AP, Washington. October 29, 2008 (excerpts) – Illegal exports of weapons, military equipment and national security-related technology to potentially adversarial nations are on the rise, the U.S. Justice Department reported Tuesday.
Of 145 people or companies charged with shipments last year, nearly half involved _ or 43 percent _ were exporting goods to Iran and China.
Federal prosecutors indicted three more men Tuesday for allegedly conspiring to export material used in space and weapons technology to an academy that builds satellites for the Chinese government.
“Keeping U.S. weapons technology and other restricted materials from falling into the wrong hands _ and from being used against our allies, our troops overseas or Americans at home _ is a top counterintelligence priority,” Assistant Attorney General Pat Rowan said in a statement.
At issue is a growing number of unauthorized exports that the government says could be dangerous if the parts and supplies end up in the hands of terrorists or hostile nations. Officials are particularly worried about the export of restricted but seemingly harmless military items that can be used to make weapons of mass destruction.
Prosecutors described a 30 percent increase in 2008 of exporters violating U.S. national security laws. Some of the illegally exported goods included assault weapons, missile technology, night vision goggles and trade secrets.
An estimated 74 exporters have been charged with sending goods to Iran over the last two years, and another 23 to China over the same period, said Justice spokesman Dean Boyd.