Convicted Arms Exporter Faces New Charges
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that Arif Ali Durrani, a convicted Pakistani military-parts dealer, faces new charges of engaging in a conspiracy to smuggle jet engine components from the U.S. to Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates and Belgium.
In 1987 Durrani was found guilty on three counts of violating the Arms Export Control Act and was released from prison in 1992. According to the U.S. Government, Durrani continued to operate his business from Mexico after leaving the U.S. in 1998 under pressure from U.S. authorities who were trying to deport him. Durrani returned to the U.S. in June of this year after Mexico authorities deported him. He was arrested when his flight landed in Los Angeles.