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Two US citizens charged with smuggling aircraft parts to Iran

30 October 2016 02:27 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. At least two Los Angeles citizens have been arrested on allegations of smuggling US fighter jet parts to Iran, APA reports quoting Sputnik.

Zavik Zargarian, 52, and Vache Nayirian, 57, have been reportedly arrested by special agents with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement service's Homeland Security Investigations unit, who conducted an undercover investigation, the US Attorney's Office reports.

According to a federal indictment released this week, the two men were part of a larger group who conspired to smuggle US-made fighter jet parts worth $3 million to Iran via a scheme that involved Zargarian's Pacoima-based company, ZNC Engineering Inc., and at least two Iranian nationals: Hanri Terminassian, 55, and Hormoz Nowrouz, 56.

The two conspirators from Los Angeles got caught when they contacted an undercover Homeland Security agent who posed as plane part dealer. "The crimes charged in this indictment are very serious threats to our national security," said US Attorney Eileen M. Decker.

"As a nation, it is vital that we protect our military technology and prevent it from getting into the hands of other countries without proper authorization."

The total list of plane parts has not been disclosed, but according to officials familiar with the case, these parts could be used in F-14, F-15, F-16 and F-18 fighter jets.