All articles tagged with #arms smuggling
Muhammad Pahlawan, a Pakistani man, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for his role in smuggling Iranian weapons to Houthi militants in Yemen, which resulted in the deaths of two Navy SEALs during a raid off Somalia. The operation involved ship-to-ship transfers of weapons, and Pahlawan was convicted on multiple charges related to terrorism and weapons support.
Despite setbacks from Israeli and US strikes, Iran is actively rearming its regional proxies like the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon, with recent large-scale weapons seizures indicating ongoing covert military support, despite Tehran's denials.
A Chinese national, Shenghua Wen, residing illegally in California, has been arrested for allegedly attempting to send $2 million worth of weapons and ammunition to North Korea. Prosecutors claim Wen believed the arms were intended for a potential attack on South Korea, as directed by Kim Jong-un's regime. Charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Wen faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. The arrest has been highlighted as a significant prevention of illegal arms shipment and intelligence gathering for the U.S. and its allies.
Jordan's army clashed with armed men attempting to cross the border from Syria, repelling the attack and leaving several border guard soldiers moderately wounded. The armed men are believed to be part of a terrorist organization involved in arms and drug smuggling. The incident highlights the increasing number of such attempts along the Syria-Jordan border, with trafficking routes reaching cities in the West Bank.
The United States has supplied Ukraine with over a million rounds of Iranian ammunition that was confiscated in the Gulf last year. The transfer of the ammunition followed a civil forfeiture case pursued by the US Justice Department, which claimed ownership of the bullets seized while being smuggled to Yemeni Houthi forces in violation of a UN arms embargo. The US is also seeking forfeiture of other confiscated weapons, including assault rifles, machine guns, rocket launchers, and anti-tank guided missiles. The transfer of seized Iranian weapons to Ukraine comes at a time when Western defense ministries are concerned about their ability to support Ukraine in the face of Russia's ongoing aggression.
Two people were killed in clashes between members of the Iran-backed Hezbollah terror group and residents of a Christian town in Lebanon. The violence erupted after a truck overturned, and residents accused Hezbollah of smuggling arms. The mayor of Kahale stated that residents surrounded the truck, demanding to know its contents, and Hezbollah members opened fire, killing one person. Hezbollah reported that one of its members was wounded and later died. The Lebanese army is now handling the situation, and residents have sealed off the road until the contents of the truck are disclosed. Hezbollah, considered a terrorist organization by many Western governments, remains armed and influential in Lebanese politics.
A three-year investigation into the cracking of encrypted EncroChat phones has resulted in over 6,500 arrests worldwide and the seizure of hundreds of tons of drugs, according to French, Dutch, and European Union prosecutors. The investigation uncovered extensive criminal activity, including drug and arms smuggling, as well as money laundering. By gaining access to over 115 million encrypted communications, authorities were able to prevent violent attacks, corruption, and obtain valuable information on organized crime. The seized drugs included cocaine, cannabis, and heroin, while nearly 740 million euros ($809 million) in cash was recovered and assets worth 154 million euros ($168 million) were frozen.
Jordanian MP Imad al-Adwan, who was held by Israeli authorities for allegedly smuggling over 200 guns in his car, has been released and handed over to Jordanian security authorities. Israel's Shin Bet intelligence agency said al-Adwan carried out 12 separate smuggling attempts since early 2022 using his diplomatic passport to bring in contraband that ranged from electronic cigarettes to gold to birds. Al-Adwan's parliamentary immunity has been revoked, and he could face prosecution. The arrest threatened to further strain ties between Israel and Jordan, which were already tense despite a peace treaty that is nearly 30 years old.
Israel has detained Jordanian lawmaker Imad al Adwan on suspicion of smuggling arms and gold into the West Bank. The Jordanian foreign ministry is working to secure his release. While Israel and Jordan share close security ties, political relations have soured in recent years over Israel's stance on the right of Palestinians to a state.
Jordanian MP Imad al-Adwan has been detained and interrogated by Israeli authorities over alleged smuggling of arms and gold into the occupied West Bank. Al-Adwan, a member of Jordan’s parliament, was arrested at the King Hussein Bridge border crossing. Jordan's foreign ministry is working to address the issue, while a spokesperson for Israel’s foreign ministry declined to comment. Political relations between the two countries have soured in recent years over Israel’s stance on the right of Palestinians to a state.
Israeli authorities have arrested a Jordanian lawmaker, Imad Al-Adwan, on suspicion of smuggling weapons and gold into the occupied West Bank. The incident threatens to further strain the already tense relations between Jordan and Israel. The West Bank has seen a surge in violence over the past year, with Israel claiming that the area has been flooded with illegal weapons, including guns smuggled from neighboring Jordan.