BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: POST-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK

UNCLAS BANGKOK 001984

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

PM/DTCC -- BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR MICHAEL ROMERO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KOMC ETTC TH
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: POST-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK
ON LICENSE 05-050020225

REF: SECSTATE 32031


1. Post was unable to determine whether foreign end-user
Kangwan Arms is complying with terms of the USML and seeks
guidance on next steps. Details below.


2. According to the business profile maintained by the
Ministry of Commerce's Department of Business Development,
Kangwan Arms is registered as follows:

Registration No. 0203515000052
Registered Date: 21 January 1971
Status" Still listed as a limited partnership
Capital Registration: 1,500,000 baht
Business Partners: Ms. Sunee Pankaew, Ms. Benjamas
Sitthiphongworakun, Ms. Lakkhana Sitthiphongworakun
Manager listed as Ms. Sunee Pankaew
Location: 449/18 Moo 12, Thep Prasit Rd., Tambon Nong Prue,
Amphoe Bang Lamung, Chonburi
The original name of the enterprise was "Saha Pornchai Arms
Ltd., Part." The name was changed to "Kangwan Arms Ltd.,
Part." on January 16, 1979.
The business submitted financial reports in 1999-2005.

According to the telephone directory, Kangwan Arms has a
phone number of 038-300-938. Repeated calls to that number
were unanswered.


3. Pol FSN visited the shop on Wednesday, March 28 and on
Saturday, March 31. The shop was closed both times. During
the March 28 visit, FSN noted a hand-written sign reading
"Open only on Saturday and Sundays."

The shop is located in the bottom two floors of an
eight-story concrete condominium building. FSN believes the
shop does not contain a residence since the entrance to the
shop was padlocked from the outside. The sign outside the
shop appears newly painted. Pol FSN spoke with guards at the
condominium and with managers of the building who said that
the shop used to open and close at odd hours and had not been
open for quite some time. Security guards indicated that the
shop does not display firearms openly and that, in the past,
when customers arrived, the store owner would bring guns
downstairs for inspection. Employees at the property
management office said that a "Mr. Sakda" last name unknown,
paid the monthly property management fee regularly since

2001. Mr. Sakda also has the property managers pick up his
mail. The management staff had not seen Mr. Sakda for "two
or three months" and noted that the electricity in the shop
had been disconnected.


4. On March 28, Pol FSN visited Ms. Natthima of the Chonburi
Provincial Commerce office's Permit section. She said that
Kangwan renews its license to possess and sell firearms
regularly every year. Ms. Natthima was surprised to hear
that Kangwan had imported the handguns listed in reftel.
According to her records, Kangwan had filled its annual quota
for imports in 2006 with other shipments. According to
Natthima, the permits listed in paragraph two of reftel were
issued by the Ministry of Interior's Department of Provincial
Administration in Bangkok rather than by the provincial
office. This also struck Ms. Natthima as irregular.
Natthima was unwilling to show Pol FSN any records her office
has on Kangwan absent an official request from her superiors.



5. Post seeks Department guidance on next steps.
ARVIZU