INDEPENDENT NEWS

Cablegate: Extrancheck: Post-Shipment Verification:

Published: Mon 16 Apr 2007 11:08 AM
VZCZCXYZ0013
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHMO #1719 1061108
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 161108Z APR 07
FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW
TO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9320
RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS MOSCOW 001719
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
USDOC FOR 532/OEA/MHAMES/LRITTER
USDOC FOR 3150/USFCS/OIO/CEENIS/MCOSTA
USDOC FOR 532/OEE/MO'BRIEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: BEXP ETRD ETTC RS
SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: POST-SHIPMENT VERIFICATION:
TACTICA LTD., MOSCOW, RUSSIA, LICENSE NO. NLR
REFTEL: USDOC
1. Unauthorized disclosure of the information provided
below is prohibited by Section 12C of the Export
Administration Act.
2. Reftel 1 requested a Post-shipment verification to
determine the legitimacy and reliability of the end-
user, Tactica Ltd., Moscow, Russia. The company is
listed on BIS license application: NLR as the ultimate
consignee of parts and accessories for riflescopes and
monoculars. The licensee is Leupold and Stevens, Inc.,
14400 NW Greenbrier Parkway, Beaverton, OR 97006.
3. On March 27, 2007, Export Control Attache Donald
Pearce and FSN Natalya Shipitsina conducted the
requested post-shipment verification with Tactica
Ltd., 138 Varshavskoe Shosse, Moscow, Russia. The
export control team met with Sergey Korznikov,
Commercial Director and Alexander Zviagin, General
Director.
4. Tactica is a retail sporting goods and tactical
supplies store, specializing in optics. Mr.
Korznikov, a former member of the Federal Security
Service (Russian acronym FSB) Alfa Group, founded the
company in 2004. NOTE: FSB Alfa Group is a special
operations capable anti-terrorist unit. END NOTE. The
company started as an internet-based business, but
expanded within weeks to a showroom when Korznikov's
neighbor decided to invest 200,000 USD in the new
venture. Tactica imports 90% of its inventory from
the United States, and is a distributor for U.S.
manufacturers such as 5.11, Blackhawk, SureFire, and
others. The company employs 11 and operates from its
showroom and office in a multi-tenant commercial
building in southern Moscow.
5. Tactica is the official law enforcement and
military distributor for Leupold and Stevens in
Russia. In addition, Tactica sells a variety of
optical products and accessories to hunters and
shooting sports enthusiasts. The team was allowed to
examine the purchase records, and was given copies of
the end use statements and invoices. The items in the
NLR shipment include rangefinder monoculars, rings,
and lens caps for sporting rifle sights. The items
have either been sold or are in stock. Stock is
maintained in a locked storeroom on site, and the
store is protected by an electronic alarm system with
remote monitoring by the security guards at the
building complex.
6. Recommendations: Post recommends Tactica Ltd.,
Moscow, Russia as reliable recipients of sensitive
U.S. origin commodities.
(FCS MOSCOW/SBOZEK/DPEARCE)
BURNS
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