A Chinese man, Shenghua Wen, living illegally in the U.S., has been charged with exporting firearms and ammunition to North Korea, violating international sanctions. Wen, who overstayed his student visa, allegedly sent shipments from California to North Korea via Hong Kong and was planning to send other military-related technology. Authorities seized some materials before they could be shipped. Wen faces charges under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which could result in up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
Russian President Putin claimed that some Western weapons supplied to Ukraine are being sold on the illegal arms market and ending up in the hands of the Taliban in the Middle East. While Ukraine asserts tight control over the weapons it receives, concerns have been raised by Western security officials about corruption. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime warned that if the issue is not addressed, Ukraine's battlefields could become a source of weapons for various groups worldwide. Western donors, led by the United States, have made military commitments to Ukraine worth at least $90 billion.
