BARBADOS - BLUE LANTERN ON LICENSE 05-050018615

UNCLAS BRIDGETOWN 002136 SIPDIS SIPDIS PM/DDTC FOR BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC BB XL SUBJECT: BARBADOS - BLUE LANTERN ON LICENSE 05-050018615 FOR SPORTSIMPORTS REF: STATE 188189 ¶1. Post was able to conduct a site visit to SportsImports in Barbados. Post can confirm the order for tactical weapons systems under license 05-050018615. Post did not uncover any derogatory information on the foreign consignee, Greg Cozier of SportsImports, and he appears to be a legitimate firearm retailer. ¶2. The ultimate end user for the firearms under license 05-050018615 will be the Barbados Defence Force (BDF). These firearms will not be exported out of Barbados, but rather transported immediately from the airport to the BDF Headquarters by SportsImports. Should they not be immediately transported to the BDF, SportsImports will store the firearms in a secure facility consisting of two double-skinned Chubb vaults made of steel-reinforced concrete and alarms that are linked to the police, private security and SportsImports personal cell phones. An onsite visit confirmed the secure storage facility. SportsImports is also familiar with the restrictions governing the importation of U.S. Munitions List (USML) commodities, in particular the prohibition of unauthorized retransfer or re-export. ¶3. SportsImports keeps detailed records of all firearms issued, which include date of issue, caliber, serial number, type, model, and name and address of the customer. The police also keep a record of all issued firearms. In addition, the Commissioner of Police approved SportsImports as a licensed firearm dealer to import and sell firearms in Barbados. Post is in possession of copies of SportsImports application and license documentation for the purchase and importation of the firearms in question. GILROY