Syrian, Lebanese men charged with illegal exporting of weapons from U.S.
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – U.S. authorities charged on Tuesday two individuals from Syria and Lebanon with conspiring to illegally export munitions from the U.S. to Sudan and Iraq, in addition to committing money laundering.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a press release that Mohamad Deiry, a Syrian national, and Samer Rayya, a Lebanese national, both principals of an Iraq-based arms company, Black Shield Ltd., face charges of violating the Arms Export Control Act.
“These defendants allegedly ran an international arm trafficking ring and conspired to unlawfully export anti-aircraft ammunition and other military arms and munitions from the United States to Sudan and Iraq, promoting violence and putting Americans and our allies at risk,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
Both Rayya and Deiry remain at large and wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
According to the Attorney’s Office, both men have connections in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, Russia, Belarus, Sudan and Libya and might attempt to go there.
Moreover, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Black Shield, Deiry, and Rayya, in addition to other individuals and entities also engaged in illegal supply of munitions used in conflicts around the world.
Unlawfully exportation of defense articles from the U.S. carries a maximum statutory penalty of five years in prison, and conspiracy to engage in international money laundering, carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in prison, according to the source.