GUATEMALA: BLUE LANTERN POST-SHIPMENT END-USE

S E C R E T GUATEMALA 000005

SIPDIS
NOFORN

DEPT FOR PM/DTCC- BLU LANTERN COORDINATOR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/29/2018
TAGS: ETTC KMOC GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALA: BLUE LANTERN POST-SHIPMENT END-USE
CHECK ON LICENSE 050092123

REF: A. STATE 130457

B. CIA TD-314/041106-08 OF 29 MAY 2008

Classified By: Political Officer Lance Hegerle, for reasons 1.4(a, b,an
d d)


1. (SBU) Summary: In response to reftel a, PolMil Officer
researched the bona fides of the arms import company Aguila
del Desierto, examined records regarding the weapons imported
under license 050092123, and the company's relationship with
the freight forwarding company Sercogua. The research
included an on-site inspection of Aguila del Desierto; an
interview with the company's owner; records checks of both
the company and the owner with the Guatemala's Arms and
Municions Control Department (DECAM); and coordination with
other agencies at post regarding Sercogua. As a result of
the investigation, Post has determined that Aguila del
Desierto received the reftel weapons and has a limited
business relationship with Sercogua. Post has no prejudicial
information regarding Aguila del Desierto. End Summary.


2. (SBU) On December 17, PolMil Officer conducted an on-site
inspection of Aguila del Desierto located at Centro Comercial
Plaza la villa de Guadalupe 3-24, Zone 4, Local 7 Villa
Nueva, and interviewed the company's owner, Erick Geovani
Gonzalez Gonzalez. Gonzalez was fully cooperative during the
interview, offered complete access to his records, and a tour
of the facility. Aguila del Desierto is located in a small
shopping complex in a high-crime suburb of Guatemala City
called Villa Nueva. According to Gonzalez, he owned a
weapons store named Desierto in another part of city from
1991 until 1995, but closed that business to open Aguila del
Desierto at his current location in 1995. He stated he
imports rifles and shotguns from the U.S., and handguns from
Argentina. He added that he would love to import handguns
from the U.S. but has been told that the U.S. will not export
handguns above .22 caliber.


3. (SBU) Aguila del Desierto consists of a 15 foot by 10
foot showroom accessible only via a heavy security gate, a
small utility storage room, and a weapons storage area
located above the utility storage room accessible only via a
portable ladder. The weapons storage area is 4 feet wide, 10
feet long, and 4 feet high, and is made of extra thick cement
lined on both the interior and exterior with steel plates.
The weapons storage room contains motion detectors, a
computer linked to a video monitoring system, a dedicated
phone line, and water. PolMil Officer noticed two loaded
handguns in the utility room and another handgun and a loaded
shotgun positioned at the entrance to the weapons storage
area. When asked about the loaded weapons, Gonzalez stated
that crime in Villa Nueva had always been bad, but recently
had become much worse. He added that he had never been
robbed, but that he, his mother, and his employee were
prepared to fight off attackers long enough to lock
themselves in the weapons storage room. While the store is
small and the weapons storage room is unorthodox, it is one
of the most secure seen by PolMil Officer.


4. (SBU) According to DECAM records Aguila del Desierto has
committed a few minor infractions, but has passed all routine
inspections without major incident. According to DECAM's
Director, Colonel David Barrientos, Aguila del Desierto is a
small-scale weapons store that has operated within local laws
and regulations. Aguila del Desierto's records indicate that
the company sells virtually all weapons imported from the
U.S. to other weapons dealers, but sells no more than nine
weapons to any given store. Gonzalez stated that residents
Qweapons to any given store. Gonzalez stated that residents
of Villa Nueva tend to purchase handguns for self protection
as opposed to rifles, but if he could import hand guns from
the U.S. he could sell many to local residents. Aguila del
Desierto's books indicated that 31 of the 100 weapons
imported under license 050092123 are still in inventory, and
PolMil officer verified that all 31 weapons were located in
the weapons storage area.


5. (S/NF) Per reftel a, PolMil Officer made inquires with
country team members and host country authorities regarding
concerns raised about the company Sercogua (ref b). Sercogua
is not currently the subject of any ongoing investigations
for participating in illicit trafficking. Post has no new
evidence or intelligence to either support or contradict
concerns regarding Sercogua raised in ref b.


6. (S/NF) Gonzalez claims to have no regular business
relationship with Sercogua, but stated that he did use the
company to handle port and customs issues for his last
shipment. He added that he was directed by the company
Air-Sea Forwarders to contact Sercogua regarding the
shipment. When questioned about the importation process he

stated that he simply requests permission to import weapons
from DECAM, which he then sends to Valor Corporation. He
added that Valor Corporation completes all the paperwork
required by U.S. authorities and organizes the shipment of
the weapons to Guatemala. He stated that he never picks the
local freight forwarder and that normally it is not Sercogua.
PolMil officer discussed the importation process with
several other arms importers and they confirm Gonzalez's
statements that it is the U.S. based company that selects the
freight forwarding company, not the local company. Based
upon the information available at post, there is no
substantial relationship between Aguila del Desierto and
Sercogua.


7. (SBU) Conclusion: As a result of the investigation, Post
finds that all weapons imported under license 050092123 are
either still in Aguila del Desierto's inventory or were sold
to other weapons dealers following relevant local laws and
regulations. Aguila del Desierto operates well within
DECAM's regulations and occupies a secure, if somewhat
unique, facility. Post has no information that would be
prejudicial to approval of future import license request on
behalf of this company.




McFarland