GUATEMALA: BLUE LANTERN POST-LICENSE PRE-SHIPMENT

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000462

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR KYLE M. BALLARD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KMOC GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALA: BLUE LANTERN POST-LICENSE PRE-SHIPMENT
END-USE CHECK, 050143296

REF: A. STATE 30527

B. STATE 80


1. (SBU) Summary: In response to reftel, Emboffs conducted
a background check of the Mazatenango owner of El Venadito,
Zoraida Elizabeth Valenzuela Gomez, whose company was
formerly connected to El Venadito of Coban through marriage,
the same El Venadito which purchased large volumes of Marlin
Model 60, .22 caliber rifles from the weapons store, Defensa.
S.A. As stated in reftel, these three companies and owners
involved have an active relationship in the buying and
selling of Marlin rifles. According to Valenzuela and in a
previous interview with Farid Massis of Defensa, S.A., these
rifles are legally purchased and used by two types of
individual buyers: hunters and farmers. The investigation
included an interview with the company's owner, and records
checks of both the company and the owner with the Guatemala's
Arms and Municions Control Department (DECAM). As of result
of the investigation, Post recommends approval of reftel
license. End Summary.


2. (SBU) On May 13, Emboffs conducted an interview with
Valenzuela, whose company, El Venadito, is located in Calzada
Centenario, Comercial Centenario, Local #3, Mazatenango,
Guatemala. Valenzuela, accompanied by her husband, who is
also a weapons store owner, Jorge Andrade, were professional
and provided all proper documentation including a list of
weapons sold over a five month period and pictures of the
outside, inside, and weapons storage room of the store. As
described in reftel, Emboffs asked for an explanation of the
relationship between Valenzuela's company and another company
by the same name located in Coban. Valenzuela is the former
daughter-in-law to Otto Erick Ponce Morales, who owns El
Venadito of Coban. (Note: The Coban El Venadito was cited in
reftel B for purchasing large quantities of Marlin rifles,
which Emboffs at the time suspected may have had ties to
narcotrafficking activity. But further evidence indicated
that El Venadito of Coban did not have ties to
narcotraffickers. End Note.)


3. (SBU) From a detailed review of recent photographs taken
of the outside, inside and the weapons storage room, El
Venadito (Mazatenango) is located on the bottom floor of a
commercial retail center, and includes a secure storefront
with visible signage, one large steel rolling door that
protects the side entrance of the store, two sets of security
bar doors inside the front entrance, and a security guard
protecting the inside of the store. The retail area has one
long weapons counter. In the back of the store is a weapons
storage room. The weapons storage room itself is very secure
with all of the necessary protective measures required
including motion detectors in the walls and ceiling that are
connected to a 24-hour alarm company. The weapons storage
room is made of four solid cinder block walls with one
reinforced steel-grated wall. And Valenzuela added that
directly behind the weapons storage room is a commercial bank.


4. (SBU) As noted in reftel, Valenzuela is the authorized
firearms retailer listed on the license application, and this
is her first license to import U.S.-origin firearms.
Valenzuela will be selling Marlin Model 60 Rifles, .22
caliber to hunters and farmers in the Mazatenango area and
she plans to sell to weapons store owners in the future.
Valenzuela has purchased other weapons from Argentina, Turkey
and the Czech Republic, but a majority of her weapons
purchases are from other Guatemalan weapons stores.
Valenzuela confirmed with Emboffs that she knows the
regulations governing the imports of U.S.-origin defense
Qregulations governing the imports of U.S.-origin defense
articles, including restrictions on re-transfer and re-export.


5. (SBU) El Venadito has a satisfactory record with DECAM and
has passed all routine inspections without incident.
According to DECAM's Director, Colonel Hector Del Cid, El
Venadito is a small-scale but well managed weapons store that
is operating within local laws and regulations. Based on the
results of the interview and a records check with DECAM, Post
recommends approval of the reftel license.


6. (SBU) COMMENT: Emboff conducted separate interviews with
additional satisfactory Blue Lantern licensing recipients who
provided insight into the popularity of Marlin Model 60, .22
caliber gun ownership in Guatemala. Both Emboff contacts
agreed that these firearms are not used for crime, but are
"coveted firearms in the countryside, where people use them
for hunting, and also as pest control and home defense." The
contacts concluded that gun users are "craving" for them
because 20 years ago, the Marlin weapons were considered a
"luxury" and very difficult to purchase in Guatemala at that
time.

McFarland