Here is an article from the real world of underground arms dealings
- an Indian born migrant with British Papers was arrested in New
Jersey (USA) for trying to tie up a deal that will eventaully lead
to a delivery of 200 Igla shoulder launched missiles.
The delivery was intended for an underground Al Qaeda cell
operating in the USA, targetting civilian aircrafts taking off from
airports in the USA.
A Malaysian was also arrested for helping in this transaction by
laundering US$500,000 to cover the track of the money in this
deal.
This deal was busted by a joint op started with a tip from Russian
Security to FBI, and roped in security agencies in Russia, USA and
UK.
50-missile deal was in the
works
FBI describes arrested Indian-born Briton as a significant
arms dealer who also offered to sell as many as 200
missiles
NEWARK (New Jersey) - The British man accused of trying to sell a
shoulder-fired Russian SA-18 Igla missile to shoot down a jetliner,
had begun arranging to smuggle 50 more missiles into the United
States after securing one of the weapons.
A Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) affidavit described Hemant
Lakhani, 68, as a 'significant international arms dealer' who
offered to sell as many as 200 missiles to an undercover agent
posing as a Somali extremist.
He was charged on Wednesday with attempting to provide material
support and resources to terrorists and acting as an arms broker
without a licence.
He faces penalties of up to 25 years' jail and US$1.25 million
(S$2.2 million) in fines.
Lakhani was arrested at a hotel near Newark Liberty International
Airport, after an 18-month investigation by Britain's MI-5 and
MI-6, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) and the American
FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force in Newark.
He appeared in a packed courtroom with Moinuddeen Ahmed Hameed, a
resident of Malaysia, who was arrested in New York on Tuesday, and
charged with conspiring to operate a money laundering operation as
part of a scheme to pay for the missiles.
They had their hands cuffed in front of them, and neither man
spoke. They were ordered held without bail pending an Aug 20
hearing.
Officials also announced money laundering charges against Yehuda
Abraham, 76, of New York City. He was said to have handled the
funds for the initial missile purchase.
His bail was set at US$10 million. Both Abraham and Hameed could
face up to five years in prison and a US$250,000 fine.
Russian authorities had passed on a tip about Lakhani's activities
to the FBI, US officials said.
The FBI affidavit said the probe began in December 2001, when a
'cooperating witness' began talking to Lakhani about obtaining
anti-aircraft guns and missiles.
Lakhani, an Indian-born Muslim, offered him as many as 200
missiles.
He agreed to deliver the first missile after he obtained it from
Russian agents posing as sellers, said Mr Christopher Christie, the
US attorney for New Jersey.
Mr Christie said Hameed had been summoned by Lakhani from Malaysia
to launder a US$500,000 down payment on an additional 50 missiles
that undercover agents sought from Lakhani, after one missile - a
dummy supplied by the Russians - was shipped at a cost of
US$86,000.
Commenting on Lakhani's arrest, President George W. Bush declared
US airlines and airports safe. 'The fact that we were able to sting
this guy is a pretty good example of what we're doing in order to
protect the American people,' he said.
In Moscow, FSB spokesman Sergei Ignatchenko hailed the joint sting
operation as marking the dawn of a new era in cooperation between
Russia and its former Cold War era foes. 'It took place for the
first time since the end of the Cold War, when we opposed each
other.' -- AP, AFP, Los Angeles Times
THE START OF THE STING OPERATION
THE probe began in December 2001, when a 'cooperating witness'
began talking to Hemant Lakhani about obtaining anti-aircraft guns
and missiles, an FBI affidavit said.
Lakhani, an Indian-born Muslim, offered him as many as 200
missiles. He agreed to deliver the first missile after he obtained
it from Russian agents posing as sellers, said Mr Christopher
Christie, the US attorney for New Jersey.
Moinuddeen Ahmed Hameed was summoned by Lakhani from Malaysia to
launder a US$500,000 down payment on 50 more missiles that
undercover agents sought from Lakhani, after one missile - a dummy
supplied by the Russians - was shipped at a cost of
US$86,000.
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/topstories/story/0,4386,204768,00.html?
