The three breached British arms embargoes by arranging deals to export to the Middle East nation after importing a host of military parts to the UK via the bidding website.
Their complex plot involved an attempt to supply Iran with equipment for F-14 Tomcat fighter jets, similar to those which featured in the Hollywood blockbuster starring Tom Cruise, Southwark Crown Court heard.
Mohsen Akhavan Nik and his son Mohammad Akhavan Nik, who were granted political asylum in the UK having apparently fled from Iran in 1995, together with Nithish Jaitha, were caught after HM Revenue and Customs officers stopped a consignment of oxygen cylinders at Heathrow Airport which were bound for Tehran.
Mohsen Nik, 49, and Mohammad Nik, 26, of Ascot, Berkshire, were jailed for five years and two and a half years respectively while Jaitha, 43, of Chalgrove, Oxford, was sentenced to two and a half years for the conspiracy to export controlled goods.
Iran's ageing jet fighters, including the F-14 Tomcat, F4 Phantoms, F5 Tigers and Cobra Attack helicopters, can only be kept in service through parts purchased in the United States and then illegally shipped to Iran using fraudulent paperwork.
The items were sourced on eBay in the US and shipped to an address in Florida to avoid the need for an export licence.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5445615/EBay-arms-smugglers-jailed.html
Friday, June 5
Baby formula a costly commodity for families and a hot item for thieves
TORONTO ? It's not just parents of hungry infants that are seeking out baby formula - the product has become a hot commodity for thieves on both sides of the border.
Police recently arrested 21 suspects and dismantled a theft ring in Florida allegedly responsible for stealing thousands of cans of the powdered product.
In another case, one trucker was sentenced to jail and another to probation this week for their roles in stealing US$200,000 in baby formula and other products from a Pennsylvania warehouse. The items were sold on the black market.
And in Toronto, a 19-year-old man was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and theft, accused of stabbing a security guard who tried to stop him from leaving a department store with stolen formula.
The cost for baby formula is fairly steep. At a downtown Toronto drugstore, a 680-gram tin of powdered formula containing omega-3s was around $31. For parents without a lot of extra cash to spare, the pricetag can prove to be a barrier.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iWtjC4hU_ITwbdUEyk8tZCU6R-Gg
Police recently arrested 21 suspects and dismantled a theft ring in Florida allegedly responsible for stealing thousands of cans of the powdered product.
In another case, one trucker was sentenced to jail and another to probation this week for their roles in stealing US$200,000 in baby formula and other products from a Pennsylvania warehouse. The items were sold on the black market.
And in Toronto, a 19-year-old man was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and theft, accused of stabbing a security guard who tried to stop him from leaving a department store with stolen formula.
The cost for baby formula is fairly steep. At a downtown Toronto drugstore, a 680-gram tin of powdered formula containing omega-3s was around $31. For parents without a lot of extra cash to spare, the pricetag can prove to be a barrier.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iWtjC4hU_ITwbdUEyk8tZCU6R-Gg
Secretary Napolitano Announces $60 Million in Operation Stonegarden Grants for Border States
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1244070019405.shtmSecretary Janet Napolitano today announced fiscal year 2009 Operation Stonegarden grants?totaling $60 million?for 13 border states and the Territory of Puerto Rico to enhance the capabilities of federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to jointly secure U.S. borders and territories.
?Operation Stonegarden grants direct critical funding tostate, local and tribal law enforcement operations across the country,? said Secretary Napolitano. ?I am proud to announce that the 2009 funding provides additional flexibility to ensure that our first responders are equipped with the resources they need to confront the complex and dynamic challenges that exist along our borders.?
The 2009 allocations reflect President Obama?s increased emphasis on the Southwest border in response to cartel violence along the U.S.-Mexico border. Based on greater risk, heavy cross-border traffic and border-related threat intelligence, nearly 76 percent of Operation Stonegarden funds will go to Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas?up from 59 percent in fiscal year 2008.
Fiscal year 2009 Operation Stonegarden funds will be used for additional law enforcement personnel, overtime, travel and other related costs in order to further increase our presence along the borders. This risk-based allocation of resources complements ongoing DHS efforts?including the Southwest Border Initiative and U.S. Border Patrol deployment at the Northern border. By the end of fiscal year 2010, DHS plans to add nearly 700 additional agents at the U.S.-Canada border.
This year, eligibility for Operation Stonegarden awards was expanded to include 39 applicants?24 more than fiscal year 2008?encompassing states with international land and coastal borders.
FY 2009 Operation Stonegarden Grant Program
State
Amount
Arizona
$ 12,774,896
California
$ 11,919,340
Idaho
$ 229,008
Maine
$ 1,524,973
Michigan
$ 2,047,093
Minnesota
$ 1,005,561
Montana
$ 1,813,102
New Mexico
$ 3,981,414
New York
$ 3,558,187
North Dakota
$ 1,138,829
Puerto Rico
$ 529,947
Texas
$ 16,719,377
Vermont
$ 501,079
Washington
$ 2,257,194
Total
$ 60,000,000
Secretary Napolitano made the announcement as part of a two-day visit to the Southwest border, during which she joined U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske to unveil the 2009 National Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy; announced the formation of the Homeland Security Advisory Council Southwest Border Task Force; and met with state and local law enforcement and first responders to discuss issues affecting Southwest border states.
Operation Stonegarden is appropriated by the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009. For more information on Operation Stonegarden, visit www.dhs.gov and at www.fema.gov/government/grant/opsg/index.shtm.
http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1244070019405.shtmSecretary Janet Napolitano today announced fiscal year 2009 Operation Stonegarden grants?totaling $60 million?for 13 border states and the Territory of Puerto Rico to enhance the capabilities of federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to jointly secure U.S. borders and territories.
?Operation Stonegarden grants direct critical funding tostate, local and tribal law enforcement operations across the country,? said Secretary Napolitano. ?I am proud to announce that the 2009 funding provides additional flexibility to ensure that our first responders are equipped with the resources they need to confront the complex and dynamic challenges that exist along our borders.?
The 2009 allocations reflect President Obama?s increased emphasis on the Southwest border in response to cartel violence along the U.S.-Mexico border. Based on greater risk, heavy cross-border traffic and border-related threat intelligence, nearly 76 percent of Operation Stonegarden funds will go to Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas?up from 59 percent in fiscal year 2008.
Fiscal year 2009 Operation Stonegarden funds will be used for additional law enforcement personnel, overtime, travel and other related costs in order to further increase our presence along the borders. This risk-based allocation of resources complements ongoing DHS efforts?including the Southwest Border Initiative and U.S. Border Patrol deployment at the Northern border. By the end of fiscal year 2010, DHS plans to add nearly 700 additional agents at the U.S.-Canada border.
This year, eligibility for Operation Stonegarden awards was expanded to include 39 applicants?24 more than fiscal year 2008?encompassing states with international land and coastal borders.
FY 2009 Operation Stonegarden Grant Program
State
Amount
Arizona
$ 12,774,896
California
$ 11,919,340
Idaho
$ 229,008
Maine
$ 1,524,973
Michigan
$ 2,047,093
Minnesota
$ 1,005,561
Montana
$ 1,813,102
New Mexico
$ 3,981,414
New York
$ 3,558,187
North Dakota
$ 1,138,829
Puerto Rico
$ 529,947
Texas
$ 16,719,377
Vermont
$ 501,079
Washington
$ 2,257,194
Total
$ 60,000,000
Secretary Napolitano made the announcement as part of a two-day visit to the Southwest border, during which she joined U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske to unveil the 2009 National Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy; announced the formation of the Homeland Security Advisory Council Southwest Border Task Force; and met with state and local law enforcement and first responders to discuss issues affecting Southwest border states.
Operation Stonegarden is appropriated by the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009. For more information on Operation Stonegarden, visit www.dhs.gov and at www.fema.gov/government/grant/opsg/index.shtm.
U.S., Canada to continue beefed up waterway patrols
Detroit -- The United States and Canada today signed an agreement that allows both countries to patrol each other's waters and to pursue cross-border criminals into each country's territory.
The "Shiprider Agreement" allows the U.S. Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Mounted Police to cross-train, share resources and personnel, and use each other's vessels in waters that include the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway.
According to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Canadian Minister of Public Safety Peter Van Loan, the agreement will help ensure that criminal organizations no longer exploit the shared border because of the inherent jurisdictional complications that come with cross-border policing.
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"We are working together as friends and allies," Napolitano said at the press conference, which was held at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility at the Ambassador Bridge.
"We see our common border as a common responsibility. It's a partnership that at the same time respects the sovereignty of both nations."
According to Van Loan, the Shiprider program was first tested for about two months in 2007.
"The results were very encouraging," Van Loan said. "During that time period, we were able to seize 1.4 million cigarettes and 215 kilos of marijuana. I understand that the look of surprise on the criminals' faces when they were pursued across the border was really something to behold."
Napolitano and Van Loan also said the U.S. and Canada were working together to make sure that the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) goes into effect "smoothly" when it is enacted on Monday. Under WHTI, any American or Canadian leaving or re-entering the U.S. is required to have proper documentation of citizenship, including a valid passport, Enhanced Driver's License (EDL), passport card or trusted traveler card such as NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST.
A driver's license and a certified birth certificate are no longer valid for entry/re-entry into the U.S.
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090526/METRO/905260401/1409/METRO
The "Shiprider Agreement" allows the U.S. Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Mounted Police to cross-train, share resources and personnel, and use each other's vessels in waters that include the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway.
According to U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Canadian Minister of Public Safety Peter Van Loan, the agreement will help ensure that criminal organizations no longer exploit the shared border because of the inherent jurisdictional complications that come with cross-border policing.
Advertisement
"We are working together as friends and allies," Napolitano said at the press conference, which was held at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection facility at the Ambassador Bridge.
"We see our common border as a common responsibility. It's a partnership that at the same time respects the sovereignty of both nations."
According to Van Loan, the Shiprider program was first tested for about two months in 2007.
"The results were very encouraging," Van Loan said. "During that time period, we were able to seize 1.4 million cigarettes and 215 kilos of marijuana. I understand that the look of surprise on the criminals' faces when they were pursued across the border was really something to behold."
Napolitano and Van Loan also said the U.S. and Canada were working together to make sure that the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) goes into effect "smoothly" when it is enacted on Monday. Under WHTI, any American or Canadian leaving or re-entering the U.S. is required to have proper documentation of citizenship, including a valid passport, Enhanced Driver's License (EDL), passport card or trusted traveler card such as NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST.
A driver's license and a certified birth certificate are no longer valid for entry/re-entry into the U.S.
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090526/METRO/905260401/1409/METRO
EXCLUSIVE: Al Qaeda eyes bio attack from Mexico Seeks white militias as allies
U.S. counterterrorism officials have authenticated a video by an al Qaeda recruiter threatening to smuggle a biological weapon into the United States via tunnels under the Mexico border, the latest sign of the terrorist group's determination to stage another mass-casualty attack on the U.S. homeland.
The video aired earlier this year as a recruitment tool makes clear that al Qaeda is looking to exploit weaknesses in U.S. border security and also is willing to ally itself with white militia groups or other anti-government entities interested in carrying out an attack inside the United States, according to counterterrorism officials interviewed by The Washington Times.
The officials, who spoke only on the condition they not be named because of the sensitive nature of their work, stressed that there is no credible information that al Qaeda has acquired the capabilities to carry out a mass biological attack although its members have clearly sought the expertise.
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/03/al-qaeda-eyes-bio-attack-via-mexico-border/
The video aired earlier this year as a recruitment tool makes clear that al Qaeda is looking to exploit weaknesses in U.S. border security and also is willing to ally itself with white militia groups or other anti-government entities interested in carrying out an attack inside the United States, according to counterterrorism officials interviewed by The Washington Times.
The officials, who spoke only on the condition they not be named because of the sensitive nature of their work, stressed that there is no credible information that al Qaeda has acquired the capabilities to carry out a mass biological attack although its members have clearly sought the expertise.
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jun/03/al-qaeda-eyes-bio-attack-via-mexico-border/
FBI looks into calls to Somalia from Erie County line
Erie County Emergency Management Agency officials say they've asked the FBI to investigate more than 120 calls placed last month from a county-owned phone to locations in Somalia.
"This is something I've never seen in my 30-year career," said Bob Hall, telecommunications coordinator for Erie County Emergency Management Agency. "These people know what they're doing."
Exactly who they are remains to be seen, Hall said. There are concerns this could be terrorism related, which is why it was turned over to the FBI.
The calls were made on at least one Sunday about seven weeks ago from a main phone line in the county's Department ofEnvironmental Services. But the calls weren't made directly from that phone.
Someone had actually called the department's phone number from an outside line at an unknown location, then entered into the voicemail system, which wasn't password-protected, Hall said.
From the department's voicemail system, the caller rerouted the call to two phone numbers in Somalia. All told, the unknown talker racked up more than 20 hours of conversation, resulting in a $212 bill, Hall said.
The bizarre incident was noticed by workers at AT&T, the county's phone-service provider, who immediately shut down the long-distance feature and notified the county, Hall said.
Hall contacted Huron police because the Department ofEnvironmental Services offices are in Huron, but he also called the FBI because the calls wereinternational.
Scott Wilson, spokesman for the FBI's Cleveland office, said FBI agents in Sandusky are aware of the phone calls.
"But we can't comment on anything that we're doing," Wilson said. "The county had supplied our office with some of thesenumbers."
AT&T's fraud department agreed to forgive the $212 charge,Hall said, adding he was expecting the bill to be closer to $1,000 or $1,500.
A 30-year employee with a phone company before his current job, Hall said it'll be almost impossible to trace the origin of the calls because they may have been rerouted through multiple locations before reaching the intended numbers in Somalia.
"It makes it virtually impossible to find out where it's coming from," Hall said.
"The call gets regenerated at one number, then regenerated, then regenerated again."
Most of the county's phones are password-protected, but the Department of Environmental Services' number wasn't until after the incident.
http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2009/05/28/front/1373770.txt
"This is something I've never seen in my 30-year career," said Bob Hall, telecommunications coordinator for Erie County Emergency Management Agency. "These people know what they're doing."
Exactly who they are remains to be seen, Hall said. There are concerns this could be terrorism related, which is why it was turned over to the FBI.
The calls were made on at least one Sunday about seven weeks ago from a main phone line in the county's Department ofEnvironmental Services. But the calls weren't made directly from that phone.
Someone had actually called the department's phone number from an outside line at an unknown location, then entered into the voicemail system, which wasn't password-protected, Hall said.
From the department's voicemail system, the caller rerouted the call to two phone numbers in Somalia. All told, the unknown talker racked up more than 20 hours of conversation, resulting in a $212 bill, Hall said.
The bizarre incident was noticed by workers at AT&T, the county's phone-service provider, who immediately shut down the long-distance feature and notified the county, Hall said.
Hall contacted Huron police because the Department ofEnvironmental Services offices are in Huron, but he also called the FBI because the calls wereinternational.
Scott Wilson, spokesman for the FBI's Cleveland office, said FBI agents in Sandusky are aware of the phone calls.
"But we can't comment on anything that we're doing," Wilson said. "The county had supplied our office with some of thesenumbers."
AT&T's fraud department agreed to forgive the $212 charge,Hall said, adding he was expecting the bill to be closer to $1,000 or $1,500.
A 30-year employee with a phone company before his current job, Hall said it'll be almost impossible to trace the origin of the calls because they may have been rerouted through multiple locations before reaching the intended numbers in Somalia.
"It makes it virtually impossible to find out where it's coming from," Hall said.
"The call gets regenerated at one number, then regenerated, then regenerated again."
Most of the county's phones are password-protected, but the Department of Environmental Services' number wasn't until after the incident.
http://www.sanduskyregister.com/articles/2009/05/28/front/1373770.txt
DISTRICT ATTORNEY - NEW YORK COUNTY, Robert M. Morgenthau
Manhattan District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau announced today the indictment of 18 individuals for operating an identity theft and bank fraud scheme, involving hundreds of victims, thousands of counterfeit checks and numerous commercial banks in Manhattan? The investigation leading to today's indictment revealed that the defendants obtained personal and bank account information belonging to 500 identity theft victims and used it primarily to manufacture thousands of counterfeit checks. By fraudulently cashing and depositing the counterfeit checks, the defendants stole over $1.4 million from one bank's accounts and substantial additional sums from other banks. Victims of this scam included private individuals, corporations, religious institutions, hospitals, and schools, as well as city and state government agencies
Obama: Cyber Security is a National Security Priority
President Barack Obama today pledged to make securing the nation's most vital computer networks a top economic and national security priority, broadly detailing the results of 60-day cyber security review that calls for a range of responses to help improve the security of information networks that power the government and the U.S. economy. Speaking at the White House this morning, the president said he would work to make sure the nation's core digital infrastructure is treated as a national asset? As expected, Obama said he plans to create a new office at the White House to be led by a cyber security coordinator "responsible for orchestrating and integrating all cyber security policies for the government; working closely with the Office of Management and Budget to ensure agency budgets reflect those priorities; and, in the event of major cyber incident or attack, coordinating our response." http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2009/05/obama_cybersecurity_is_a_natio.html
DHS distributes port and mass transit grants
The Homeland Security Department is distributing $300 million in economic stimulus law funds for port and mass transit grants for projects that include high-tech identification cards and domain-awareness solutions, officials announced.
The department is making available $150 million from the stimulus law available for the Port Security Grant Program, in addition to $389 million already allocated by Congress for fiscal 2009, Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a May 29 news release.
The port program pays for technology and equipment to protect against terrorism, including maritime domain-awareness solutions, risk-management capabilities, protections against improvised explosive devices. It also can be used to support implementation of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential, which is an identification card that contains a photo and digitized fingerprint information.
DHS in April completed a rollout of the TWIC to 1.2 million seaport workers. The department is currently testing readers to process the cards.
The department also announced $150 million in economic stimulus funds for the Transit Security Grant Program to support security solutions at mass transit stations and facilities, in addition to the $389 million already allocated by Congress for the year.
Eligible programs include support for explosive detection screening and security improvements to high-density tunnels, stations and bridges.
http://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2009/06/01/dhs-distributes-port-and-mass-transit-grants.aspx
The department is making available $150 million from the stimulus law available for the Port Security Grant Program, in addition to $389 million already allocated by Congress for fiscal 2009, Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a May 29 news release.
The port program pays for technology and equipment to protect against terrorism, including maritime domain-awareness solutions, risk-management capabilities, protections against improvised explosive devices. It also can be used to support implementation of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential, which is an identification card that contains a photo and digitized fingerprint information.
DHS in April completed a rollout of the TWIC to 1.2 million seaport workers. The department is currently testing readers to process the cards.
The department also announced $150 million in economic stimulus funds for the Transit Security Grant Program to support security solutions at mass transit stations and facilities, in addition to the $389 million already allocated by Congress for the year.
Eligible programs include support for explosive detection screening and security improvements to high-density tunnels, stations and bridges.
http://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2009/06/01/dhs-distributes-port-and-mass-transit-grants.aspx
Sensitive Technology Can Easily End Up In Terrorists Hands
http://www.digtriad.com/news/investigative/2wtk/article.aspx?storyid=125213&catid=19
Washington, DC -- The Government Accountability office found that companies can buy sensitive dual-use and military technology easily, and then turn around and ship the information illegally out of the country to a foreign government.
The GAO used a bogus front company and fictitious identities, then purchased items such as night-vision scopes currently used by the US military. These scopes have special technology to identify targets, detect sensors used in improvised explosive devices and have gyro chips used to help guided missiles and military aircraft.
The GAO then exported a number of dummy versions of these scopes using the mail to a country that is a known to turn around and ship items to terrorist organizations and foreign governments trying to acquire the sensitive technology.
Because of the large amount of packages sent overseas, enforcement officials say it's impossible to search every package or person leaving the US to make sure technology doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
Washington, DC -- The Government Accountability office found that companies can buy sensitive dual-use and military technology easily, and then turn around and ship the information illegally out of the country to a foreign government.
The GAO used a bogus front company and fictitious identities, then purchased items such as night-vision scopes currently used by the US military. These scopes have special technology to identify targets, detect sensors used in improvised explosive devices and have gyro chips used to help guided missiles and military aircraft.
The GAO then exported a number of dummy versions of these scopes using the mail to a country that is a known to turn around and ship items to terrorist organizations and foreign governments trying to acquire the sensitive technology.
Because of the large amount of packages sent overseas, enforcement officials say it's impossible to search every package or person leaving the US to make sure technology doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
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