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Viewing cable 08PARIS92, CONCURRENCE FOR INVESTIGATIVE ASSISTANCE - ICE

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08PARIS92 2008-01-17 16:59 2011-08-24 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Paris
VZCZCXYZ0006
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHFR #0092/01 0171659
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 171659Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY PARIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1720
INFO RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 0773
RUEHPC/AMEMBASSY LOME 1021
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 1485
RUEAIAO/HQ ICE IAO WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS PARIS 000092 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PLEASE PASS TO DS/CR/CIL, DS/CR/VF 
ICE IAO FOR ERIC SALLICK 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC CVIS PHUM FR XY
SUBJECT: CONCURRENCE FOR INVESTIGATIVE ASSISTANCE - ICE 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
1.  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requests the 
assistance of the Regional Security Offices in Accra, Ghana and 
Lome, Togo in support of a Human Trafficking / Forced Child Labor 
investigation involving young females trafficked to the U.S. from 
Togo and Ghana.  Three targets have been arrested in the U.S. and 
twenty-four Togolese and Ghanaian victims have been identified to 
date, eight of which are juveniles.  ICE is requesting assistance in 
locating witnesses in Ghana and Togo for eventual interview by a 
team of ICE agents in support of the prosecution of these 
defendants. 
 
2.  The human smugglers travel to Africa to identify and locate 
Diversity Visa (DV) lottery winners.  The traffickers then purchase 
derivative visa slots from these lottery winners, originally 
designated for the beneficiaries' children. The traffickers 
subsequently insert female impostors into those slots, who assume 
the identities of the original applicants' children.  The children 
are lured, via their parents, under the guise that they will attend 
school, learn English, and earn money to send home while in the U.S. 
 In reality, the young females are forced to work in hair salons in 
the Newark, New Jersey area and any earnings are maintained by the 
smuggling organization.  The victims ultimately never attend school 
nor remit money back home.  The organization also retains the 
victims' passports and fraudulently obtained Permanent Resident 
Cards, and severely limits contact with their families back in 
Africa. 
 
3.  The principal DV beneficiaries then use the money earned to pay 
for their own visa applications and travel fare to the U.S.  The 
impostor victims often travel separately from the primary DV 
beneficiaries, normally as follow-to-join aliens accompanied by one 
of the smugglers or a designee. 
 
4.  On September 6, 2007 the ICE Special Agent in Charge (SAC), 
Newark, New Jersey, executed three arrest warrants and five search 
warrants resulting in the recovery of twenty-four Ghanaian and 
Togolese female victims, eight of whom were juveniles.  The 
juveniles were placed into the care of several Non-Governmental 
Organizations (NGO's) in the New Jersey area.  More than $30,000 in 
cash was also seized.  The three defendants are identified as 
follows: 
 
DEFENDANT 1 
 
Akouavi KPADE AFOLABI 
DOB:  12/31/1954 
a/k/a Gloria Lawson, DOB: 12/31/1967 
a/k/a "Sister" 
a/k/a "Selina" 
Togolese Passports: A3004324 (Kpade) A3131603 (Lawson) 
Alien Registration Number: A056454009 
* DV-2 issued under fraudulent identity of LAWSON 
Arrested 09/06/2007 in East Orange, NJ 
 
DEFENDANT 2 
 
Lassissi AFOLABI 
aka "Fovi" 
aka "Bogard" 
DOB: 03/28/1963 
Togolese Passport: A3138164 
Alien Registration Number A079721435, class IR-6 (obtained through 
fraud) 
Arrested 09/06/2007 in East Orange, NJ 
 
DEFENDANT 3 
 
Derek HOUNAKEY 
aka "Koko" 
DOB: 01/12/1977 
Togolese Passport: A3188139 
Alien Registration Number: A047691991 (DV-2) 
Arrested 09/06/2007 in East Orange, NJ 
 
5.  Each of the victims was interviewed by ICE and the United States 
Attorney's Office (USAO) and they provided critical information 
concerning their recruitment by traffickers, via their parents, in 
Africa.  Information from the corroborating witnesses in Africa is 
necessary for the successful prosecution of these defendants. The 
USAO is currently drafting a superseding criminal indictment against 
the defendants charging them with Forced Labor, Trafficking for 
Forced Labor, Alien Smuggling, and Visa Fraud. 
 
6.  Pursuant to victim interviews and debriefings of arrestees, 
several potential material witnesses have been identified in Ghana 
and Togo.  The victims, and associated information, are listed 
below.  It should be noted that all of the victims were issued visas 
out of the Consular Section in Lome, and that they were issued under 
false identities.  Those identities are also provided. 
 
TOGOLESE VICTIMS 
 
VICTIM 1 (JUVENILE) 
 
BELLA HOUNAKEY, D/POB: 05/05/1991, Togo 
a/k/a MARIE KPADE, DV-3, A057 536 079 
Afagnan, Village House Pasmal 
Potential witness: Hounakey ADJEODA (teacher) 
Telephone: 228 962 7366 
 
 
VICTIM 2 (JUVENILE) 
 
BIENVENUE AWATOR, D/POB: 05/22/1992, Togo 
a/k/a AMI KALIPE, DV-2, A058 030 523 
Doulassame - ATAKPAME 
Potential witnesses: Dora (mother) Vitos (father) 
Telephone: (work) 228 440 0998;(cell) 228 908 7186; (father) 228 913 
5889. 
 
VICTIM 3 (JUVENILE) 
 
ENYOVIE KODENYOR, D/POB: 06/19/1990, Togo 
a/k/a ADJELE ATTISO, DV-3, A056 444 830 
Notse, A.T.C. Notse Ville 
Potential witness:  Kossi Kodenyor. (father) 
Telephone: 228 933 4939 
Note:  subject is cousin of BIENVENUE AWATOR 
 
VICTIM 4 (JUVENILE) 
 
ANNA HOUNAKEY, D/POB: 01/01/1995, Togo 
a/k/a KAFUI HOUNAKEY, DV-3, A057 499 553 
Afagnan, Togo 
Potential witness: Uncle - name unknown. 
Telephone: 228 085 7193 
 
VICTIM 5 (JUVENILE) 
 
 
KAFUI HUNAKE, D/POB: 11/24/1990, Togo 
a/k/a FOUSSENA AMADOU, DV-3, A058 015 548 
Afagnan, Togo 
Potential witnesses: Ajo & Akua HOUNAKEY (parents) 
Telephone: 228 940 9340 
 
VICTIM 6 
 
SOMI ADENEN, D/POB: 12/25/1985, Togo 
a/k/a BERNADETTE DODJI, DV-2, A057 499 531 
Aouda Village, Togo 
Potential witness: Somiyalou AMOUZE (mother) 
Telephone: none 
 
 
VICTIM 7 
 
BELLA AKUVI MESSIGA, D/POB: 01/30/1988, Togo 
a/k/a HELENE YACOUBOU, DV-2, A057 517 845 
Vogan, Gbohopeme Section 
Potential witnesses: Kwame Messeko (father); Seyametor Attiso 
(mother) 
Father lives separately in Tabligbo 
Telephone: 228 072 7199 (brother) 
 
VICTIM 8 
 
AMA "SANDRA" AHOEFA, D/POB: 10/11/1986, Togo 
a/k/a DJATOUGBE ATADI, DV-2, A056 444 758 
Adamavor, Rue Madonna 
Father's name- Nicholas Mensah Ama 
Mother's name- Abla Ama 
Telephone#  228 928 2622 
 
VICTIM 9 
 
AWA FOFANA, D/POB: 09/18/1988, Togo 
a/k/a REBECCA JOHNSON, DV-2, A058 006 411 
Dapango village (near Nasabre) 
Potential witnesses: Ali Zuba Fofana (father); Cheale Nakoriba 
(mother) 
Telephone: 228 931 7378 
 
VICTIM 10 
 
DEDE AMEVOR, D/POB: 07/17/1989, Togo 
a/k/a ASSANA AMADOU, DV-2, A058 015 547 
Hilakonji Village, close to Benin border 
Potential witnesses: brothers, listed below 
Telephone numbers: Simon: 228 099 9977; 
Francois: 228 918 4886; Norbert 228 994 1695 
 
VICTIM 11 
 
AKUA KPONGE (DADA), D/POB: 09/18/1988, Togo 
a/k/a DEDEVI APEDO, DV-3, A055 065 735 
Potential witnesses: Adansi Zomatsi (father); 
Akuazoer Lartey (mother) 
Telephone: 228 960 585 (Tasi - cousin); 
228 960 482 (Frank - cousin) 
 
VICTIM 12 
 
ABLAVI "TINA" AGUEKU, D/POB: 04/28/1987, Togo 
a/k/a TITI NOWOUSSOU, DV-2, A056 444 847 
Afagnan, Togo 
Potential witnesses: Abalo Agueku (father); Akouvi Aguekou (mother) 
 
VICTIM 13 
 
ROSINE EMEFA "DOVENE" HOUNAKEY (JUVENILE) 
D/POB: 03/27/1990, Togo 
a/k/a SOPHIE AWATOR, DV-2, A055 099 912 
Anfame, Lome Port 
Father: Romain Apelete Hounakey 
Mother: Melanie Samati 
Telephone #s 228 013 1364 ; 228 972 1783 
 
VICTIM 14 
 
AMEYO DGITO ADJAKPO, D/POB: 05/21/1983, Togo 
a/k/a BELLA MABOUI, DV-2, A056 392 629 
Djonkouve Village 
Father: Kodjo Adjakpo 
Mother: Rebecca Katakpa 
Telephone: 228 996 7542 
 
VICTIM 15 
 
CECILE KOSSI, D/POB : 11/03/1984, Togo 
a/k/a AWA AMADOU, DV-2, A056 444 750 
Atakpame, Togo 
Father:  Komla Kossi 
Mother:  Adjo Koza or Kossi 
 
VICTIM 16 
 
KAFUI ABLA SONGOH, D/POB: 01/01/1985, Togo 
a/k/a KAFUI GOEH AKUE, DV-2, A055 065 722 
No additional information available 
 
 
 
GHANAIAN VICTIMS 
 
 
 VICTIM 17 (JUVENILE) 
 
 ATA KOKUO-ANFO, D/POB:06/12/1990, Ghana 
a/k/a SISI JOHNSON, DV-2, A057 524 369 
Towebaabi (or Tewobaabi) 
Has not contacted family in Africa to date 
 
VICTIM 18 (SISTER OF VICTIM 22) (JUVENILE) 
 
SRODA XEDAGBUI D/POB: 12/22/1990, Ghana 
     a/k/a RACHELLE MAWUTODJI, DV-3, A055 058 826 
      Fiagbedzu, Dzoze, Ghana 
      potential witnesses: George Xedagbui (father); 
     Sonyedade Xedagbui (mother) 
      Tel: 233 246 416 531 
 
      VICTIM 19 
 
      VIDA ANAGBLAH, D/POB: 12/25/1984, Ghana 
      a/k/a VIVIAN ADJESSON, DV-2, A057 517 902 
Dzoze, Ghana potential witnesses: Kofi Anagblah (father) 
      Akosua Kudite (mother) 
Potential witnesses: family can be contacted through the family of 
PEACE HOMERNYOR (VICTIM 20) 
 
 VICTIM 20 
 
PEACE "ABLA" HOMERNYOR, D/POB: 01/01/1984, Ghana 
a/k/a LATRE AKPEDJE LAWSON BODY, DV-3, A055 065 806 
Dzodze, Ghana 
Potential witnesses: Dasosi Homernyor (father) ; 
Ami Yaw (mother);Felix (brother);Charite (sister) 
Telephone: 233 245 22 1922 ; 233 245 07 7372 
 
VICTIM 21 
 
SEFAKOR KASA, D/POB: 01/01/1987, Ghana 
a/k/a VIVIAN MENSAH, DV-2, A057 530 257 
Towebabaa (spelled phonetically), Ghana 
Potential witnesses: Yayaa Nowoussou (mother) 
Telephone: 233 274 52 6206 
 
VICTIM 22 
 
AMINYE "AMI" XEDAGBUI, D/POB: 02/07/1987, Ghana 
a/k/a SOETO AFOLABI, IR-7, A079 721 437 
Fiagbedzu, Dzoze, Ghana 
Potential witnesses: George Xedagbui (father); 
Sonyedade Xedagbui (mother) 
Telephone: 233 246 416 531 
 
VICTIM 23 
 
VIVIAN ADJEI, D/POB: 04/26/1986, Ghana 
a/k/a LATRE HOHOANU LAWSON BODY, DV-3, 
A055 065 808 
Kumasi, Ghana 
Potential witnesses: Robert Prince Adjei (father, in U.S.) ; Afua 
Tweneboah (mother) 
 
VICTIM 24 
 
ROSE AKU SEGLAH, D/POB: 12/28/1977, Ghana 
a/k/a ABLAVI HOUINATO, DV-2, A055 020 157 
Dzoze, Ghana 
Potential witnesses: Korsi Seglah (father) ; 
Storwhey Seglah (mother) 
 
 
7.  In the event that witnesses are successfully located and agree 
to cooperate, ICE SAC Newark Agents, accompanied by the ICE Attache 
overseas personnel, will request authorization to travel to Togo and 
Ghana in order to conduct interviews in support of this 
investigation. 
 
8.  Assistance is also requested in locating and obtaining documents 
relating to the victims' true identities. 
 
9.  Please note that the ICE Attache office in Paris, France covers 
activities in Togo and the ICE Attache office in Pretoria, South 
Africa covers activities in Ghana.  Upon concurrence, these ICE 
Attache offices will coordinate with RSO Accra and RSO Lome 
respectively. 
 
10. Please reference ICE Attache Paris case number PA15IR07NK0005 
and ICE Attache Pretoria case number PJ15IR07NK0005 in any 
correspondence. 
 
11.  Points of contact: 
 
Paris: Assistant ICE Attache Richard Jolles, 2 Avenue Gabriel # 
A-225, 75008 Paris, France. Telephone: 33-1-4312-2371; fax: 
33-1-4562-3639; e-mail: richard.jolles@dhs.gov; JollesRA@state.gov. 
 
Pretoria:  ICE Attache Willis Reeves, 9300 Pretoria Place, 
Washington, DC 20521-9300.  Telephone: 011-27-82-858-2291, fax: 
011-27-12-431-4747; e-mail: willis.reeves@dhs.gov; 
ReevesWT@state.gov. 
 
12.  Thank you for your assistance. 
 
Lydia St. John-Mellado, ICE ATTACHE, PARIS, FRANCE 
STAPLETON