VZCZCXYZ0017
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBK #2986/01 3281033
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241033Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9074
INFO RUETIAA/DIRNSA FORT GEORGE G MEADE MD PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
UNCLAS BANGKOK 002986
SIPDIS
FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC TH
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN POST-SHIPMENT END USE CHECK ON
LICENSES 050123318, 050131759, 050131068, AND 050131059
REF: STATE 92332
1. (U) Bona fides of Mata Firearms:
Registration No.: 0103518007989
Registration Date: May 26, 1975
Status: Limited partnership
Capital Registration: 350,000 baht
Partners: Aporn Muanthae, with an investment of 40,000 baht;
Sanit Dejchaiyan, with an investment of 10,000 baht; Warachot
Muanthae, with an investment of 50,000 baht, Sompol Muanthae,
with an investment of 50,000 baht, Hassadin Muanthae, with an
investment of 50,000 baht, Sallaya Muanthae, with an
investment of 50,000 baht, and Metha Muanthae, with an
investment of 100,000 baht.
Company Location: 49, Burapha Rd., Wang Burapha Phirom
SubDistrict, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
The company has submitted annual financial reports for 1999-
2008.
Purpose of Company: To sell firearms and ammunition.
The company was not listed in the phone directory. The
reftel phone number was registered under the name of Hassadin
Firearms Part., Ltd. with the same address as stated reftel
and in the commercial registration. The business profile of
Hassadin Firearms Part., Ltd. as listed by the Ministry of
Commerce is as follows:
Registration No. 0103513019911
Registration date: November 11, 1970
Status: Limited partnership
Partners: Aporn Muanthae, with an investment of 40,000 baht;
Sanit Dejchaiyan, with an investment of 5,000 baht, Warachot
Muanthae, with an investment of 50,000 baht, Sompol Muanthae,
with an investment of 50,000 baht; Hassadin Muanthae, with an
investment of 50,000 baht, Sallaya Muanthae, with an
investment of 50,000 baht, and Metha Muanthae, with an
investment of 100,000 baht.
Company Location: 49, Burapha Rd., Wang Burapha Phirom
SubDistrict, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
The company has submitted annual financial reports for 1999-
2008.
Purpose of Company: To sell firearms and ammunition.
2. (U) Bona Fides of P. Phanich Firearms Part., Ltd.:
Registration No.: 0103512004431
Registration Date: March 19, 1969
Status: Limited Partnership
Partners: Uraiwan Pattana-olan, with an investment of 50,000
baht; Phanich Pattana-olan, with an investment of 100,000
baht, and Pensri Vannaswang, with an investment of 150,000
baht.
Company Location: 11, Burapha Rd., Wang Burapha Phirom
SubDistrict, Phra Nakhon, Bangkok
The company has submitted annual financial reports for
1999-2008.
Purpose of the company: To sell firearms and ammunition.
The P. Phanich Firearms was not listed in the Phone
Directory. Reftel phone numbers were registered to Phanich
Pattana-Olan, who is one of the shop's shareholders. The
address of the shop was confirmed.
3. (U) We visited Fixtech September 29 and met by Dissatat
Dejthamrong.
- Did you ever have physical possession of the firearms
listed on these licenses?
Response: No, the company is a trading company and authorized
sale representative for Smith & Wesson. The company never
physically handles imported firearms. Firearm shops will
send purchase orders and necessary Ministry of Interior
documents to the company, which will then examine and forward
them to the Smith & Wesson. Once the firearms arrive at the
Bangkok airport, the company will inform the sales shop which
would get customs clearance and transport the firearms.
- If so, pleased provide all documentation that demonstrates
the firearms were transferred to the end-users listed on
these licenses.
Response: Dissathat presented all related documents regarding
the purchases of the firearms. It appears that all were
imported and processed legitimately.
- Do these four companies have any connection between them?
Response: Not to knowledge of Dissathat.
4. (U) We visited Mata Firearms September 28 and met Metha
Muanthae. The shop was identified as Hassadin Firearms and
Mata Firearms and was located shophouse in a busy firearm
selling area. There were CCTVs in the shop and an iron safe.
- When was your company established and who are its
principals?
Response: The shop was registered in the firearm trade in
May, 1975.
- What products and services does your company provide?
Response: The shop imports and sells pistols, revolvers,
rifles, and ammunition from the U.S. and other foreign
countries. It does not provide the firearm maintenance or
sell firearm accessories.
- Who are your regular customers and where do they reside?
Response: General public and government officials, who are
Thai citizens and hold a Permit to Purchase a Firearm (P. 3)
issued by Director of Bureau of Investigation and Legal
Affairs, Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of
Interior, for buyers living in Bangkok, and by the District
Chiefs nationwide.
- What are your annual sales of US-origin firearms?
Response: Among the firearms imported, approximately 50
percent are from the U.S. Average annual sales are about 2
million baht. Metha admitted that his shop holds two Permits
for Sale of Firearms for Commercial Purpose, one under the
name of Mata Firearms and the other under the name of
Hassadin Firearms. One permit authorizes the import of not
more than 30 pistols and 50 rifles per year plus another
portion of ammunitions. By law, one firearm shop can possess
only one such permit. In practice, one permit is not enough
to maintain a business. Each shop or firearm trader thus
needs to have more permits by registering more shops.
- Please provide all documentation on the sale of a Smith &
Wesson firearm serial number BJM3309. Please provide any
information you have on this customer.
Response: All documents were presented. Mata holds the
Permit for Sale of Firearms for Commercial Purpose, No. PK
98/2552, issued June 18, 2009, to expire June 17, 2010,
approved by Director of Bureau of Investigation and Legal
Affairs, Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of
Interior. The item was imported under the Permit for Order
and Import of Firearms, No. PK 642/2551, issued July 23,
2008, to expire July 22, 2009, signed by Director of Bureau
of Investigation and Legal Affairs, Department of Provincial
Administration, Ministry of Interior. This item was one of
six imported from the Smith & Wesson under this Permit. The
item arrived at the Bangkok Airport on November 6, 2008, and
was sold/registered to the buyer on November 24, 2008.
- To whom did you sell this firearm? Where does this customer
reside?
Response: The buyer resided in Phra Samut Chedi District of
Samut Prakan Province when he bought this gun. He was a
first-time customer and held the legal Permit P.3 to purchase
the firearm. Like other firearm shops, once the gun was
sold, the shop was no longer responsible for the item. It
was the responsibility of the buyer and the District Office,
to which the buyer has to report the change of ownership or
storage location of the firearm.
- Are you familiar with the regulations governing the import
of US-origin defense articles, including restrictions on
re-transfer or re-export?
Response: Yes.
- Additional inquiry to the Firearm Registration Section,
Phra Samut Chedi District, Samut Prakan Province.
Response: The Division provided a document that showed that
the pistol had been transferred to another person living in
Prachinburi District of Prachinburi Province on January 14,
2009. The new owner was a village headman and a cousin of
the previous owner. The original owner was Sura Somrup of
220/579, Moo 4, Nai Khlong Bang Pla Kot, Sub-District. The
weapon was registered as:
A semi-automatic 9 mm firearm,
Foreign SN: BJM3309 (Smith & Wesson)
Thai SN: BK 5106278
Licensed by: Phra Samut Chedi District
Ref. No.: 412/51, dated December 17, 2008
Transferred to: Surasak Sae Lao, residing at 29, Moo
17, Noen Hom Sub-District, Muang Prachinburi District,
Prachinburi Province.
5. (U) We visited P. Phanich Firearms September 28 and met
Pensri Vannaswang. The address was confirmed. The shop is a
shophouse.
- When was your company established and who are its
principals?
Response: The shop was registered in the firearm trade in
March, 1969.
- What products and services does your company provide?
Response: The shop imports and sells the pistols, revolvers,
and rifles from the U.S. (Smith Wesson and Remington) and the
Czech Republic.
- Who are your regular customers and where do they reside?
Response: Ordinary citizens and government officials, who are
the qualified Thai citizens and hold the Permit to Purchase a
Firearm (P.3). The permit lasts six months.
- What are your annual sales of US-origin firearms?
Response: The shop is able to sell approximately sixty
U.S.-origin firearms a year. The annual net gain is
approximately 600,000 baht.
- Please provide all documentation on the sale of a Smith &
Wesson firearm serial number B31Y13313. Please provide any
information you have on this customer.
Response: All necessary documents were presented. P. Phanich
holds the Permit for Sale of Firearms for Commercial Purpose,
No. PK 7/2552, issued on March 25, 2009, to expire on March
24, 2010, approved by Director of Bureau of Investigation and
Legal Affairs, Department of Provincial Administration,
Ministry of Interior. The item was imported by P. Phanich
under the Permit for Order and Import of Firearms, No. PK
1004/2551, originally issued to Olan Firearms Part., Ltd., on
October 8, 2008, to expire on October 7, 2009. P. Phanich
processed it on behalf of Olan. It was one of five imported
from the Smith & Wesson under this Permit. The item arrived
at the Bangkok airport December 9, 2008, and was
sold/registered to the buyer on December 24, 2008.
- To whom did you sell this firearm? Where does this customer
reside?
Response: Chaloemsak Yotyoi, the buyer, resided in Cha-am
District of Phetchaburi Province. He was a first-time
customer and held a legal Permit P.3 to purchase the firearm.
- Are you familiar with the regulations governing the import
of US-origin defense articles, including restrictions on
re-transfer or re-export?
Response: Yes.
6. (U) We visited Aumnaj Firearms September 28 and met
Ratchani Phienphithak.
- What are your annual sales of US-origin firearms?
Response: The shop holds three Permits for Sale of Firearms
for Commercial Purpose, registered in three different shop
names. On average, her shop is able to sell approximately
l00 U.S.-origin firearms a year.
- Please provide all documentation on the sale of a Smith &
Wesson firearm serial number BJM331O. Please provide any
information you have on this customer.
Response: Aumnaj holds the Permit for Sale of Firearms for
Commercial Purpose, No. PK 129/2552, issued on Aug 24, 2009,
to expire on Aug 23, 2010. The item was imported under the
Permit for Order and Import of Firearms, No. PK 903/2551,
issued on Sept 19, 2008, to expire on Sept 18, 2009. It was
one of nine imported from the Smith & Wesson under the
permit. The item arrived at Bangkok airport January 5, 2009,
and was sold/registered to the buyer on February 23, 2009.
- To whom did you sell this firearm? Where does this customer
reside?
Response: Sanit Lohaphum, the buyer, resided in Lang Suan
District of Chumphon Province. He was a first-time customer
and held the legal Permit P.3 to purchase the firearm.
- Are you familiar with the regulations governing the import
of US-origin defense articles, including restrictions on
re-transfer or re-export?
Response: Yes.
7. (U) We visited Erawan Firearms September 28 and met Uthain
and Amornthep Sachdey.
- What are your annual sales of US-origin firearms?
Response: Erawan is one of the major firearm shops in
Bangkok. It possesses eleven Permits for Sale of Firearms for
Commercial Purpose (under eleven different shop names), plus
networking relationships with eight other firearm shops. On
average, Erawan imports U.S.-origin firearms worth $l50,000
to 250,000.
- Please provide all documentation on the sale of a Smith &
Wesson firearm serial number BJM3348. Please provide any
information you have on this customer.
Response: Frawan holds the Permit for Sale of Firearms for
Commercial Purpose, No. PK 18/2552, issued on April 27, 2009,
to expire on April 26, 2010. The item was imported by Erawan
under the Permit for Order and Import of Firearms, No. PK
927/2551, originally issued to the Dissathat Firearms Part.,
Ltd., on Oct 3, 2008, to expire on Oct 2, 2009. Erawan
processed it on behalf of Dissathat. It was one of ten
imported from the Smith & Wesson. The item arrived at
Bangkok Airport December 9, 2008, and was sold/registered to
the buyer on March 11, 2009.
- To whom did you sell this firearm? Where does this customer
reside?
Response: Amnuai Wa-ngazuma, the buyer, resided in Udonthani
District of Udonthani Province. She was a regular customer
and a Thai wife of a Japanese husband. She held the legal
Permit P.3 to purchase the firearm.
- Are you familiar with the regulations governing the import
of US-origin defense articles, including restrictions on
re-transfer or re-export?
Response: Yes.
8. (U) We visited the Bureau of Investigation and Legal
Affairs, Department of Provincial Administration, Ministry of
Interior September 28 and met officials from the Firearm Shop
Section and the Bureau's Front Office. Coincidentally,
Wichai Thanomsap, the Chairman of the Firearm Traders
Association of Thailand, was there and helped to respond to
questions.
- Are Mata Firearms and P. Phanich Firearms properly
authorized to import and sell defense articles in Thailand?
Response: Yes. They are legally registered with Ministry of
Commerce and have been licensed by Ministry of Interior's
Department of Provincial Administration for firearm trade.
Their licenses, like other firearm shops, are issued annually
and renewable yearly. As examining the copies of licenses of
both shops, they are genuine and still effective.
- Do you have any records of Mata Firearms, Aumnaj Firearms,
P. Phanich Firearms, and Erawan Firearms that would question
their reliability as a recipient of U.S. defense articles?
Response: No, they have been in business for a long time and
are the reliable firearm shops.
- Do you have any records of Mata Firearms, Aumnaj Firearms,
P. Phanich Firearms, or Erawan Firearms exporting U.S.-origin
firearms to end-users outside Thailand?
Response: No, it is against Thai law to do so. They would
face criminal penalty and lose their permits on firearm
trade. A firearm shop must only sell guns to Thai nationals
who hold a permit to buy a gun.
- Do these companies have any connection between them?
Response: These companies do not have connection.
9. (U) The officials provided printouts of details of pistols
with SN of BJM 3309, BJM 3310, BJM 3348, which have already
been put into the Bureau's computer registration system. The
document on BJM 3313 had not yet been inputed.
BJM3310
License No.: 54/2552
Place of Issuance: Lang Suan District, Chumphon Province
Issued: February 23, 2009 to Sanit Lohaphum
ID Card No.: 3-8604-00343-78-6
Address: 41/00, Khan Ngoen Sub District, Lang Suan District,
Chumphon Province
Type of Firearm: Pistol
Firearm Size: 9 mm
Firearm Model Semi-Automatic Firearm
S/N BJM331O
Firearm Manufacturer: Smith and Wesson
Registration No.: BK 200414
Acquired by purchase February 23, 2009
Certified as genuine as of September 28, 2009
BJM3348
License No.: 158/2552
Place of Issuance: Muang Udonthani District, Udonthani
Province
Issued: March 11, 2009 to Amnuai Wa-ngazuma
ID Card No.: 3-4105-00142-36-1
Address: 457/80, Moo 3, Mak Khang Sub District, Muang
Udonthani
District, Udonthani Province
Type of Firearm: Pistol
Firearm Size: 9 mm
Firearm Model: Semi-Automatic Firearm
S/N BJM3348
Firearm Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
Registration No.: BK 5107283
Acquired by purchase March 11, 2009
Certified as genuine as of September 28, 2009
BJM3309
License No.: 412/2551
Place of Issuance: Phra Samut Chedi District, Samut Prakan
Province
Issued: December 17, 2008 to Sura Somrup
ID Card No.: 3-3209-01177-60-3
Address: 143, Moo 17, Noen Hom Sub-district, Prachinburi
Province
Type of Firearm: Pistol
Firearm Size: 9 mm
Firearm Model: Semi-Automatic Firearm
S/N BJM3309
Firearm Manufacturer: Smith & Wesson
Registration No.: BK 5106278
Acquired by purchase
Certified as genuine as of September 28, 2009
10. (U) All pistols were verified in Thailand by Post through
the receipt of emailed pictures. Details as follows:
BJM3309 - Surasak Sae Lao emailed Post pictures November 17
that showed the serial number on the pistol.
BJM3310 - Sanit Lohaphum emailed Post pictures November 16
that showed the serial number on the pistol.
BJM3313 - Chaloemsak emailed Post pictures November 24 that
showed the serial number on the pistol.
BJM3348 - Amnuai Wa-ngazuma emailed Post pictures November 19
that showed the serial number on the pistol. Amnuai also
took the pistol to the Udonthani District Office for
inspection and received a certificate guaranteeing that she
has possession of the pistol.
JOHN