Arms Trafficking—Aircraft Components

Arif Ali Durrani, a Pakistani national convicted in 1987 of illegally exporting missile components to Iran, has been charged in a criminal complaint with conspiring to illegally export US military aircraft components to the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and Belgium.^[1]

According to the complaint, Mr. Durrani knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to export from the US a rear canopy panel for the T-38 training aircraft, and amplifiers for the J85 turbine jet engine used on the F-5 military and T-38 training aircrafts.^[2] Mr. Durrani is charged with conspiracy and violating the Arms Export Control Act.^[3]

Conspiracy
We have covered conspiracy previously here.

Arms Export Control Act
The Arms Export Control Act is codified at 22 U.S.C. § 2778. Under this section it is illegal for a person to export articles which are designated on the US Munitions List without first obtaining a license or written authorization from the Department of State.^[4]

The punishment for violating this section is a fine of up to $1,000,000, imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.^[5]

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[1] Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Press Release: Convicted Pakistani Arms Dealer Charged in Conspiracy to Export U.S. Military Items to Middle East, Asia & Europe, Sept. 27, 2005, available here.
[2] Id.
[3] Id.
[4] 22 U.S.C. § 2778(b)(1)(A)(ii)(III).
[5] Id. § 2778(c).