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

S E C R E T STATE 130457

NOFORN
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
GUATEMALA CITY FOR LANCE HEGERLE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/29/2033
TAGS: ETTC KOMC GT
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: POST-SHIPMENT END-USE CHECK
ON LICENSE 050092123

REF: A. CIA TD-314/041106-08 OF 29 MAY 2008

B. 08 GUATEMALA 183

Classified By: David C. Trimble, for reasons 1.4(a),(b),and
(d)


1. (U) This is an Action Request. See paragraphs 2 - 4.


2. (U) The Department's Office of Defense Trade Controls
Compliance (PM/DTCC) requests Post's assistance in conducting
a post-shipment check on license 050092123 for the export of
rifles to Guatemala. Post is requested to complete this Blue
Lantern check within 45 days. Lack of response to a Blue
Lantern check will affect pending and future licenses
involving parties to this license.


3. (S//NF) Reason for Request: Intelligence reporting
indicates that foreign intermediate consignee, Sercogua
Guatemala S.A., may be a front company involved in the
illicit trafficking of precursor chemicals used to make
Ecstasy (REFTEL A).

(SBU) Sercogua was also the foreign intermediate consignee in
a previous unfavorable Blue Lantern in which the end-user of
that license was tied to individuals and business interests
in El Salvador (REFTEL B). This request is to establish the
bona fides of Sercogua and end-user, Aguila del Desierto, and
to confirm that the items listed below were received.
End-user Aguila del Desierto has no Blue Lantern history with
PM/DDTC.


4. (SBU) Action Request: Post is requested to establish the
bona fides of Aguila del Desierto as a legitimate recipient
of the United States Munitions List (USML) items listed
below. Post should determine if Aguila del Desierto did in
fact receive the defense articles. Post is also requested to
make appropriate inquires to country team members and host
country authorities in order to substantiate the claims
regarding Sercogua made in REFTEL A. In its reply, Post may
also comment on any other information pertinent to these
transactions such as concerns about Aguila del Desierto's
clients and its ties to any illicit activity.


5. (U) Details of license application:

DTC Case: 050092123

QUANTITY/COMMODITY:

80 Marlin Model 60 .22 Caliber Rifles

20 Marlin Model 60SS .22 Caliber Rifles

License Value: USD $25,080

SELLER:

Valor Corporation
1001 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway
Sunrise, FL 33323

FOREIGN INTERMEDIATE CONSIGNEE:

Sercogua Guatemala, S.A.
12 Calle 1-25
Zona 10 Edif. Geminis 10 Torre Norte Nivel 05, Oficina #513
Guatemala City, Guatemala

FOREIGN END-USER:

Aguila del Desierto
Centro Comercial Plaza la Villa de Guadalupe 3-24
Zona 4, Local 7 Villa Nueva
Guatemala City, Guatemala
Tel: 6636-9645
Email: aguiladeldesiertogt@hotmail.com

PURPOSE:

For resale to customers in Guatemala


6. (U) Submitted in support of the license application were
the following documents (PM/DTCC will fax documentation to
Posts upon request):

DSP-83 signed by Erick Geovani Gonzalez Gonzalez date
illegible and Harry A. Lopez dated 03/04/2008

Import License No. 206/ARM-2007 (Expendiente No. 1085380)
dated 11/22/2007 signed by Mario Rene Alegria Maldonado

Purchase Order from Aguila del Desierto not dated signed by
Erick Geovani Gonzalez Gonzalez


7. (U) Please slug reply for PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN
COORDINATOR and include the words "Blue Lantern" and the case
number in the subject line. POC is Kyle M. Ballard, Phone:
202-663-1929; Email: BallardKM@state.gov; SIPRNET:
BallardKM@state.sgov.gov. The Blue Lantern Guidebook (ref) is
available as a PDF file in the Bunche Library's E-Book
Collection on the DOS Intranet:
http://virtuallibrary.state.gov/
BlueLanternGuidebook2006%2520 final .pdf


8. (U) Department is grateful for Post's assistance in this
matter.
RICE