Blue Lantern Broker Inquiry K-2357

UNCLAS BOGOTA 003391 SENSITIVE SIPDIS PM/DTCC FOR RACHAEL-THERESE S. JOUBERT-LIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC KOMC CO SUBJECT: Blue Lantern Broker Inquiry K-2357 REF: STATE 99489 ¶1. (U) Summary. Per reftel, Emboffs traveled to the offices of IMDICOL Ltda. in Bogota on November 9 and met with IMDICOL's President and management team. IMDICOL appears to be a bona fide broker of military supplies whose main client is the Colombian government. ¶2. (U) Prior to the visit, IMDICOL sent to Emboff a copy of IMDICOL's business registration. IMDICOL was registered in 1983 and is a family-run business with approximately thirty direct employees and contractors. The principal owners are Carlos Fidel Fajardo Castillo, Oswaldo Fajardo Castillo, and Victor Hugo Fajardo Castillo. IMDICOL is actually a group of six companies, with its main offices located not far from the Embassy. Only one company imports Night Vision Devices (NVDs). ¶3. (U) On November 9, IMDICOL president Victor Fajardo greeted Emboffs, gave a briefing on the company's business activities and introduced his management team. Mr. Fajardo claims his company provides 90% of all U.S.-imported NVDs sold to the Colombian military and police. IMDICOL is the legal representative for a number of foreign companies in Colombia. These companies export military supplies through IMDICOL, including body armor, police shields, goggles, sabers, knives, and smoke bombs from the U.S., Germany, and India. IMDICOL negotiates prices, competes for contracts, and acts as the legal representative for these companies in Colombia. Jenny Fajardo, daughter of the company's president and the Director of International Business, stated IMDICOL has supplied NVDs to the Colombian government since the 1990s and currently imports NVDs from U.S. companies Nightline and L3 Communications. ¶4. (U) Mr. Fajardo stated that IMDICOL deals exclusively with Colombian military and police, and does not sell equipment outside of Colombia or to private parties. Ms. Fajardo explained that once the supplies are flown into Bogota, they are collected by the branch of the Colombian military or police that ordered the equipment. At no point does IMDICOL take possession of or store the equipment. The security and organizational measures at the offices seemed adequate, and the Fajardos had in-depth knowledge and documentation concerning the license in question. BROWNFIELD