TREATIES AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ACTS SERIES 13-1016

________________________________________________________________________

JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE

Law Enforcement

Agreement Between

the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

and ANDORRA

Signed at Washington February 14, 2013
 NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE

 Pursuant to Public Law 89—497, approved July 8, 1966

(80 Stat. 271; 1 U.S.C. 113)—

“. . .the Treaties and Other International Acts Series issued

under the authority of the Secretary of State shall be competent

evidence . . . of the treaties, international agreements other than

treaties, and proclamations by the President of such treaties and

international agreements other than treaties, as the case may be, 

therein contained, in all the courts of law and equity and of maritime

jurisdiction, and in all the tribunals and public offices of the

United States, and of the several States, without any further proof

or authentication thereof.”
 ANDORRA

 Judicial Assistance: Law Enforcement

 Agreement signed at Washington February 14, 2013;

 Entered into force October 16, 2013.
AGREEMENT BETWEEN 

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF 

AMERICA AND 

THE GOVERNMENT OF THE 

PRINCIPALITY OF ANDORRA 

REGARDING THE SHARING OF CONFISCATED 

PROCEEDS AND INSTRUMENTALITIES OF CRIMES 

The Government of the United States of America and the Government of 

the Principality of Andorra (hereinafter referred to as "the Parties") 

Recognizing the Government of the United States of America and the 

Government of the Principality of Andorra's mutual interest in depriving 

criminals of their illicit profits; 

Recognizing that both the United States of America and the Principality of 

Andorra are parties to the United Nations Convention against Transnational 

Organized Crime, done at New York on November 15,2000, and the United 

Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic 

Substances, done at Vienna on December 20, 1988; 

Recognizing that the aforementioned United Nations conventions provide for 

assistance in the tracing, freezing, seizure, and forfeiture or confiscation of the 

proceeds of criminal conduct; 

Affirming that nothing in the provisions of this Agreement should prejudice in 

any way the provisions and the principles of international cooperation set forth 

in the aforementioned conventions and that this Agreement also is intended to 

enhance the effectiveness of international cooperation envisioned in those 

conventions; 

Desiring to improve still further the effectiveness of law enforcement in both 

jurisdictions in the investigation, prosecution and suppression of crime and in 

the tracing, freezing, seizure and forfeiture or confiscation of assets related to 

crime, whether they be the proceeds or instrumentalities of crime; and 

Desiring also to create a framework for sharing the disposition of such assets; 

HAVE AGREED as follows: 
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ARTICLE 1 

DEFINITION OF TERMS 

For the purposes of this Agreement: 

1. "assets" shall mean money and property of every kind, whether 

corporeal or incorporeal, movable or immovable, tangible or intangible, 

and legal documents or instruments evidencing title to or interest in such 

property, which, in accordance with a confiscation order: 

a) represent proceeds from a crime or assets of an equivalent value; 

or 

b) represent the instrumentalities of a crime. 

2. "confiscation," which shall include "forfeiture," shall mean a decision 

imposed by a court following proceedings in relation to a criminal 

offense or offenses (including non-conviction-based forfeiture) and 

resulting in the permanent deprivation of assets, or of a sum equivalent 

to the value of such assets, to the benefit of a Party. 

3. "cooperation" shall mean the assistance rendered by one Party to the 

other that has contributed to or facilitated the confiscation of assets, 

including but not limited to the assistance described in Articles 7, 13, 18 

to 20, 26, and 27 of the 2000 United Nations Convention against 

Transnational Organized Crime; and in Article 5, Paragraph 4, Article 7, 

Article 9, Paragraph 1, and Articles 11 and 17 ofthe 1988 United 

Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and 

Psychotropic Substances; and 

4. "order" shall mean a written confiscation decision that is final and not 

subject to judicial appeal. 

ARTICLE2 

PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF APPLICATION 

This Agreement is intended to enable the Parties to share assets that have been 

confiscated in relation to criminal offenses. This Agreement is intended solely 

for the purposes of mutual assistance between the Parties. No third party, 

including a criminal defendant or other party to confiscation proceedings, shall 

derive any rights or benefits from this Agreement. 
3 

ARTICLE 3 

CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING TO THE SHARING OF CONFISCATED 

ASSETS 

The following separate and independent circumstances may lead to the sharing 

between the Parties of confiscated assets: 

1. A Party that has assets confiscated through cooperation provided by the 

other Party may, upon request from the other Party, or upon its own 

initiative, share these assets at its discretion. 

2. A Party holding assets due to its execution of an order issued by the 

other Party may share such assets. 

3. Where there are identifiable victims of the criminal conduct underlying 

confiscation, a Party that has confiscated assets may, upon request from 

the other Party or on its own initiative, place these assets in the custody 

of the other Party. 

ARTICLE 4 

REQUESTS FOR SHARING OF CONFISCATED ASSETS 

1. A Party may request a share of assets confiscated under circumstances 

set forth in Article 3. Unless otherwise agreed between the Parties, such 

a request shall be in writing and may be made no later than one year 

from the date of the order confiscating the assets. The requesting Party 

shall translate its request into the language of the requested Party. 

2. The request shall set forth the relevant circumstances of the cooperation, 

details identifying the case, the confiscated assets, and the entities 

involved, as well as additional illformation as agreed upon by,the 

Parties. 

3. On receipt of a request to share confiscated assets made under this 

Article, the Party holding the confiscated assets shall, without delay, 

consider the request and inform the requesting Party in writing of the 

outcome of that consideration. 
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ARTICLE 5 

SHARING OF CONFISCATED ASSETS 

1. When one Party decides to share confiscated assets, it shall determine at 

its discretion and in accordance with its domestic law and policies the 

share of those assets that represents the extent of the cooperation 

afforded by the other Party; however, the Parties anticipate that in 

ordinary cases in which the Party holding the confiscated assets has 

executed, enforced or otherwise recognized a confiscation order that 

was obtained primarily by the investigative and litigation efforts of the 

other Party, sharing should be in equal proportions. The Party shall then 

transfer to the other Party: 

a) a sum equivalent to the determined share, in accordance with 

Article 6, paragraphs 1 and 2, following the sale or conversion of 

non-fungible confiscated assets, if necessary; or 

b) specified fungible confiscated assets, in kind, that are equivalent 

in value to all or part of the determined share, in accordance with 

. Article 6, paragraph 3, or 

c) specified non-fungible confiscated assets, in kind, that are 

equivalent in value to all or part of the determined share, in 

accordance with Article 6, paragraph 3. 

2. The Party sharing the confiscated assets may place conditions on the use 

of those assets when it deems such to be appropriate. Consideration shall 

be given to the views expressed by the recipient Party as they relate to 

those conditions. The recipient Party may accept such conditions that are 

not inconsistent with its domestic law. 

3. The Party sharing the confiscated assets may add interest or other 

increase in value accrued since the restraint and deduct the expenses 

required to obtain and maintain the order and the assets as well as to 

enforce the order. 

4. The Parties do not intend to share insignificant assets. Assets valued 

below U.S. dollars 75,000.00, or its equivalent value in Euros, on the 

day the order is issued, shall be considered insignificant. In exceptional 

cases, the Parties may agree on sharing assets below this value. 

5. Where there are identifiable victims of the criminal conduct underlying 

the confiscation, unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, consideration of 

the rights of those victims is expected to take precedence over asset 

sharing between the Parties, except: (a) where the number of victims and 

the value of confiscated assets is such that each victim's portion would 
5 

be de minimis; or (b) where the value of confiscated assets exceeds the 

victims' losses, in which event, the excess may be shared. When a 

money laundering offense gives rise to confiscation and involves a 

predicate offense with identifiable victims, those victims will be deemed 

victims of the money laundering offense for the purposes of 

implementing this paragraph. 

6. The decision in accordance with Article 5, in Andorra, shall be made by 

the Ministry in charge of Justice. In the United States of America, such 

decision shall be made by the Department of Justice or the Department 

of the Treasury or by· any other entity authorized by United States law. 

7. The decisions and determinations by the Parties under this Agreement 

cannot be contested in judicial or other proceedings either in the United 

States of America or Andorra. 

ARTICLE 6 

TERMS OF PAYMENT 

1. Unless otherwise agreed by the Parties, any assets to be transferred 

pursuant to Article 5, paragraph 1, subparagraph a, shall be paid: 

a) in the currency of the Party holding the confiscated assets or the 

currency of the confiscated assets; and 

b) by an electronic transfer of funds or by check. 

2. Payment of any such assets shall be made: 

a) in any case in which the Government of the Principality of 

Andorra is to receive a payment, to the Ministry in charge of 

Finance; 

b) in any case in which the Government of the United States of 

America is to receive a payment, to the United States of America 

and sent to the pertinent office or account specified by either the 

Department of Justice or by the Department of the Treasury; or 

c) to such other recipient as may be specified by the Competent 

Authorities. 

3. The Parties may make special arrangements, as necessary, to effect 

payment using specified fungible or non-fungible confiscated assets to 

be transferred pursuant to Article 5, paragraph 1, subparagraphs band c. 
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ARTICLE7 

CONSEQUENCES OF TRANSFER 

1. Any assets transferred shall not be subject to any further domestic 

proceedings and shall be free from encumbrances. 

2. The Party transferring the assets assumes no liability or responsibility 

for the assets once they have been transferred. 

3. The Party receiving the assets shall use them subject to the conditions 

imposed under Article 5, paragraph 2, when applicable, or otherwise for any 

lawful purpose. 

ARTICLES 

COMPETENT AUTHORITIES 

All communications between the Parties pursuant to the provisions of this 

Agreement shall be conducted by the following: · 

1. for the Government of the United States of America, by the Office of 

International Affairs Criminal Division, United States Department of 

Justice. In addition, the Principality of Andorra may concurrently 

transmit requests for asset sharing directly to the pertinent component 

agency of the United States Department of Justice or the United States 

Department of the Treasury; 

2. for the Government of the Principality of Andorra~ by the Ministry in 

charge of Justice; 

3. or by such other nominees as a Party may specify. 

ARTICLE9 

CONSULTATIONS 

Upon request of one of the Parties, the Parties shall consult without delay on 

the interpretation, application or implementation of this Agreement in general 

or with regard to a specific case. 
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ARTICLE 10 

ENTRY INTO FORCE 

This Agreement shall enter into force as of the date the Government of the 

Principality of Andorra notifies the Government of the United States of 

America in writing through diplomatic channels that Andorran internal legal 

procedures necessary for entry into force of this Agreement have been 

completed. However, the Agreement shall be applied provisionally from the 

date of its signature. 

ARTICLE 11 

TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT 

After entry into force, either Party may terminate this Agreement at any time 

by giving written notice to the other Party through diplomatic channels. The 

termination shall become effective six months after receipt of the notice. 

IN WITNESS whereof the undersigned, being duly authorized by their 

respective governments, have signed this Agreement. 

R THE GOVERNMENT OF 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: 

2013, 

FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF 

THE PRINCIPALITY OF 

ANDORRA: 
ACORD ENTRE 

EL GOVERN DELS ESTATS UNITS 

D'AMERICAI 

EL GOVERN DEL 

PRINCIP AT D' ANDORRA 

RELATIU AL REPARTIMENT DEL COMIS 

DELS INSTRUMENTS I PRODUCTES DEL DELICTE 

El Govern dels Estats Units d' America i el Govern del Principat 

d' Andorra (d'ara endavant "les parts") 

Reconeixent l'interes mutu del Govern dels Estats Units d' America i del 

Govern del Principat d' Andorra de privar els delinquents dels seus beneficis 

il·licits; 

Reconeixent que tant els Estats Units d'America com el Principat d'Andorra 

s6n part del Conveni de les Nacions Unides contra la delinqiiencia organitzada 

transnacional, fet a Nova York ellS de novembre del2000, i del Conveni de 

les Nacions Unides contra el trafic il·licit d'estupefaents ide substfmcies 

psicotropes, fet a Viena el20 de desembre de 1988; 

Reconeixent que els convenis de les Nacions Unides esmentats estipulen la 

col·laboraci6 en la localitzaci6, la congelaci6, I' embargament i el comis o la 

confiscaci6 dels productes de l'activitat delictiva; 

Afirmant que res en les disposicions d'aquest Acord hade perjudicar de cap 

manera les disposicions i els principis de la cooperaci6 internacional establerts 

en els convenis esmentats i que aquest Acord te la intenci6 tam be de real9ar 

I' efectivitat de la cooperaci6 internacional prevista en aquests convenis; 

Desitjant millorar encara mes l'efectivitat de l'acci6 policial en ambd6s 

jurisdiccions en la investigaci6, I' enjudiciament i la repressi6 del delicte i en la 

localitzaci6, la congelaci6, I' embargament i el comis o la confiscaci6 dels 

actius relacionats amb el delicte, ja siguin el seus productes o els seus 

instruments; i 

Desitjant tambe crear un marc per compartir la disposici6 d'aquests actius; 

HAN ACORDAT el que segueix: 
Als efectes d'aquest Acord: 

2 

Article 1 

Definicio dels termes 

1. "Actius" significa diners i propietats de tot tipus, materials o 

immaterials, mobles o immobles, tangibles o intangibles i els documents 

o instruments juridics que evidenciYn la titularitat o l'interes en aquestes 

propietats, que, de conformitat amb una ordre de confiscaci6: 

a) representin els productes d'un delicte o els actius d'un valor 

equivalent; o 

b) representin els instruments d'un delicte. 

2. "Confiscaci6" que inclou "comis", significa una decisi6 imposada per un 

tribunal en seguiment d'un proces relatiu a uno diversos delictes (inclos 

el comis sense condemna) que tingui com a resultat la privaci6 

permanent d'actius, o d'un import equivalent al valor d'aquests actius, 

en benefici d'una part. 

3. "Cooperaci6" significa la col-laboraci6 prestada per una part a l'altra que 

ha contribun o ha facilitat la confiscaci6 dels actius, inclosa, sense que 

sigui limitativa, la cooperaci6 descrita en els articles 7, 13, 18 a 20, 26 i 

27 del Conveni de les Nacions Unides sobre la delinqiiencia organitzada 

transnacional de !'any 2000, i en l'apartat 4 de !'article 5, !'article 7, 

l'apartat 1 de !'article 9, i els articles 11 i 17 del Conveni de les Nacions 

Unides contra el trafic il·licit d'estupefaents ide substancies psicotropes 

de 1988; i 

4. "Resoluci6" significa la decisi6 escrita de confiscaci6 que es ferma i no 

esta subjecta a apel·laci6 judicial. 

Article 2 

Objecte i ambit d'aplicacio 

Aquest Acord te la intenci6 de permette a les parts compartir els actius que han 

estat confiscats en relaci6 amb els delictes. Aquest Acord nomes te com a 

objecte l'assistencia mutua entre les parts. Aquest Acord no d6na drets ni 

genera beneficis a tercers, inclos un inculpat o una altra part en el procediment 

de confiscaci6. 
3 

Article 3 

Circumstancies que comporten el repartiment dels actius confiscats 

Les circumstancies seguents, per separat i independentment, poden comportar 

el repartiment entre les parts dels actius confiscats: 

1. Una part que disposa d'actius confiscats a causa de la cooperacio 

prestada per l'altra part pot, a peticio de l'altra part o per iniciativa 

propia, compartir aquests actius a discrecio. 

2. Una part que esta en possessio d'actius a causa de l'execucio d'una 

ordre dictada per l'altra part pot compartir aquests actius. 

3. Quan hi ha victimes identificables en la conducta delictiva subjacent al 

comis, la part que ha confiscat els actius pot, a peticio de l'altra part o 

per iniciativa propia, posar aquests actius sota la custodia de l'altra part. 

Article 4 

Sol·licitud per compartir actius confiscats 

1. Una part pot demanar un repartiment dels actius confiscats en les 

circumstancies establertes a I' article 3. Llevat que s'hagi acordat d'una 

altra manera entre les parts, aquesta sol·licitud s 'ha de fer per escrit dins 

del termini d'un any a partir de la data de la resolucio que confisca els 

actius. La part requeridora ha de traduir la seva sol·licitud a la llengua de 

la part requerida. 

2. La sol·licitud ha de descriure les circumstancies pertinents de la 

cooperacio, els detalls per identificar el cas, els actius confiscats i les 

entitats involucrades, aixi com aquella informacio addicional que les 

parts hagin acordat. 

3. Quan rep una sol·licitud per compartir actius confiscats de conformitat 

amb aquest article, la part que esta en possessio dels actius confiscats, , 

ha d' avaluar Ia sol·licitud i ha d' informar per escrit la part requeridora 

sobre el resultat d'aquesta valoracio sense demora. 
4 

Article 5 

Repartiment dels actius confiscats 

1. Quan una part decideix compartir actius confiscats, fixa a discreci6, de 

conformitat amb les seves normes i la seva legislaci6 nacional, la part 

d'aquests actius que representa l'abast de la cooperaci6 proporcionada 

per l'altra part; no obstant aixo, les parts preveuen que en els casas 

normals, en els quais la part que esta en possessio dels actius confiscats 

ha executat, ha fet complir o, a banda d'aixo, ha admes una resoluci6 de 

comis que s'ha obtingut principalment pels esfor9os d'investigaci6 i 

litigi de l'altra part, el repartiment hade sera parts iguals. Despres, una 

part transfereix a I' altra: 

b) un import equivalent a la participaci6 fixada, de conformitat amb 

els apartats 1 i 2 de I' article 6,, despres de la venda o la 

conversi6 dels actius confiscats no fungibles, si escau; o be 

c) determinats actius comissats fungibles, en especie, el valor dels 

quais sigui equivalent a la totalitat o a part de Ia participaci6 

fixada, de conformitat amb l'apartat 3 de !'article 6, o be 

c) determinats actius comissats no fungibles, en especie, el valor 

dels quais sigui equivalent a Ia totalitat o a part de la participaci6 

fixada, de conformitat amb l'apartat 3 de I' article 6. 

2. La part que comparteix els actius confiscats pot establir condicions sabre 

la utilitzaci6 d'aquests actius si ho considera apropiat. Cal prendre en 

consideraci6 les opinions expressades per la part receptora pel que fa a 

aquestes condicions. La part receptora pot acceptar les condicions que no 

siguin contraries a la seva legislaci6 nacional. 

3. La part que comparteix els actius confiscats pot afegir interessos o algun 

altre increment al valor meritat des de la confiscaci6 i deduir les 

despeses que requereixen 1' obtenci6 i el manteniment de la resoluci6 i 

els actius aixi com 1' execuci6 de la resoluci6. 

4. Les parts no tenen Ia intenci6 de compartir actius pocs importants. Es 

consideren poe importants els actius valorats per sota de 75.000 dolars 

nord-americans o el seu valor equivalent en euros el dia en que es dicti 

la resoluci6. En casas excepcionals, les parts paden acordar compartir 

actius inferiors a aquest valor. 

5. Quan hi ha victimes identificables en la conducta delictiva subjacent al 

comis, i llevat que les parts ho acordin altrament, s 'espera que tingui 

priori tat Ia consideraci6 dels drets d' aquestes victimes davant el 

repartiment dels actius entre les parts, excepte: (a) si el nombre de 
5 

victimes i el valor dels actius confiscats fan que la part corresponent a 

cada victima sigui minima, o (b) si el valor dels actius comissats supera 

les perdues de les victimes. En aquest cas, 1' exces pot ser compartit. 

Quan un delicte de blanqueig de diners dona Hoc a un comis i inclou un 

delicte subjacent amb victimes identificables, aquestes victimes es 

consideren victimes del delicte de blanqueig de diners a 1 'efecte de 

l'aplicaci6 d'aquest apartat. 

6. A Andorra, la decisi6, de conformitat amb l'article 5, la pren el 

ministeri encarregat de la justicia. Als Estats Units d' America la decisi6 

la pren el Departament de Justicia o el Departament del Tresor o 

qualsevol altra entitat autoritzada per la legislaci6 dels Estats Units. 

7. Les decisions i els compromisos presos per les parts en virtut d'aquest 

Acord no poden ser impugnats en 1' ambit judicial o davant altres 

instimcies, ni a Andorra ni als Estats Units d' America. 

Article 6 

Condicions de pagament 

1. Llevat que les parts ho acordin altrament, qualsevol actiu que hagi de ser 

transferit de conformitat amb I' article 5, apartat 1, lletra a, s'ha de pagar: 

a) en la divisa de la part que esta en possessio dels actius confiscats 

o en la divisa dels actius confiscats; i 

b) mitjanyant transferencia electronica dels fons o per xec. 

2. El pagament de qualsevol d'aquests actius hade fer-sea favor: 

a) en el cas que sigui el Govern d' Andorra qui hagi de rebre el 

pagament, del ministeri encarregat de les finances; 

b) en el cas que sigui el Govern dels Estats Units d'America qui 

hagi de rebre el pagament, dels Estats Units d'Arnerica i s'ha 

d'enviar a l'oficina pertinent o al compte que especifiqui o be el 

Departament de Justicia o be el Departarnent del Tresor; o 

c) del receptor que especifiquin les autoritats competents. 

3. Si es necessari, per efectuar el pagament de determinats actius 

comissats, fungibles o no fungibles, que hagin de ser transferits segons 

I' article 5, apartat 1, lletres b i c, lys parts poden establir acords 

especials. 
6 

Article 7 

Conseqiiencies de Ia transferencia 

1. Qualsevol actiu transferit no ha d'estar subjecte a cap altre procediment 

intern i ha d'estar lliure de gravamens. 

2. La part que transfereix els actius no assumeix cap responsabilitat sobre 

aquests actius un cop han estat transferits. 

3. La part que rep els actius els utilitza de conformitat amb les disposicions 

establertes a l'apartat 2 de !'article 5, si escau, o be per a qualsevol altra 

finalitat legitima. 

Article 8 

Autoritats competents 

Totes les comunicacions entre les parts relatives ales disposicions d'aquest 

Acord es fan pel conducte seguent: 

1. Per part del Govern dels Estats Units d'America, per la Divisi6 Criminal 

de 1' Oficina d 'Afers Internacionals del Departament de J usticia dels 

Estats Units. Ames, el Principat d'Andorra pot enviar sol·licituds per al 

repartiment d'actius a l'agencia pertinent del Departament de Justicia 

dels Estats Units o del Departament del Tresor dels Estats Units; 

2. per part del Govern del Principat d' Andorra, pel ministeri encarregat de 

la justicia; 

3. o per altres institucions que una part determini. 

Article 9 

Consultes 

A petici6 d'una de les parts, les parts es consulten sense demora sobre la 

interpretaci6, l'aplicaci6 o la implementaci6 d'aquest Acord, en general o 

respecte d'un cas concret. 
7 

Article 10 

Entrada en vigor 

Aquest Acord entra en vigor a partir de la data en que el Govern del Principat 

d' Andorra notifica per escrit al Govern dels Estats Units d' America, a traves de 

la via diplomatica, que s 'han complert els procediments interns necessaris per a 

!'entrada en vigor d'aquest Acord. Nogensmenys, l'Acord s'aplica 

provisionalment a partir de la data de la seva signatura. 

Article 11 

Den uncia de I' Acord 

Despres de 1' entrada en vigor, cadascuna de les parts pot denunciar en 

qualsevol moment aquest Acord notificant-ho per escrit a l'altra part a traves de 

la via diplomatica. La denuncia esdevindnl efectiva sis mesos despres de la 

recepci6 de la notificaci6. 

EN PROVA DE CONFORMITAT, els sotasignats, degudament autoritzats 

pels seus governs respectius, signen aquest Acord. 

Pet a~ A J u ~h-~ do~ \)(._,per duplicat, el dia JJ.de del2013, 

en les 'fi'{ngi.ie;;talana i angleses, essent els dos textos i alment fefaents. 

Pel Govern del 

Principat d 'Andorra 

Pel Govern dels 

Units d 'America Estats