Illegal exports of weapons on the rise

(October 29, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Illegal exports of weapons, military equipment and national security-related technology to potentially adversarial nations are on the rise, the US Justice Department reported.

Of 145 people charged with shipments last year, nearly half involved -- or 43 per cent -- were exporting goods to Iran and China.

Federal prosecutors indicted three more men on Tuesday for allegedly conspiring to export material used in space and weapons technology to an academy that builds satellites for the Chinese government.

'Keeping US 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 unauthorised 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 per cent increase in 2008 of exporters violating US 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.

Additionally, about 60 defendants were charged with exports to Mexico -- mostly arms shipments, Boyd said. - Sri Lanka Guardian