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