VZCZCXYZ0036
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHPE #0655 1271848
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 071848Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY LIMA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0520

UNCLAS LIMA 000655 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR PM/DTCC:BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KOMC ETTC PE
SUBJECT: PERU RESPONSE: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: POST-SHIPMENT 
END-USE CHECK ON LICENSE 050130006 
 
REF: SECSTATE 33683 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Poloff carried out reftel end-use check 
April 22.  Available evidence indicated Armaq received 
ONLY.223 caliber ammunition and NOT/NOT 5.56mm ammunition 
under the subject license.  The discrepancy appears to arise 
from the view of Armaq, the Peruvian Government (GOP), and 
other sources that .223 caliber and 5.56mm rounds are one and 
the same.  Poloff suggested that Armaq in the future specify 
only ".223 caliber"  (as opposed to ".223 caliber/5.56mm") in 
its purchase orders and import license requests, so as to 
avoid further confusion.  Company representatives agreed to 
do so, but recommended USG notification to foreign 
governments and importers that U.S. law prohibts export of 
5.56mm rounds.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Poloff carried out reftel end-use check May 22. 
Armaq S.A. is a reputable retailer of hunting and fishing 
equipment in Lima.  The company was established in 1989. 
Armaq also sells weapons and ammunition to a number of 
licensed security firms in Peru.  Armaq General Manager Luis 
Guerra was completely helpful and forthcoming during poloff's 
visit to Armaq's headquarters in Lima.  Other sources 
contacted, including Post's Foreign Commercial Service 
Office, Regional Security Office, and DEA Country Office 
(which uses Armaq's on-site firing range for periodic 
requalification purposes) all confirmed Armaq's bona fides. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Available evidence indicated that Armaq S.A. 
received only .223 caliber ammunition and NOT/NOT 5.56mm 
ammunitionPoloff inspected individual cartridges, boxes of 
cartridges, and cases of boxes during the visit.  Individual 
rounds displayed only "Remington .223".  On the boxes was 
printed only "223 Remington 55 GR MC L223R3", in addition to 
brand markings.  The cases in which those boxes were shipped 
(some cases remained in Armaq's warehouse awaiting shipment) 
were marked similarly.  Nowhere on any of the subject rounds 
of its packaging did poloff see any mention of 5.56mm 
ammunition. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Guerra provided poloff with a variety of documents 
including purchase orders, Government of Peru customs 
documents, copies of applicable Peruvian law, and invoices 
showing the disposition of the cartridges.  Poloff has 
pouched all such documents, including photos of the 
ammunition packaging, to PM/DTCC.  According to Guerra, Armaq 
sold some 95 percent of the 80,000 subject rounds to four 
well-known Peruvian security firms.  The remaining product 
went to individuals licensed by the GOP to buy them. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The appearance of "5.56mm" on the original export 
license request appears to arise from the view of Armaq, the 
Peruvian Government (GOP), and other sources that .223 
caliber and 5.56mm rounds are one and the same.  Guerra 
provided poloff with several sources of information including 
Peruvian Government regulations to demonstrate the point. 
Without entering into a technical debate on the point, poloff 
suggested that Armaq in the future specify only ".223 
caliber"  (as opposed to ".223 caliber/5.56mm") in its 
purchase orders and import license requests, so as to avoid 
further confusion.  Company representatives agreed to do so, 
but recommended USG notification to foreign governments and 
importers that U.S. law prohibts export of 5.56mm rounds. 
Poloff undertook to pass this request to relevant USG 
officials and does so by means of this message. 
MCKINLEY