EXTRANCHECK: POST-SHIPMENT VERIFICATION: HIGH UTILITY BASE

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001053 STATE FOR PM/DTCC FOR BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR USDOC FOR 532/OEA/M.HAMES/D. FARROW DHS FOR ICE/STRATEGIC SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BEXP ETRD ETTC AE SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: POST-SHIPMENT VERIFICATION: HIGH UTILITY BASE LLC REF: A. USDOC 05206 ¶B. USDOC 05207 ¶C. USDOC 05208 ¶D. USDOC 05209 ¶E. USDOC 05210 ¶F. USDOC 05211 ¶G. USDOC 05212 ¶H. USDOC 05213 ¶1. Reftels requested that post conduct several post-shipment verifications at High Utility Base (HUB) LLC, located in Bur Dubai, UAE for high quantities of computer equipment shipped no license required from Advance Computer, Mineola, New York. Export Control Officer (ECO) attempted to contact HUB several times throughout late August and early September 2008. ECO was finally able to establish contact with a Mr. Osama Fawzi Soboh, who is listed as the HUB contact on shipping documentation. Soboh explained that he is no longer affiliated with HUB and knows nothing of the end use and destination of these shipments. Soboh explained that he had a falling out with the HUB owner, Ahsan Bayat and provided ECO with Bayat's contact information. Based on this information ECO was finally able to locate the HUB offices which were closed. ECO left contact information but received no call after several days. ¶2. ECO continued to attempt to contact Bayat and after a week was finally able to establish contact. Bayat explained that he had been out of the country and he had received ECO's contact information but had been busy with legal/court proceedings against former HUB Manager, Osama Fawzi Soboh. ECO asked if he had information and documentation relating to the Advance Computer shipments. Bayat explained that these items were traded "SOB" or behind Customs which means that those he sold to could ship them wherever they wanted and HUB did not have to pay customs duties. He explained that one of his customers was Iranian but he did not know for sure who the ultimate end users or destinations were for these items. Bayat explained that he was headed out of the UAE for several weeks and would contact ECO upon his return to provide additional clarification if available. ¶3. Post considers these PSVs to be inconclusive as we are unable to confirm the ultimate destination and end-users for these transactions at this time. GREENE