Cablegate: Blue Lantern Level 2: Pre-License End-Use Check

VZCZCXYZ0009
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHC #8729 2661532
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P R 231512Z SEP 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 0000
INFO RUETIAA/DIRNSA FT GEORGE G MEADE MD
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC 0000
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC 0000

UNCLAS STATE 098729

SIPDIS
BANGKOK FOR TOM HINES

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC TH
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 2: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK
ON LICENSES 050190040, 050190045, 050190058, 050190070,
AND 050190074

1. This is an Action Request. See paragraph 4.

2. The Department's Office of Defense Trade Controls
Compliance (PM/DTCC) requests Post's assistance in conducting
a pre-license check on licenses 050190040, 050190045,
050190058, 050190070, and 050190074 for the export of
firearms to Thailand. Post is requested to complete this
Blue Lantern check within 30 days. Lack of response to a
Blue Lantern check will affect pending and future licenses
involving parties to this license.

3. Reason for Request: According to officials in Thailand's
Bureau of Investigation and Legal Affairs, only about 2,000
to 3,000 firearms are sold via the Department of Provincial
Administration's Welfare Program each year (REFTEL). Despite
that estimate, PM/DTCC licensing data indicates that the
Bureau of Investigation and Legal Affairs has been listed as
the end-user on thirty-one (31) approved firearms licenses
since May 1, totaling roughly 10,506 firearms. There are
currently an additional seven (7) licenses pending, totaling
1,294 firearms. This amounts to the importation of roughly
11,800 firearms in less than six months (NOTE: Five of the
pending licenses are listed below). This request is for Post
to establish the bona fides of these transactions and the
parties involved.

4. Action Request: Post is requested to establish the bona
fides of these transactions and of foreign consignee Raja
Firearms by making inquiries to representatives of the
company and appropriate authorities of the Government of
Thailand. Post is also requested to determine through what
means these firearms will be distributed and what entity is
responsible for maintaining inventories and security of these
items. Finally, Post is requested to review appropriate
records to determine the ultimate end-use for the 10,506
firearms previously imported by the Bureau of Investigation
and Legal Affairs. Post is also encouraged to provide
guidance on an appropriate quantity of firearms to be
exported to the Bureau of Investigation and Legal Affairs.
The following points are included for guidance:

(To Raja Firearms)

--When was your company established and who are its
principals?

--What products and services does your company provide? Who
are your regular customers and where do they reside?

--What is your role in these transactions?

--Is your company receiving any fees or commission for your
services in this transaction?

--Are you familiar with the regulations governing the import
of U.S.-origin defense articles, including restrictions on
re-transfer or re-export?

--What is the ultimate end-use for the firearms you will
provide to the Bureau of Investigation and Legal Affairs?

--Does your company have any input or involvement in the
process by which the Bureau determines who will receive a
firearms?

--How did the Bureau describe the ultimate end-use of these
firearms to your company? Please provide any documentation
you received from the Bureau of Investigation and Legal
Affairs that describes the ultimate end-use of these firearms.

--How did you describe the ultimate end-use of these firearms
to the U.S. vendor? Please provide any documentation you
sent to the U.S. vendor that describes the ultimate end-use
of these firearms.

--Please explain why these firearms were ordered via five
separate purchase orders instead of one.

(To the Bureau of Investigation and Legal Affairs)

--Can the Bureau confirm the order of the firearms listed on
these license applications?

--For what will these firearms be used? Who will be the
ultimate end-users? Will these firearms be used in the
official duty of the Bureau or any other agency of the
Government of Thailand?

--Please describe the process by which the Bureau determines
who will receive one of these firearms.

--How many firearms have you distributed via the Welfare
Program this year? Please provide detailed records on who
received firearms via this program.

--How many firearms have been distributed via the Welfare
Program in past years?

--Please explain the large quantity of firearms the Bureau
has received from U.S. manufacturers since May 1, 2009
(approx. 10,506 firearms). Are all of these firearms for the
Welfare Program? Have there been any other major procurement
efforts for firearms during the past six months?

--Please provide any documentation that you provided Raja
Firearms in these transactions. How did you describe the
ultimate end-use of these firearms to Raja Firearms?

--What role does Raja Firearms in these transactions? Will
the company receive any fees or commissions from the Bureau
for its services in these transactions?

--Please explain why these firearms were ordered via five
separate purchase orders instead of one.

--Have any of previously imported firearms been re-exported
out of Thailand? Will any of the firearms in the five
licenses listed below be re-exported out of Thailand?

(To Appropriate Import/Export and/or Law Enforcement Agencies)

--Is Raja Firearms properly authorized to import and sell
defense articles in Thailand?

--Do you have any information on Raja Firearms that would
question their reliability as a recipient of U.S. defense
articles?

5. Details of license applications:

A.

DTC Case: 050190040

QUANTITY/COMMODITY:

248 Sig Sauer Model P239, 9mm

License Value: USD $133,102

SELLER:

Sig Sauer Inc.
18 Industrial Drive
Exeter, NH
03833

FOREIGN CONSIGNEE:

Raja Firearms LTD.
45 Burapha Road
Phranakorn District
Bangkok
Thailand
Tel: 0-2222-1254 / 0-2222-7005 / 0-2221-6292

FOREIGN END-USER:

Investigation & Legal Affairs Bureau
Department of Provincial Administration
Wangchaiya Nanglerng Nakornsawan Road
Dusit District, Bangkok
Thailand

PURPOSE:

For sole and exclusive use of the Investigation and Legal
Affairs Bureau, Department of Provincial Administration.

B.

DTC Case: 050190045

QUANTITY/COMMODITY:

259 Sig Sauer Model SP 2022 PRO, 9mm

License Value: USD $116,291

SELLER:

Sig Sauer Inc.
18 Industrial Drive
Exeter, NH
03833

FOREIGN CONSIGNEE:

Raja Firearms LTD.
45 Burapha Road
Phranakorn District
Bangkok
Thailand
Tel: 0-2222-1254 / 0-2222-7005 / 0-2221-6292

FOREIGN END-USER:

Investigation & Legal Affairs Bureau
Department of Provincial Administration
Wangchaiya Nanglerng Nakornsawan Road
Dusit District, Bangkok
Thailand

PURPOSE:

For sole and exclusive use of the Investigation and Legal
Affairs Bureau, Department of Provincial Administration.

C.

DTC Case: 050190058

QUANTITY/COMMODITY:

42 Sig Sauer Model Mosquito, .22 Caliber

8 Sig Sauer Model P220, .45 Caliber

3 Sig Sauer Model P250, .45 Caliber

27 Sig Sauer Model P232, .380 Caliber

7 Sig Sauer Model P238, .380 Caliber

License Value: USD $32,297

SELLER:

Sig Sauer Inc.
18 Industrial Drive
Exeter, NH
03833

FOREIGN CONSIGNEE:

Raja Firearms LTD.
45 Burapha Road
Phranakorn District
Bangkok
Thailand
Tel: 0-2222-1254 / 0-2222-7005 / 0-2221-6292

FOREIGN END-USER:

Investigation & Legal Affairs Bureau
Department of Provincial Administration
Wangchaiya Nanglerng Nakornsawan Road
Dusit District, Bangkok
Thailand

PURPOSE:

For sole and exclusive use of the Investigation and Legal
Affairs Bureau, Department of Provincial Administration.

D.

DTC Case: 050190070

QUANTITY/COMMODITY:

34 Sig Sauer Model P226, 9mm

351 Sig Sauer Model P229, 9mm

License Value: USD $218,235

SELLER:

Sig Sauer Inc.
18 Industrial Drive
Exeter, NH
03833

FOREIGN CONSIGNEE:

Raja Firearms LTD.
45 Burapha Road
Phranakorn District
Bangkok
Thailand
Tel: 0-2222-1254 / 0-2222-7005 / 0-2221-6292

FOREIGN END-USER:

Investigation & Legal Affairs Bureau
Department of Provincial Administration
Wangchaiya Nanglerng Nakornsawan Road
Dusit District, Bangkok
Thailand

PURPOSE:

For sole and exclusive use of the Investigation and Legal
Affairs Bureau, Department of Provincial Administration.

E.

DTC Case: 050190074

QUANTITY/COMMODITY:

62 Sig Sauer Model P250, 9mm

180 Sig Sauer Model P229, 9mm

License Value: USD $128,718

SELLER:

Sig Sauer Inc.
18 Industrial Drive
Exeter, NH
03833

FOREIGN CONSIGNEE:

Raja Firearms LTD.
45 Burapha Road
Phranakorn District
Bangkok
Thailand
Tel: 0-2222-1254 / 0-2222-7005 / 0-2221-6292

FOREIGN END-USER:

Investigation & Legal Affairs Bureau
Department of Provincial Administration
Wangchaiya Nanglerng Nakornsawan Road
Dusit District, Bangkok
Thailand

PURPOSE:

For sole and exclusive use of the Investigation and Legal
Affairs Bureau, Department of Provincial Administration.

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

A.

DSP-83s signed by Michael J. MacDonald (Sig Sauer Inc.) dated
09/15/2009; Sanit Khowsaard (Dept. of Provincial
Administration) dated 08/13/2009; Vijay Sachdev (Raja
Firearms) dated 08/13/2009.

Import Permit No. Por Kor 1101/2552 issued by Investigation
and Legal Affairs Bureau signed by Somkid Jayyim dated
07/29/2009.

Purchase Order No. 090930 issued by Raja Firearms signed by
Vijay Sachdev dated 09/01/2009.

B.

DSP-83s signed by Michael J. MacDonald (Sig Sauer Inc.) dated
09/15/2009; Sanit Khowsaard (Dept. of Provincial
Administration) dated 08/13/2009; Vijay Sachdev (Raja
Firearms) dated 08/13/2009.

Import Permit No. Por Kor 1103/2552 issued by Investigation
and Legal Affairs Bureau signed by Somkid Jayyim dated
07/29/2009.

Purchase Order No. 090920 issued by Raja Firearms signed by
Vijay Sachdev dated 09/01/2009.

C.

DSP-83s signed by Michael J. MacDonald (Sig Sauer Inc.) dated
09/15/2009; Sanit Khowsaard (Dept. of Provincial
Administration) dated 08/13/2009; Vijay Sachdev (Raja
Firearms) dated 08/13/2009.

Import Permit No. Por Kor 1097/2552 issued by Investigation
and Legal Affairs Bureau signed by Somkid Jayyim dated
07/29/2009.

Purchase Order No. 090950 issued by Raja Firearms signed by
Vijay Sachdev dated 09/01/2009.

D.

Import Permit No. Por Kor 1102/2552 issued by Investigation
and Legal Affairs Bureau signed by Somkid Jayyim dated
07/29/2009.

Purchase Order No. 090910 issued by Raja Firearms signed by
Vijay Sachdev dated 09/01/2009.

E.

DSP-83s signed by Michael J. MacDonald (Sig Sauer Inc.) dated
09/15/2009; Sanit Khowsaard (Dept. of Provincial
Administration) dated 08/13/2009; Vijay Sachdev (Raja
Firearms) dated 08/13/2009.

Import Permit No. Por Kor 1100/2552 issued by Investigation
and Legal Affairs Bureau signed by Somkid Jayyim dated
07/29/2009.

Purchase Order No. 090940 issued by Raja Firearms signed by
Vijay Sachdev dated 09/01/2009.

7. 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 on Intellipedia:
http://www.intelink.gov/wiki/
Blue Lantern End-Use Monitoring Program

8. Department is grateful for Post's assistance in this
matter.
CLINTON

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