BLUE LANTERN REPLY TO STATE 225891

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000989

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR
VIENNA FOR DHS ATTACHE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL LO
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN REPLY TO STATE 225891

REF: STATE 225891

Per reftel, emboffs October 27 visited Vel'koobchod-Zbrane
("Wholesale Weapons") Spol S.R.O. Replies to tasked
questions follow:

-- Vel'koobchod-Zbrane Spol S.R.O. is a licensed, legitimate
firearms retailer in Slovakia.

-- The company has been in business since 1991.

-- The wholesale arm of the company supplies firearms to
Slovak firearm retailers. The firm also has four retail
locations in Slovakia (Nitra, Bratislava, Dubica, and
Kosice).

-- The company is looking to purchase approximately 100
weapons from Marlin Firearms and all 189 weapons from Smith
and Wesson.

-- They expect to sell half of the weapons within three
months. They have requested a selection of firearm models
to show to their customers. They plan to order more of the
popular models based upon customer demand.

-- The company is requesting a large quantity, because it is
the largest firearm wholesaler in Slovakia. They previously
purchased American firearms through German intermediaries
(Hoffmann in Mellrichstadt and Frankonia in Rottendorf).
With rising wages and standard of living in Slovakia, they
expect consumer demand for quality firearms to increase.
They plan to replace much of their Russian firearm stock
with American firearms.

-- Frantisek Babuska, Chief, Sensitive Goods Department,
Ministry of Economy, told emboff Vel'koobchod-Zbrane is a
well-known company with legitimate firearm licenses.

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