BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON

UNCLAS BANGKOK 000521 SIPDIS SIPDIS PM/DTTC FOR BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC TH SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE 05-050076805 REF: SECSTATE 6068 ¶1. (U) According to the Thai Ministry of Commerce, Wanmelarp Firearms Ltd Partnership was registered as follows: Registration No. 0103518012168 Registered Date: August 4, 1975 Status: Limited Partnership Name: Name: Wanmelarp Firearms Part. Ltd. Capital Registration: 190,000 Baht Business partners: Suwanna Laohaphiengsak, Rattana Laohaphiengsak, Chaiwat Laohaphiengsak, Thanin Laohaphiengsak, Ubon Laohaphiengsak, Wanthani Laohaphiengsak, and Suphanni Laohaphiengsak. Manager: Suwanna Laohaphiengsak, without limitation of authority. Company Location: 111 Nakhon Sawan Road, Wat Sommanat Sub-District, Pomphrap District, Bangkok The company has submitted annual financial reports for 1999-2007. Purpose of Company: Wholesale and retail sale of guns and ammunition. ¶2. (U) The company was not listed in the telephone directory. The phone number stated Reftel was registered under the name of the Rattana Firearms Ltd. Part. and Thanin Laohaphiengsak, located at 105 Unakan Rd., Wang Burapha Phirom Sub-District, Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok. ¶3. (U) POL FSN made an unannounced visit to the address listed Reftel and met Thanin Laohaphiengsak. The building was located on a busy street in Bangkok. It was a four-story shop house used for administrative and living purposes. Several administrative staff were in the office. Thanin explained that this was not a gun shop, but that it was used for administration, living quarters, and gun storage. Guns are brought to show or sell at gun shops that are operated by his family at other locations. One of the family-owned gun shops was Rattana Firearms in Bangkok. Thanin declined to elaborate on how many gun shops his family owns. He said he was not directly involved with gun sales; rather his sisters and brothers run the sales. Thanin showed POL FSN the gun storage area on the second floor that was secured by three doors. The area was a concrete room with dimensions of approximately seven by eighteen by nine feet. The room was secured by double iron gates with padlocks. There were sixteen security cameras around the building, but there were no security guards nor a fire control system. ¶4. (U) Additional questions per Reftel: How long has your company been in the business of importing and selling defense articles in Thailand? Answer: Since 1975 as a family-run business. What services and products are sold by your company? Answer: The company sells pistols, revolvers, rifles, ammunition, and gun accessories as allowed by Ministry of Interior. The company does not sell military-style weapons nor do they fix or modify guns. The company imports guns from the U.S. and the Europe. Who are your regular customers and where do they reside? Answer: The general public, civil servants, and law enforcement personnel who reside throughout Thailand. Civil servants in Bangkok are allowed to buy guns via the Ministry of Interior's Department of Provincial Administration and civil servants residing outside Bangkok are allowed to buy through the Ministry of Interior's District Office. Buyers must be Thai citizens. Are you familiar with the regulations governing the import of US-origin defense articles, including restrictions on re-transfer or re-export? Answer: Yes, the company is familiar with the regulations. Thai authorities also prohibit the transfer or re-export of those products out of Thailand. ¶5. (U) Thanin presented copies of: 1) A permit for gun sales issued to Wanmelarp by the Department of Provincial Administration at the Ministry of Interior, No. 156/2550, valid August 27, 2007 - August 26, ¶2008. Permit signed by Nirawat Punnakan not Boonsom Watanapanee as stated Reftel. 2) A permit for gun imports issued to Wanmelaro the by Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of Interior, No. 981/2550 (not 891/2550 as stated in the Cable), valid September 19, 2007 - September 18, 2008. Permit signed by Nirawat Punnakan not Boonsom Watanapanee as stated Reftel. 3) A purchase order No. CRS-i88/07 (not CRS-188/077 as stated Reftel),dated October 16, 2007, signed by Ms. Suwanna Laohapiengsak, to RSR Group, Inc. The order was for 15 Beretta 92F5 pistols. JOHN