FOLLOW UP: BLUE LANTERN PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK

C O N F I D E N T I A L ROME 003591 SIPDIS STATE FOR PM DTC (PETER MAXWELL) E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2014 TAGS: ETTC KOMC IT BLUE LANTERN SUBJECT: FOLLOW UP: BLUE LANTERN PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE 05-874240 REF: A. STATE 153658 ¶B. STATE 189270 Classified By: Minister-Counselor for Economic Affairs Scott Kilner, re asons 1.4 B,D. ¶1. (SBU) Econoff contacted Agusta Westland September 9 regarding the order of helicopter spare parts for Italy. According to Paolo Colombo Speroni, the head of Agusta's spare parts sales department, there is no employee at Agusta named Mario Beretta; Agusta did not place any such order for spare parts; and the foreign consignee (CEP Aviation, SA) is unknown to him. Speroni requested further written information in order to confirm the above with others in the company. ¶2. (C) Post DHS/ICE representative, however, has requested that Econoff refrain from further contact with Agusta. This case has been the subject of a joint investigation involving ICE and the Italian authorities. Further inquiries to the company, according to ICE attache, could jeopardize investigative goals. 3 (SBU) In view of the above, Embassy Economic Section will not pursue this case further absent front-channel instructions to do so from the Department. ¶4. (U) Rome DHS/ICE point of contact for this case is Ted Siggins, 39-06-4674-2475, theodore.siggins@dhs.gov. Visit Rome's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/rome/index.cf m SEMBLER NNNN 2004ROME03591 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL