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A Taiwanese citizen was taken into custody last week in Guam on suspicion of violating U.S. export rules by shipping potential missile program materials to Iran, Reuters reported (see GSN, Dec. 16, 2009).
Yi-Lan Chen, 40, is said to have acted as a middleman for the export of turbine engines, pin seals and other dual-use items manufactured in the United States. He would guide the purchase and export of the materials to Hong Kong and Taiwan, where they would then be shipped on to customers in Iran, authorities charged.
Among the buyers was a firm that is believed to serve as a front for a company connected to Iran's ballistic missile efforts, according to a federal complaint.
"Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism and remains subject to United States, United Nations and European Union economic sanctions and export controls because of its continued involvement in terrorism and its nuclear weapons ambitions," Jeffrey Sloman, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida, said in a released statement.
"The dual-use items allegedly exported in this case could easily be used in missile development and other military components. Such conduct poses a serious threat to our national security," Sloman said.
The maximum sentence in the case would be 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine (Pascal Fletcher, Reuters/Washington Post, Feb. 4).