VZCZCXYZ0024
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHBO #3391 3211345
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 171345Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0921
INFO RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUETIBC/DIRNSA 55-1 REPORTING FT GEORGE G MEADE MD
UNCLAS BOGOTA 003391
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
PM/DTCC FOR RACHAEL-THERESE S. JOUBERT-LIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC CO
SUBJECT: Blue Lantern Broker Inquiry K-2357
REF: STATE 99489
1. (U) Summary. Per reftel, Emboffs traveled to the offices of
IMDICOL Ltda. in Bogota on November 9 and met with IMDICOL's
President and management team. IMDICOL appears to be a bona fide
broker of military supplies whose main client is the Colombian
government.
2. (U) Prior to the visit, IMDICOL sent to Emboff a copy of
IMDICOL's business registration. IMDICOL was registered in 1983 and
is a family-run business with approximately thirty direct employees
and contractors. The principal owners are Carlos Fidel Fajardo
Castillo, Oswaldo Fajardo Castillo, and Victor Hugo Fajardo
Castillo. IMDICOL is actually a group of six companies, with its
main offices located not far from the Embassy. Only one company
imports Night Vision Devices (NVDs).
3. (U) On November 9, IMDICOL president Victor Fajardo greeted
Emboffs, gave a briefing on the company's business activities and
introduced his management team. Mr. Fajardo claims his company
provides 90% of all U.S.-imported NVDs sold to the Colombian
military and police. IMDICOL is the legal representative for a
number of foreign companies in Colombia. These companies export
military supplies through IMDICOL, including body armor, police
shields, goggles, sabers, knives, and smoke bombs from the U.S.,
Germany, and India. IMDICOL negotiates prices, competes for
contracts, and acts as the legal representative for these companies
in Colombia. Jenny Fajardo, daughter of the company's president
and the Director of International Business, stated IMDICOL has
supplied NVDs to the Colombian government since the 1990s and
currently imports NVDs from U.S. companies Nightline and L3
Communications.
4. (U) Mr. Fajardo stated that IMDICOL deals exclusively with
Colombian military and police, and does not sell equipment outside
of Colombia or to private parties. Ms. Fajardo explained that once
the supplies are flown into Bogota, they are collected by the
branch of the Colombian military or police that ordered the
equipment. At no point does IMDICOL take possession of or store
the equipment. The security and organizational measures at the
offices seemed adequate, and the Fajardos had in-depth knowledge
and documentation concerning the license in question.
BROWNFIELD