U.S. Cages Tamil Tigers Arms Smuggling Ring

Federal officials in Maryland have indicted six suspects in an arms trafficking investigation involving the Indonesian Army and Sri Lankan separatist group the Tamil Tigers. According to the indictments issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland in U.S. v. Osman, et al, and U.S. v. Subandi, et al., a group of defendants laundered over $400,000 from Malaysia to Baltimore and attempted to use the money to purchase and export “machine guns, grenade launchers, pistol and sniper rifles.” In addition, they allegedly attempted to export night vision equipment and other sophisticated technology from Guam to Indonesia in violation of U.S. export control laws. The defendants now face a litany of charges, including conspiracy to export arms, conspiracy to provide support to a foreign terrorist organization in violation of 18 USC 2339(b), and money laundering. ... [more]