Briton indicted on arms smuggling charges

BOSTON, JULY 26. A British citizen, accused of trying to smuggle U.S. military equipment, such as night vision goggles and blueprints for a C- 130 aircraft to Pakistan, has been indicted on charges of violating the U.S. Arms Export Act, the office of U.S. Attorney, Mr. Donald Stern, said.

A Federal Grand Jury on Tuesday indicted Mr. Jonathan Reynolds, 34, and his two companies, R.A. Turbine Support Ltd of Thailand and Euro Aviation Supplies Ltd. of Britain, the Attorney's office said.

In February, U.S. prosecutors had charged Mr. Reynolds with conspiring to buy Generation Iii night vision goggles and blueprints of the C-130, one of the U.S. military's workhorses, for Pakistan. The sale or transfer of U.S. military parts or technology to Pakistan had been barred since October 1990.

The alleged scheme began in June 1998, when a man identified in court as Mr. Hassan Ahmed of the Sun Star Co. of Islamabad, attempted to buy night vision equipment from an undercover U.S. Customs company based here. Months later, Mr. Reynolds, acting on behalf of Mr. Ahmed, contacted the company and Mr. Ken Mackay, an undercover agent, posing as a corporate vice-president. Mr. Reynolds, then attempted to acquire other military equipment, such as parts for AH-1 helicopters for the Pakistan military.

- Reuters

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Section  : International
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