REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATIVE ASSISTANCE

UNCLAS ROME 002092 SIPDIS SENSITIVE ANKARA FOR ECON CUSTOMS SIGNAL PLEASE PASS TO OFFICE OF INVESTIGATIONS, FOREIGN OPERATIONS DIVISION FROM CUSTOMS ATTACHE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EXPORT CONTROLS SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATIVE ASSISTANCE REF: REF: RM06KR04JX0003-CMI ¶1. (U) SENSTITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. ¶2. (U) THIS IS AN ACTION CABLE. ¶3. (SBU) THE OFFICE OF THE ICE ATTACHE IN ROME IS ASSISTING OUR OFFICE IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, WITH AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE ILLEGAL EXPORT OF TECHNOLOGY TO IRAN AND IRAQ FROM THE U.S. FIRM "AMIR TTT INC." THE INVESTIGATION HAS REVEALED A RELATED SHIPPING COMPANY, "SHAHRAN INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING CORPORATION" (SHAHRAN), AN IRANIAN FIRM THAT IS SUSPECTED OF BEING A TRANS- SHIPPER OF U.S. GOODS. DOCUMENTS REVIEWED AS PART OF THIS INVESTIGATION LISTED A TURKISH FIRM, "ADVANCE CO.", AS HAVING PREVIOUS TRANSACTIONS WITH SHAHRAN. ¶4. (SBU) ECON/ANKARA IS REQUESTED TO DETERMINE WHETHER "ADVANCE CO." IS AN ACTUAL SHIPPING OR TRANSPORTATION FIRM OPERATING IN TURKEY. IN ADDITION, PLEASE PROVIDE ANY RELATED INFORMATION REGARDING LOCATION AND COMPANY OFFICERS. ¶5. (U) CONTACT FOR THIS REQUEST IS SENIOR SPECIAL AGENT CHER IANNACCONE AT TEL. 39-06-4674-2475 OR EMAIL CHER.IANNACCONE@DHS.GOV. ¶6. (U) YOUR PROMPT ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. SEMBLER NNNN 2004ROME02092 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED