Three Philippine Nat'ls Arrested for Illegal Arms Imports
On January 6, 2012, the Justice Department announced that three Philippine nationals have been arrested on charges of importing defense articles without a license, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA). According to the complaint, this case is part of an FBI investigation of transnational Asian organized crime groups involved in the illicit trafficking of firearms.
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Imported Items Specifically Designed for Military from Philippines to U.S.
The complaint alleges that on June 7, 2011, Sergio Santiago de Leon Syjuco, Cesar Paolo Inciong Ubaldo, and Arjyl Revereza imported various defense articles -- items specifically designed, developed, configured, adapted or modified for military application -- into the U.S. from the Philippines, including 12 fully automatic Bushmaster M-4 .223 caliber rifles, a .50 caliber sniper rifle, an M14 7.62mm assault rifle, a single-shot grenade launcher, a rocket propelled grenade (RPG-7) launcher, a mortar launcher, an AK-47 rifle and ballistic vests.
None of the defendants had a license to import these items into the U.S. Law enforcement officers took possession of the items when they entered the U.S.
Could Face Maximum of 20 Years in Prison
If convicted, the defendants face a maximum of 20 years in prison.