A Chinese national was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of transporting weapons and ammunition to North Korea from Long Beach, California.
Shenhua Wen, 41, who was “illegally residing in the United States,” was charged with conspiracy. violate International Emergency Economic Powers Act, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California. The press release said Wen was a Chinese national who had overstayed his student visa and was “therefore prohibited from possessing any firearms or ammunition.”
According to a press release, violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act is a “felony punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.”
Wen reportedly “exported shipments of firearms, ammunition, and other munitions to North Korea” “hidden in shipping containers” from Long Beach. The containers were then shipped from Long Beach to Hong Kong, and from Hong Kong to North Korea.
“It is imperative that we protect our country from hostile foreign nations that have adverse interests in our country,” U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a statement. “We have arrested a defendant suspected of conspiring to illegally transport firearms, ammunition, and other military equipment to North Korea at the direction of the North Korean government.”
The press release said that “an affidavit filed on November 26 with the complaint” alleges Wen “obtained firearms, ammunition, and export-controlled technology for the purpose of transporting them to North Korea.” Ta.
According to an affidavit filed with the complaint on Nov. 26, Mr. Wen obtained firearms, ammunition and export-controlled technology for the purpose of transporting them to North Korea, a violation of federal law and a violation of U.S. It also violates the sanctions. Wen and his co-conspirators allegedly hid firearms and ammunition in shipping containers that were shipped from Long Beach to North Korea via Hong Kong and exported them to North Korea.
Wen's arrest comes several months after law enforcement authorities “seized” from his home on August 14 “two devices intended to be sent to North Korea for military use.” . One was a “chemical threat identification device” and the other was a “portable broadband receiver that detects eavesdropping devices,” according to the report.
On September 6, law enforcement authorities seized “approximately 50,000 rounds of 9mm ammunition that Wen allegedly obtained for shipment to North Korea” from Wen's residence, according to a press release.
criminal charges claimed According to Fox News, Wen “told investigators that North Korean government officials wired him approximately $2 million to purchase firearms and other products.”
According to the complaint, Wen also “purchased an armory and a federal firearms license for $150,000” and had others “purchase” firearms, the newspaper reported.
“The results of today's arrest and search warrants demonstrate that HSI and our partners are working to protect national security and sensitive technology,” Sean Gibson, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in San Diego, said in a statement. This is proof of that.” . “It is a federal crime for foreign countries to illegally acquire and export certain U.S. technology, and those who attempt to circumvent the law will be thoroughly investigated.”
