Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NICOSIA874
2007-10-30 15:16:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Nicosia
Cable title:  

ROC CUSTOMS REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE RE SUSPECT

Tags:  CY EI ETTC KOMC 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNC #0874 3031516
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301516Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY NICOSIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8282
INFO RUEHTH/AMEMBASSY ATHENS 3936
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC
RUEPINS/HQ BICE INTEL WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS NICOSIA 000874 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

ATHENS FOR ICE ATTACHE
PM/DTCC FOR PETER SABATINI
U.S. CUSTOMS EXODUS COMMAND CENTER FOR MARY HAMMOND
DEPT. OF COMMERCE FOR BUREAU OF INDUSTRIAL SECURITY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CY EI ETTC KOMC
SUBJECT: ROC CUSTOMS REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE RE SUSPECT
SHIPMENT

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000874

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

ATHENS FOR ICE ATTACHE
PM/DTCC FOR PETER SABATINI
U.S. CUSTOMS EXODUS COMMAND CENTER FOR MARY HAMMOND
DEPT. OF COMMERCE FOR BUREAU OF INDUSTRIAL SECURITY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CY EI ETTC KOMC
SUBJECT: ROC CUSTOMS REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE RE SUSPECT
SHIPMENT


1. (SBU) On October 24, the Chief of the Anti-Smuggling
Enforcement Team (ASET),Republic of Cyprus (ROC) Customs,
requested Embassy Nicosia's assistance regarding a suspect
cargo shipment in the port of Limassol. On October 25, Econ
Chief, PolOff, visiting Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE) Special Agent, Pol Intern, and Export Control and
Border Security LES traveled to Limassol seaport to meet with
ROC Customs officials and inspect the suspect shipment.
During the meeting, the ASET Chief and the Limassol Customs
warehouse supervisor briefed Mission personnel on a shipment
of an IBM 3584-L53 magnetic tape storage unit from IBM Mexico
to IBM Italia in Cyprus, which went unclaimed for over two
months. A review of the documents associated with the
shipment showed that there was recent interest in sending the
cargo back to its point of origin in Mexico. This raised ROC
Customs suspicions, causing them to take interest in the
shipment.


2. (SBU) A representative from the Committee of Experts,
which advises the Government of Cyprus (GOC) on the
export/re-export of items, particularly dual-use items,
inspected the shipment on October 24. This expert's
assessment was that the item was a dual-use item, based on
European Union tariff codes, and required an export license
from the GOC before it could be returned to Mexico. Customs
Limassol was concerned about the apparent routing of the
cargo. An air bill recovered from the shipment labels the
shipper as IBM of Mexico Commercialization and Services. The
container's point of origin was listed as Guadalajara, Mexico
with a final destination of Larnaca, Cyprus via aircraft. The
unit departed Guadalajara on June 27. According to further
documentation recovered from the container, the stated value
of the machine is $33,275 USD. With an approximate weight of
525 kilograms, the unit was the sole item found in the 20
foot sea container which further raised suspicions. The
request to return the cargo to its point of origin despite
the expense paid to ship it to Cyprus, as well as what were
deemed to be inadequate codes on export paperwork, further
made Customs Limassol suspicious of the shipment.


3. (SBU) An inspection of the cargo showed that the contents
were consistent with the description of the cargo in the
shipping documents. A phone call to IBM,s Cyprus branch
General Manager (GM) Kyriacos Kokkinos revealed that IBM
Cyprus was part of IBM Italia, was aware of the cargo's
presence in Cyprus and was attempting to have the cargo
returned to IBM Mexico. GM stated that an order had indeed
been placed by IBM Cyprus branch for a replacement part for
the unit, but the entire unit was sent in error. Upon
realization of the mistake, IBM Cyprus began working to
resolve the situation. GM then provided the following
routing for the cargo: 1.) sent by air from Mexico to
Athens; 2.) supposed to be sent further by air to Cyprus, but
the cargo proved to be too large for the cargo holds of the
aircraft used for commercial flights to Cyprus; 3.) finally,
sent by sea to Limassol. GM's explanation does help to
understand why ROC Customs at Larnaca airport had no
paperwork on the cargo's arrival. A letter from the GM to
Mission's Econ Counselor received on October 29 advised that
IBM was trying to arrange to return the cargo to Mexico as
soon as possible. The letter indicates that IBM is now
focused on the shipment and will remain engaged with ROC
Customs to get the cargo back to Mexico. Post notes that
Customs had not contacted IBM directly to discuss the
shipment.


4. (SBU) Regardless of their suspicions, Customs advised
that, barring any USG information which would indicate the
shipment was illegal, they would be obligated to release the
cargo if the freight forwarder obtained the appropriate
export license from the GOC, which the freight forwarder was
attempting to do. Customs Limassol provided copies of the
shipping documents and allowed Mission personnel to inspect
and take digital photographs of the cargo. The documents
were faxed to the Exodus Command Center for review and the
ICE Special Agent followed this with a phone call to Exodus
to discuss the shipment. Cypriot Customs will release the
cargo when requested by the freight forwarder unless
otherwise directed by Post.
SCHLICHER