DOJ: Dutch company runs blockade to Iran.
Why the hell isn't this news?
WASHINGTON— A Dutch aviation services company, its owner, and two other firms have been charged in a criminal complaint in the District of Columbia with illegally exporting aerospace grade aluminum, aircraft components, and other equipment from the U.S. to Iran and the government of Iran in violation of U.S. embargoes. The defendants also have been charged with making false statements on export control documents.They used front companies in Dubai to make it look like the purchases were legit, and then routed them to Iran. For example:
The criminal complaint alleges that Aviation Services and Kraaipoel made false statements in November 2005 and January 2006 when they certified that U.S.-origin aviation communications equipment with potential applications in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles was being sent to the Poland Border Control Agency, when, in reality, the equipment was being sent to Iran.That makes me nervous.
Meanwhile, this guy on the case has a dang cool job title:
Trial Attorney Ryan Fayhee from the Counterespionage Section of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.I wonder if his business card says I TRY SPIES?
UPDATE: It is getting a little airplay after all:
“We believe this case reflected a rather large procurement effort by Iran,” Boyd said.Federal officials have said Iran is aggressively seeking components from the retired U.S. F-14 “Tomcat” fleet so it can maintain its own F-14 fighter jets. But Tuesday’s complaint did not involve F-14 parts, Boyd said.