Posted on 03/15/2005 8:34:47 AM PST by Pendragon_6
NY Prosecutors Arrest 18 Suspected Arms Traffickers
NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York prosecutors said on Tuesday 18 people have been arrested on charges of trafficking in arms from Russia, including rocket-propelled grenades and shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles.
"The arrests resulted from a year-long wiretap investigation that utilized a confidential informant posing as an arms trafficker selling weapons to terrorists," the U.S. Attorney's office said in a statement.
U.S. authorities have been on high alert since the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacked plane attacks. Experts have warned that attackers might use surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) to try to down a plane.
The charges include "a scheme to smuggle rocket-propelled grenade launchers (RPGs), shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles and other Russian military weapons into the U.S. for sale," the statement said.
continued
A rather big deal judging from the presser. Sounds like they were buying some pretty serious weaponry.
Not your average "gun show loophole" is it? /sarc
Viewed somewhat differently, what they busted may have been a Spetsnaz operation, disguised as "rogue arms dealer networks."
Dear Jan:
Thank you for this excellent post. I think too many people today believe that communism in the USA is a myth.
best, P_6
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