VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBK #0191/01 0250629
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 250629Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9664
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMCSUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE

UNCLAS BANGKOK 000191 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR PM/DTCC - BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETTC KOMC TH
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK ON 
LICENSES 050179008 AND 050202690 
 
REF: STATE 123750 
 
 ¶1. (U) According to the Thai Ministry of Commerce, 299 
Company, Ltd. is listed as follows: 
 
Registration No. 0105536005188 
Registered Date: January 18, 1993 
Status: Company Limited 
Capital Registration: 5,000,000 baht 
Partners: Chailai Yugala Na Ayutthaya and  Anyawida Yugala Na 
Ayutthaya 
Company Location: 622, Room 3P-15, Floor 3, Emporium Shopping 
Center, Sukhumvit Road, Khlong Tan Sub-District, Khlong Toei, 
Bangkok 
The company has submitted annual financial reports for 
1999-2008. 
Purpose of Company: To wholesale back-bags, camping tents, 
sleeping bags, slippers, mountaineer shoes, sweaters, and 
jackets 
 
¶2. (U) After a review of the Telephone Directory Center, 
another address and phone number was discovered for this 
company.  They are as follows: 
 
Company Location: 469-502, Amarin Plaza Building, Phoenchit 
Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 
Phone Number: 02-684-5991-2 
 
¶3. (U) A site visited was conducted on December 17, 2009 to 
both company locations - the Emporium and Amarin Plaza.  The 
Emporium location is a store named 'Pro Cam - FIS,' selling 
imported and domestic clothing, weather-proofed jackets, and 
camping gear/instruments.  The staff at this location did not 
know about 299 Company Ltd or the import of military 
equipment. 
 
¶4. (U) The Amarin Plaza location is also a store called 'Pro 
Cam - FIS.' The cashier at this location was aware that the 
owner of the store also owned 299 Company Ltd but was not 
aware of the company's military contracting. 
 
¶5. (U) A site visit was conducted at 299 Tank Company Ltd., 
located at 116/15-16, Young Place Building, Soi Sukhumvit 31, 
Sukhumvit Road, Khlong Toei, Nua Sub-District, Wattana 
District, Bangkok.  This company is apparently the sister 
company of 299 Company Ltd.  The staff at this location did 
know about 299 Company Ltd or its military contracting 
activities. 
 
¶6.  (U) Upon further investigation, we were able to reach a 
principal staff member of 299 Company Ltd,  Sukanya 
Suam-Prakham, Director of Government Sales.  We met Sukanya 
December 18, 2009.  Sukanya noted that 299 Company Ltd. has 
eleven employees, three of whom work on military/government 
sales.  The remaining work in one of the 'Pro Cam - FIS' 
store locations.  Documents regarding military sales are 
stored at Sukanya's home or Anyawida Yugala Na Ayutthaya's 
residence. 
 
¶7.  Sukanya's answers to the questions are as follows: 
 
WHEN WAS YOUR COMPANY ESTABLISHED AND WHO ARE ITS PRINCIPALS? 
 
The company was set up in 1993 with the principals as stated 
by the Ministry of Commerce.  Sukanya is the secretary to 
Chailai Yugala Na Ayutthaya and she manages the military 
sales projects.  She uses her private home and Chailai's 
residence as offices. 
 
WHAT PRODUCTS OR SERVICES DOES YOUR COMPANY PROVIDE? WHO ARE 
YOUR REGULAR CUSTOMERS AND WHERE DO THEY RESIDE? 
 
Principally, 299 Company Ltd. operates the two stores 'Pro 
Cam  - FIS,' selling imported and domestic trekking gear, 
outdoor sports equipment, and clothing to the general public. 
 In September 2007, the company officially began trade 
military equipment and started its business with the Royal 
Thai Armed Forces in 2008.  Its military clients include 
Army's Taskforce 90, the Counter Terrorism Operations Center, 
and the Naval Ordinance Department.  The military equipment 
sold by 299 Company Ltd. includes weapon-connecting gear and 
accessories, such as flashlights, silencers, handheld 
radio-communication headsets, night vision goggles, and 
rope-rappelling equipment. 
 
WHAT ARE YOUR ANNUAL SALES OF US-ORIGIN DEFENSE ARTICLES? 
 
It was 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 baht in 2008 and over 
10,000,000 baht in 2009. 
 
DO YOU SELL DEFENSE ARTICLES TO CUSTOMERS THAT RESIDE OUTSIDE 
THAILAND?  IF SO, WHO ARE THESE CUSTOMERS AND WHERE DO THEY 
RESIDE? 
 
299 Company Ltd. has never sold defense articles to foreign 
customers, only to the Royal Thai Armed Forces.  The items 
will be for Thai military use and not for general sale to the 
public.  However, the company does sell to foreign customers 
at their store locations focused on outdoor activity gear. 
 
DID YOU EVER HAVE PHYSICAL POSSESSION OF THE SUPPRESSORS 
LISTED? IF SO, PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION THAT DEMONSTRATES THAT 
ALL SUPPRESSORS WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE ROYAL THAI NAVY. 
 
299 Company Ltd. did order and import the listed equipment. 
The items arrived at the Suwannaphum International Airport in 
Bangkok on September 13, 2009.  They were picked up by the 
Naval Quartermasters Department Officer, Lt. Nopphdon 
Suksathi RTN, on September 17, 2009 and transported directly 
to the Naval Ordinance Department in Chonburi, arriving on 
the same day as signed and acknowledged by the Naval 
Ordinance Department Officer, Lt. Thanaphat Rotnoi RTN.  The 
items were never stored by the company. 
 
PLEASE CONFIRM THE EXACT QUANTITY OF SUPPRESSORS YOU ORDERED, 
RECEIVED AND TRANSFERRED TO THE ROYAL THAI NAVY. 
 
The quantity of suppressors imported is 32 sets of Model FA 
556-212.  The series numbers are R02972 - R03003.  These 
items came together with 32 sets of Flash Hinders/Adapters, 
Model FH556-212.  A contract dated March 24, 2009 between the 
Naval Ordinance Department and 299 Company Ltd (ref. 55/Ngo, 
Po 2552) confirms this quantity. 
 
WILL YOU EVER HAVE PHYSICAL POSSESSION OF THE HELLFIGHTER 
SPOTLIGHT KITS, SHORT BARREL MOUNTS, OR CABLES AS LISTED? 
 
The order and import of the above items is confirmed as to 
the quantity and details listed in the cable in the contract 
dated May 6, 2009 between the Naval Ordinance Department and 
299 Company Ltd. (ref 90/Ngo, Po 2552).  As with the prior 
items, these will be picked up by naval officers when they 
are received at the airport and transported directly to the 
naval base. 
 
PLEASE DESCRIBE THE SECURITY MEASURES YOUR COMPANY TAKES IN 
HANDLING AND STORING DEFENSE ARTICLES. 
 
As noted above, 299 Company Ltd. does not store these items 
as they do not have a facility to do so.  The items are 
picked up and transported by the Naval Officers directly. 
 
ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE IMPORT OF 
US-ORIGIN DEFENSE ARTICLES, INCLUDING RESTRICTIONS ON 
UNAUTHORIZED RE-TRANSFER OR RE-EXPORT? 
 
Sukanya was not familiar with these regulations.  We 
described the regulations to her during our interview. 
 
¶8. (U) A site visit to the Naval Ordinance Department of the 
Royal Thai Navy was conducted on December 22, 2009.  We met 
with Lt. Cdr. Somphon Phaethai RTN of the 
Logistics/Procurement Division.  Somphon was able to confirm 
verbally and documentarily that the items listed in the cable 
were purchased and received by the department. However, he 
would not permit a physical inspection, citing military 
confidentiality.  He noted that the items were for the 
operations of the Navy's Seal Unit (the Naval Special Welfare 
Division). 
 
¶9. (U) Somphon's responses to the questions are as follows: 
 
CAN YOU CONFIRM THESE ORDERS FOR SUPPRESSORS AND FIRE CONTROL 
SYSTEMS? 
 
Somphon confirmed the purchase of these items as well as 
their delivery on September 17, 2009.  They were examined, 
tested, and officially accepted on September 29, 2009, signed 
by three naval officers. 
 
DID THE ROYAL THAI NAVY RECEIVE ALL THE SUPPRESSORS LISTED ON 
LICENSE 0501798008? PLEASE CONFIRM THE EXACT QUANTITY OF 
SUPPRESSORS ORDERED AND RECEIVED. 
 
As stated above, this was confirmed verbally and 
documentarily, but not physically. 
 
IS THE 299 COMPANY LTD. PROPERLY AUTHORIZED TO IMPORT AND 
SELL DEFENSE ARTICLES IN THAILAND? 
 
Somphon has never visited the company but a review of the 
company's registration convinced him that they were legally 
authorized to do this. 
 
DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION OF 299 COMPANY LTD. THAT WOULD 
CALL INTO QUESTION THEIR RELIABILITY AS A RECIPIENT OF U.S. 
DEFENSE ARTICLES? 
 
Somphon said his department has conducted business with 299 
Company Ltd. for two years now and has no concerns about 
their reliability. 
 
¶10.  (U) Our review led to the discovery of a few minor 
inconsistencies.  They are as follows: 
 
The name of Dir-Gen. of the Naval Ordinance Department is 
Rear Adm. Narongpol Na Bangchang, rather than Narchopol 
Nananchang as stated in the cable. 
 
The 299 Company Ltd. purchase order No. 2009/07-002 is 
actually dated July 9, 2009, rather than September 7, 2009 as 
stated in the cable. 
JOHN