VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHGT #0897/01 2641642
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211642Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0041

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000897 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETTC KOMC GT
SUBJECT: GUATEMALA: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK 
ON LICENSE, 050183538 
 
REF: STATE 83508 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  In response to reftel, Emboffs 
 
researched the bona fides of the arms import company 
 
Almacen El Bisonte (AEB).  The research included an on-site 
 
inspection of AEB, an interview with the company's legal 
 
representative, and records checks of both the company and 
 
the representative with the MOD's Arms and Ammunition 
 
Control Department (DECAM).  As a result of the 
 
investigation, Post recommends approval of reftel license. 
 
End Summary. 
 
 
 
¶2.  (SBU) On September 3rd, Emboffs conducted an on-site 
 
inspection of AEB located inside a large commercial 
 
shopping center and interviewed the company's legal 
 
representative, Rene Polasek Mejia, who cooperated fully 
 
with Emboff requests, and offered complete access to his 
 
records, and a tour of the facility. AEB is owned by the 
 
father of Polasek, Josef Polasek Petrova, a Czechoslovakian 
 
immigrant to Guatemala, who has worked in the Guatemalan 
 
weapons industry since the late 1940's.  Per reftel, for 
 
privacy reasons, Polasek prefers to use a post office box 
 
address for AEB, but Polasek confirmed to Emboffs the 
 
physical addresses of all three weapons locations that he 
 
operates with his father and also the address of his 
 
warehouse and office facility in the city. 
 
 
 
¶3. (SBU) AEB is located on the third floor of a large, 
 
family-oriented commercial retail location.  The store is 
 
securely located in the back corner of the third floor and 
 
is well-protected.  There are various protective measures 
 
utilized inside the store including a private security 
 
guard, Internet-based recording cameras, and infrared and 
 
motion sensors placed throughout the store and in the 
 
well-constructed weapons storage room.  The store's 
 
presentation is well-organized with various cases featuring 
 
specific inventory to target the store's various clientele 
 
including hunters, collectors, competitors, private 
 
security guards and farmers.  Signage is well-marked and 
 
the front entrance is well-protected with double pane glass 
 
that both highlights and fortifies a storefront showcase. 
 
The front entrance has a set of steel gates and a private 
 
guard standing watch over the eight-foot interior entrance. 
 
The well-lighted showcases throughout the store display 
 
about 40 guns in total from inexpensive revolvers to the 
 
classic pieces which Polasek states that many collectors 
 
 
purchase for display purposes only.  The Polasek family has 
 
been in the arms business for over 50 years. 
 
 
 
¶4. (SBU) As an official distributor of a well-known 
 
Czechoslovakian weapon brand called CZ, most of Polasek's 
 
inventory is purchased from CZ with smaller amounts coming 
 
from Argentina and the U.S.  Polasek imports about 200-300 
 
weapons from the U.S. per year, and stated that he would 
 
like to import more from the U.S.  Per reftel, Polasek 
 
purchased 150 .38 Rossi revolvers to sell to private 
 
security guards.  Polasek explained to Emboffs that the 
 
Rossis are a private security guard's gun of choice; 
 
because of its small size, it can be easily placed in a leg 
 
holster and used as a back-up weapon. 
 
 
 
¶5. (SBU)  Polasek demonstrated that he is familiar with 
 
relevant regulations governing the import of U.S.-origin 
 
defense articles, including restrictions on  re-transfer 
 
and re-export.  Polasek explained that all of the gun 
 
distributors who purchase weapons from his stores (over a 
 
100 according to Polasek) are located in Guatemala City, 
 
and added that although they make frequent purchases at all 
 
three of his stores, they are never allowed to exceed the 
 
limit of ten weapons per order. 
 
 
 
¶6. (SBU) AEB books and DECAM registries were 
 
well-maintained, and indicated that while AEB does sell 
 
some of the weapons imported from the U.S. to other arms 
 
distributors, the company also sells a substantial number 
 
of the weapons to private citizens. 
 
 
 
¶7. (SBU) AEB has a clean record with DECAM and has passed 
 
all routine inspections without incident.  According to 
 
DECAM authorities, AEB is a medium-scale, well-managed 
 
weapons store that has always operated within local laws 
 
and regulations.  Based on the results of the on-site 
 
inspection, interviews and a records check with DECAM, Post 
 
recommends approval of the reftel license. 
MCFARLAND