUC EITC EBUD EAIF EBEXP EAIDS EITI EGOVSY EFQ ECOQKPKO ETRGY ESF EUE EAIC EPGOV ENFR EAGRE ENRD EINTECPS EAVI ETC ETCC EIAID EAIDAF EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EAOD ETRDA EURN EASS EINVA EAIDRW EON ECOR EPREL EGPHUM ELTM ECOS EINN ENNP EUPGOV EAGRTR ECONCS ETIO ETRDGR EAIDB EISNAR EIFN ESPINOSA EAIDASEC ELIN EWTR EMED ETFN ETT EADI EPTER ELDIN EINVEFIN ESS ENRGIZ EQRD ESOC ETRDECD ECINECONCS EAIT ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EUNJ ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ELAD EFIM ETIC EFND EFN ETLN ENGRD EWRG ETA EIN EAIRECONRP EXIMOPIC ERA ENRGJM ECONEGE ENVI ECHEVARRIA EMINETRD EAD ECONIZ EENG ELBR EWWC ELTD EAIDMG ETRK EIPR EISNLN ETEX EPTED EFINECONCS EPCS EAG ETRDKIPR ED EAIO ETRDEC ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ERNG EFINU EURFOR EWWI ELTNSNAR ETD EAIRASECCASCID EOXC ESTN EAIDAORC EAGRRP ETRDEMIN ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN ETRDEINVTINTCS EGHG EAIDPHUMPRELUG EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN EDA EPETPGOV ELAINE EUCOM EMW EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM ELB EINDETRD EMI ETRDECONWTOCS EINR ESTRADA EHUM EFNI ELABV ENR EMN EXO EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EATO END EP EINVETC ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EIQ ETTW EAI ENGRG ETRED ENDURING ETTRD EAIDEGZ EOCN EINF EUPREL ENRL ECPO ENLT EEFIN EPPD ECOIN EUEAGR EISL EIDE ENRGSD EINVECONSENVCSJA EAIG ENTG EEPET EUNCH EPECO ETZ EPAT EPTE EAIRGM ETRDPREL EUNGRSISAFPKSYLESO ETTN EINVKSCA ESLCO EBMGT ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EFLU ELND EFINOECD EAIDHO EDUARDO ENEG ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EFINTS ECONQH ENRGPREL EUNPHUM EINDIR EPE EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS EFINM ECRM EQ EWWTSP ECONPGOVBN
KFLO KPKO KDEM KFLU KTEX KMDR KPAO KCRM KIDE KN KNNP KG KMCA KZ KJUS KWBG KU KDMR KAWC KCOR KPAL KOMC KTDB KTIA KISL KHIV KHUM KTER KCFE KTFN KS KIRF KTIP KIRC KSCA KICA KIPR KPWR KWMN KE KGIC KGIT KSTC KACT KSEP KFRD KUNR KHLS KCRS KRVC KUWAIT KVPR KSRE KMPI KMRS KNRV KNEI KCIP KSEO KITA KDRG KV KSUM KCUL KPET KBCT KO KSEC KOLY KNAR KGHG KSAF KWNM KNUC KMNP KVIR KPOL KOCI KPIR KLIG KSAC KSTH KNPT KINL KPRP KRIM KICC KIFR KPRV KAWK KFIN KT KVRC KR KHDP KGOV KPOW KTBT KPMI KPOA KRIF KEDEM KFSC KY KGCC KATRINA KWAC KSPR KTBD KBIO KSCI KRCM KNNB KBNC KIMT KCSY KINR KRAD KMFO KCORR KW KDEMSOCI KNEP KFPC KEMPI KBTR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNPP KTTB KTFIN KBTS KCOM KFTN KMOC KOR KDP KPOP KGHA KSLG KMCR KJUST KUM KMSG KHPD KREC KIPRTRD KPREL KEN KCSA KCRIM KGLB KAKA KWWT KUNP KCRN KISLPINR KLFU KUNC KEDU KCMA KREF KPAS KRKO KNNC KLHS KWAK KOC KAPO KTDD KOGL KLAP KECF KCRCM KNDP KSEAO KCIS KISM KREL KISR KISC KKPO KWCR KPFO KUS KX KWCI KRFD KWPG KTRD KH KLSO KEVIN KEANE KACW KWRF KNAO KETTC KTAO KWIR KVCORR KDEMGT KPLS KICT KWGB KIDS KSCS KIRP KSTCPL KDEN KLAB KFLOA KIND KMIG KPPAO KPRO KLEG KGKG KCUM KTTP KWPA KIIP KPEO KICR KNNA KMGT KCROM KMCC KLPM KNNPGM KSIA KSI KWWW KOMS KESS KMCAJO KWN KTDM KDCM KCM KVPRKHLS KENV KCCP KGCN KCEM KEMR KWMNKDEM KNNPPARM KDRM KWIM KJRE KAID KWMM KPAONZ KUAE KTFR KIF KNAP KPSC KSOCI KCWI KAUST KPIN KCHG KLBO KIRCOEXC KI KIRCHOFF KSTT KNPR KDRL KCFC KLTN KPAOKMDRKE KPALAOIS KESO KKOR KSMT KFTFN KTFM KDEMK KPKP KOCM KNN KISLSCUL KFRDSOCIRO KINT KRG KWMNSMIG KSTCC KPAOY KFOR KWPR KSEPCVIS KGIV KSEI KIL KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KQ KEMS KHSL KTNF KPDD KANSOU KKIV KFCE KTTC KGH KNNNP KK KSCT KWNN KAWX KOMCSG KEIM KTSD KFIU KDTB KFGM KACP KWWMN KWAWC KSPA KGICKS KNUP KNNO KISLAO KTPN KSTS KPRM KPALPREL KPO KTLA KCRP KNMP KAWCK KCERS KDUM KEDM KTIALG KWUN KPTS KPEM KMEPI KAWL KHMN KCRO KCMR KPTD KCROR KMPT KTRF KSKN KMAC KUK KIRL KEM KSOC KBTC KOM KINP KDEMAF KTNBT KISK KRM KWBW KBWG KNNPMNUC KNOP KSUP KCOG KNET KWBC KESP KMRD KEBG KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPWG KOMCCO KRGY KNNF KPROG KJAN KFRED KPOKO KM KWMNCS KMPF KJWC KJU KSMIG KALR KRAL KDGOV KPA KCRMJA KCRI KAYLA KPGOV KRD KNNPCH KFEM KPRD KFAM KALM KIPRETRDKCRM KMPP KADM KRFR KMWN KWRG KTIAPARM KTIAEUN KRDP KLIP KDDEM KTIAIC KWKN KPAD KDM KRCS KWBGSY KEAI KIVP KPAOPREL KUNH KTSC KIPT KNP KJUSTH KGOR KEPREL KHSA KGHGHIV KNNR KOMH KRCIM KWPB KWIC KINF KPER KILS KA KNRG KCSI KFRP KLFLO KFE KNPPIS KQM KQRDQ KERG KPAOPHUM KSUMPHUM KVBL KARIM KOSOVO KNSD KUIR KWHG KWBGXF KWMNU KPBT KKNP KERF KCRT KVIS KWRC KVIP KTFS KMARR KDGR KPAI KDE KTCRE KMPIO KUNRAORC KHOURY KAWS KPAK KOEM KCGC KID KVRP KCPS KIVR KBDS KWOMN KIIC KTFNJA KARZAI KMVP KHJUS KPKOUNSC KMAR KIBL KUNA KSA KIS KJUSAF KDEV KPMO KHIB KIRD KOUYATE KIPRZ KBEM KPAM KDET KPPD KOSCE KJUSKUNR KICCPUR KRMS KWMNPREL KWMJN KREISLER KWM KDHS KRV KPOV KWMNCI KMPL KFLD KWWN KCVM KIMMITT KCASC KOMO KNATO KDDG KHGH KRF KSCAECON KWMEN KRIC
PREL PINR PGOV PHUM PTER PE PREF PARM PBTS PINS PHSA PK PL PM PNAT PHAS PO PROP PGOVE PA PU POLITICAL PPTER POL PALESTINIAN PHUN PIN PAMQ PPA PSEC POLM PBIO PSOE PDEM PAK PF PKAO PGOVPRELMARRMOPS PMIL PV POLITICS PRELS POLICY PRELHA PIRN PINT PGOG PERSONS PRC PEACE PROCESS PRELPGOV PROV PFOV PKK PRE PT PIRF PSI PRL PRELAF PROG PARMP PERL PUNE PREFA PP PGOB PUM PROTECTION PARTIES PRIL PEL PAGE PS PGO PCUL PLUM PIF PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PMUC PCOR PAS PB PKO PY PKST PTR PRM POUS PRELIZ PGIC PHUMS PAL PNUC PLO PMOPS PHM PGOVBL PBK PELOSI PTE PGOVAU PNR PINSO PRO PLAB PREM PNIR PSOCI PBS PD PHUML PERURENA PKPA PVOV PMAR PHUMCF PUHM PHUH PRELPGOVETTCIRAE PRT PROPERTY PEPFAR PREI POLUN PAR PINSF PREFL PH PREC PPD PING PQL PINSCE PGV PREO PRELUN POV PGOVPHUM PINRES PRES PGOC PINO POTUS PTERE PRELKPAO PRGOV PETR PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPKO PARLIAMENT PEPR PMIG PTBS PACE PETER PMDL PVIP PKPO POLMIL PTEL PJUS PHUMNI PRELKPAOIZ PGOVPREL POGV PEREZ POWELL PMASS PDOV PARN PG PPOL PGIV PAIGH PBOV PETROL PGPV PGOVL POSTS PSO PRELEU PRELECON PHUMPINS PGOVKCMABN PQM PRELSP PRGO PATTY PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PGVO PROTESTS PRELPLS PKFK PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PARAGRAPH PRELGOV POG PTRD PTERM PBTSAG PHUMKPAL PRELPK PTERPGOV PAO PRIVATIZATION PSCE PPAO PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PARALYMPIC PRUM PKPRP PETERS PAHO PARMS PGREL PINV POINS PHUMPREL POREL PRELNL PHUMPGOV PGOVQL PLAN PRELL PARP PROVE PSOC PDD PRELNP PRELBR PKMN PGKV PUAS PRELTBIOBA PBTSEWWT PTERIS PGOVU PRELGG PHUMPRELPGOV PFOR PEPGOV PRELUNSC PRAM PICES PTERIZ PREK PRELEAGR PRELEUN PHUME PHU PHUMKCRS PRESL PRTER PGOF PARK PGOVSOCI PTERPREL PGOVEAID PGOVPHUMKPAO PINSKISL PREZ PGOVAF PARMEUN PECON PINL POGOV PGOVLO PIERRE PRELPHUM PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PBST PKPAO PHUMHUPPS PGOVPOL PASS PPGOV PROGV PAGR PHALANAGE PARTY PRELID PGOVID PHUMR PHSAQ PINRAMGT PSA PRELM PRELMU PIA PINRPE PBTSRU PARMIR PEDRO PNUK PVPR PINOCHET PAARM PRFE PRELEIN PINF PCI PSEPC PGOVSU PRLE PDIP PHEM PRELB PORG PGGOC POLG POPDC PGOVPM PWMN PDRG PHUMK PINB PRELAL PRER PFIN PNRG PRED POLI PHUMBO PHYTRP PROLIFERATION PHARM PUOS PRHUM PUNR PENA PGOVREL PETRAEUS PGOVKDEM PGOVENRG PHUS PRESIDENT PTERKU PRELKSUMXABN PGOVSI PHUMQHA PKISL PIR PGOVZI PHUMIZNL PKNP PRELEVU PMIN PHIM PHUMBA PUBLIC PHAM PRELKPKO PMR PARTM PPREL PN PROL PDA PGOVECON PKBL PKEAID PERM PRELEZ PRELC PER PHJM PGOVPRELPINRBN PRFL PLN PWBG PNG PHUMA PGOR PHUMPTER POLINT PPEF PKPAL PNNL PMARR PAC PTIA PKDEM PAUL PREG PTERR PTERPRELPARMPGOVPBTSETTCEAIRELTNTC PRELJA POLS PI PNS PAREL PENV PTEROREP PGOVM PINER PBGT PHSAUNSC PTERDJ PRELEAID PARMIN PKIR PLEC PCRM PNET PARR PRELETRD PRELBN PINRTH PREJ PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEMEX PRELZ PFLP PBPTS PTGOV PREVAL PRELSW PAUM PRF PHUMKDEM PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PNUM PGGV PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PIND PTEP PTERKS PGOVJM PGOT PRELMARR PGOVCU PREV PREFF PRWL PET PROB PRELPHUMP PHUMAF PVTS PRELAFDB PSNR PGOVECONPRELBU PGOVZL PREP PHUMPRELBN PHSAPREL PARCA PGREV PGOVDO PGON PCON PODC PRELOV PHSAK PSHA PGOVGM PRELP POSCE PGOVPTER PHUMRU PINRHU PARMR PGOVTI PPEL PMAT PAN PANAM PGOVBO PRELHRC

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 03LAGOS2045, THE SEX TRADE TO THE US AND EUROPE: MEETING WITH

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #03LAGOS2045.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
03LAGOS2045 2003-10-02 10:37 2011-08-30 01:44 CONFIDENTIAL Consulate Lagos
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 LAGOS 002045 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/02/2013 
TAGS: PHUM SMIG SOCI SNAR CVIS NI
SUBJECT: THE SEX TRADE TO THE US AND EUROPE: MEETING WITH 
DUTCH DCM, LAGOS 
 
 
Classified By: CG Robyn Hinson-Jones for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d). 
 
 
1. (C) SUMMARY: POLOFF met with Gerrit Van Hemert, Deputy 
Head of Mission for the Netherlands Consulate General in 
Lagos on 17 September to discuss patterns of trafficking of 
women for the sex trade to Europe. Van Hemert, who has 
studied the subject for three years, laid out a pattern of 
trafficking from Nigeria to the US via West Africa and South 
America, using Miami as the port of entry.  Tactics used in 
the trade include various forms of visa fraud: obtaining and 
traveling with multiple identities and using impostors to 
travel with valid passports and visas.  Collusion within the 
Nigerian government is believed to reach senior levels of the 
Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) and traditional rulers. 
Embassies in Cotonou and Lome are often seen as weak points 
to obtain valid visas for the US and Europe.  It is believed 
that trafficked women may also be involved in the drug trade. 
In a separate conversation, Father Emmanuel Adetoyese Badejo 
of the Catholic Secretariat confirmed most of Van Hemert's 
assertions. END SUMMARY 
 
 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
 
2. (C) Van Hemert has been serving in Lagos for the past 
three years and has been involved  in addressing the issue of 
human trafficking for the Government of the Kingdom of the 
Netherlands (GOKN) in the region.  He has coordinated with 
Government of Nigeria (GON) officials regarding deportation 
of sex slaves and has personally traveled to Lome, the port 
of departure for travel to South America.  In addition, he 
has conducted several interviews with trafficked women, 
detailing the patterns of their travel. 
 
 
EDO STATE, THE ROTTEN APPLE OF NIGERIA 
-------------------------------------- 
 
 
3. (C) Trafficked Nigerian women are in their late teens and 
twenties, are single, have beauty traits valued in Europe and 
the United States, and may have limited or general education. 
 Almost all trafficked women originate from Benin City, Edo 
State or its neighboring communities, which Van Hemert 
describes as the "sick, rotten apple of Nigeria."  He claims 
Edo State has a "cultural and economic system built on human 
trafficking and prostitution" and believes that Omo n'Oba 
Erediauwa, the Oba of Benin (traditional king), and his High 
Priest, Chief Nosakhure Isekhure, are involved in the 
trafficking syndicate.  Van Hemert has interviewed 
approximately 10 to 12 trafficked women per year at the Dutch 
Consulate General who were applying for legal residence 
permits. He stated that each were willing to discuss their 
experiences in Europe and how they reached the Netherlands, 
but none were willing to name individuals who either 
facilitated their migration in Europe or are key members of 
the syndicate in Edo State and Nigeria.  Benin City is the 
ancient capital of the Benin Kingdom and its traditional 
monarch, the Oba of Benin, exercises great power.  Although 
Nigeria is largely Moslem or Christian, most still believe in 
voodoo or juju.  Benin City, through high priests, has made 
great efforts to maintain the traditional practices and 
religion of voodoo.  POLOFF had the opportunity to visit a 
senior high priest, Osemwegie Ebohon, and his voodoo cultural 
center on 14 September.  Ebohon is a frequent visitor to 
Broward County, Florida.  (Note: In December 1999, the Dutch 
African Studies Centre published in Dutch "An Appearance of 
Voodoo: Cultural Background of the Trade in Nigerian Girls 
for Dutch Prostitution - An Exploration" and detailed the 
connection between the sex trade and voodoo.) 
 
 
4. (U) The International Organization of Migration (IOM) has 
based its offices in Benin City and tracks many of the 
stories of the returnees.  (An IOM official in Lagos told CG 
that 99% of females deported through Lagos are from Benin 
City.)  According to Elvira Gregoire of IOM in Benin City, 
trafficked women "never disclose their sponsors' identities 
for fear of putting their families at risk" and are 
apprehensive to break their "oath of secrecy" that they gave 
before being trafficked.  ("Oaths of secrecy" are a common 
practice in voodoo.)  Gregoire further stated that trafficked 
women are often made to pay back a debt of $20,000 - $50,000 
incurred through their migration to destination countries. 
Once in Europe, their "madams" seize their travel and 
identity documents and place them under 24 hour surveillance 
while having them practice prostitution.  In addition to 
debriefing repatriated trafficked women, IOM assists with 
food, toiletries, family contact, and transportation back 
home. 
 
 
TRACKING THE TRAFFICKED 
----------------------- 
 
 
5. (C) Trafficked women destined to Miami and the United 
States go through a long transiting process.  Van Hemert 
claimed traffickers look for the "weak links" in 
the system.  Women from Edo travel to Cotonou and Lome, he 
said, to apply for US and Schengen (European Union) visas. 
If successful, many women return to Lagos to apply for Dutch 
transit visas to travel on KLM.  If unsuccessful, they travel 
to the Port of Lome and are put on fishing boats to South 
America.  Van Hemert visited Lome to see the port himself and 
was shown which boats were available for transit across the 
Atlantic.  He said the process was very easy and relatively 
inexpensive and characterized the vessels as barely sea 
worthy, surmising that many may have been lost at sea.  Van 
Hemert further stated that women regularly traveled with two 
or three passports using different identities and sometimes 
different nationalities, in particular Ivoirian.  Destination 
countries in South America are primarily Guyana and to a 
lesser degree Suriname and Venezuela.  Once in Guyana, 
trafficked women either apply for US and Schengen visas, 
obtain fraudulent visas, or travel via boat to Caribbean 
islands with European or American protectorate status, 
through which they enter the destination countries.  He 
specified Miami as the port of entry for the United States 
from the Caribbean and South America.  Based on this pattern, 
Van Hemert was amazed that a "few weeks ago" the USG "took 
Suriname off its trafficking list."  Van Hemert stated that 
the Dutch Consulate General here has seen many fraudulent 
Surinamese visas from Nigerian applicants and has heard 
reports of counterfeit Surinamese currency in Nigeria.  He 
said that he refuses all transit visa requests that contain 
Surinamese and US visas. 
 
 
6. (C)  The European trafficking pattern is very organized 
and is operated much like an underground railroad by Nigerian 
women who are married to European men and serve as guides and 
madams.  Most trafficked women enter Europe via Barcelona, 
Spain which is known by Van Hemert to be a "weak link." 
According to Van Hemert, a Spanish madam meets the trafficked 
women at the Barcelona airport and provides them food and 
housing and a plane ticket onward to Brussels. Once in 
Brussels, the women are met by a Dutch madam and taken to the 
Netherlands. Some women stay in Amsterdam to work, but others 
are taken to Arnhem, Netherlands on the German border and 
work at a specific bar there as prostitutes. Their passports 
are surrendered and the women then transit to Italy, the 
ultimate destination country, where the demand is greatest. 
 
 
COLLUSION OF TRAFFICKERS AND SENIOR NIGERIAN IMMIGRATION 
OFFICIALS? 
--------------------------------------------- ------------ 
 
 
7. (C) Van Hemert reported that starting in June 2003, the 
Netherlands has chartered two flights back to Lagos 
containing 47 and 53 trafficked women respectively.  He 
explained that previously, GOKN and the Nigerian Immigration 
Service (NIS) had a good working relationship.  On several 
occasions, GOKN has paid for NIS officials to travel to the 
Netherlands and help identify trafficked Nigerian women for 
deportation.  He characterized the current relationship as 
strained, however. Dutch confidence has been lost in NIS as 
they believe that air tickets meant for other West Africans 
mistakenly deported to Nigeria have been confiscated by NIS 
officials and used for their own purposes.  As a result, GOKN 
now provides cars for deportees to return to their countries 
of origin from Nigeria.  In addition, NIS has demanded that 
more officials visit the Netherlands to view their operations 
and receive $500 per diem while visiting. NIS has also made 
numerous visa requests for private individuals going on 
tourism.  Van Hemert also has a strained personal 
relationship with Dr. Baba Jide Brown, Assistant Comptroller 
General of Immigration and head of the division that covers 
Lagos.  He finds it interesting that Dr. Brown has been in 
his position for 20 years despite Nigeria's tumultuous 
political history and succession of democratic and military 
governments.  He also views the U.S.-educated Dr. Brown as 
arrogant and questions how he is able to afford his 
lifestyle.  As a result of this strained relationship, a 
chartered flight of trafficked women from Amsterdam scheduled 
for 22 September was canceled by NIS. 
 
 
8. (C) Van Hemert reported that he has interviewed several 
women who initially claimed that they had lost their Schengen 
Visa or Dutch Residency Permit.  Upon further interview, the 
women, who were apparently legitimate travelers, revealed 
that as they were about to board their flights for the 
Netherlands, a NIS official requested to meet with them in an 
office.  Once in the office, the womens' passports are taken 
and the women claim to have been detained at the airport for 
two and three days.  Van Hemert stated that he believes "look 
alikes" then take the passports and travel with them.  He 
also believes that these passports are circulated and are 
used by many women. Van Hemert also asserted that trafficked 
women are likely used in the drug trade as well during their 
travels throughout the trafficking routes.  Of the 12 
Nigerian lawyers and investigators on staff at the Dutch 
Consulate General, none will go to the airport to investigate 
these allegations for fear of reprisals or assassinations. 
 
 
 
 
CONFIRMATION FROM CATHOLIC SECRETARIAT 
-------------------------------------- 
 
 
9. (C) Badejo confirmed the prevalence of trafficking women 
to Europe and the US from 
Edo State and called the state the "capitol of traffickers." 
He further confirmed the collusion of government officials 
and traditional rulers with traffickers and stated that 
voodoo, coercion, and threat of violence are used to quiet 
the trafficked.  The Secretariat has programs in Benin City 
that offers rehabilitation services and counseling for 
trafficked women.  Nigerian nuns and priests are also located 
in Europe, providing similar services.  In 2002, a Nigerian 
nun working with trafficked women was murdered in Italy. 
Badejo stated that many nuns and priests working there 
receive numerous threats from traffickers and unknown 
persons.  Badejo was not aware of South America as a 
transiting point for trafficking, but stated that traffickers 
work through agents in Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, and Ghana.  In 
these countries, he said there are camps where women are 
"instructed in their duties," informed of the costs of their 
travel, take voodoo oaths of secrecy, and sign agreements to 
repay their expenses.  Most women, Badejo stated, are aware 
that they are going to be prostitutes.  He said trafficking 
for prostitution is inculcated into the culture and that many 
women practice the trade to send money back to their 
families.  Societal pressure is intense on young women in Edo 
and Badejo characterized fathers as telling their daughters 
"you are no use to me here.  Go to Europe and bring home 
money so that I can enjoy my old age." 
 
 
10. (C) COMMENT: The trafficking of women is an important 
component of international organized crime in Nigeria.  The 
effects are particularly acute in Europe and GOKN and the 
Government of Italy have amended their immigration laws to 
facilitate deportation of illegal immigrants in response to 
this and other problems.  Although Europe is the number one 
destination of trafficked women, it is believed that the 
trend in the United States may be growing.  The extent of the 
trade to the US is currently unknown, but the product of 
stricter enforcement of immigration laws by USG since 
September 11, 2001 may yield more information in the near 
future.  If Nigerians take great lengths to traffic women to 
Europe via South America, they are also likely to traffic 
women to the United States and it may be a matter of time 
before effects of the trade are seen. 
 
 
11. (C) It is difficult to document how the trafficking 
syndicate is organized.  Nigerian society is marked by 
corruption at every level and it is not surprising that it 
may include senior NIS officials and traditional rulers.  The 
lack of cooperation from trafficked women in identifying 
members of the syndicate, the appropriate fear of possible 
reprisals and assassinations, and the nature of Nigerian 
bureaucracy make confirming this information extremely 
difficult.  However, Van Hemert is well versed on the issue 
and his three years of experience lends his assertions 
credibility.  Affected posts should be mindful of the 
phenomenon of trafficked Nigerian women and ascertain whether 
they may be applying for U.S. visas. Information shared by 
the Secretariat and Van Hemert also begs another question: 
are the women truly trafficked or smuggled illegal immigrants 
seeking economic gain? END COMMENT 
HINSON-JONES