Pak citizen indicted for trying to smuggle drones for Pak Army

Washington

The individual identified as Syed Vaqar Ashraf, charged on nine counts, transferred more than USD 62,000 to a US company in different money transfers from Pakistan between 2012 and 2014, according to court documents.

The 14-page superseding indictment was filed before a US court in Phoenix in December, but was unsealed only this week.

Court officials said Ashraf has been arrested and was produced before the court on December 23. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to the indictment, Ashraf was CEO of Lahore-based I&E International. Federal prosecutors alleged that this was a front company for the Pakistan Advanced Engineering Research Organisation (AERO), based in Lahore.

Ashraf placed orders to a Arizona-based drone company for high-end military-grade drones.

The Arizona company – not named in the indictment – specialised in the design, development and manufacturing ofunmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for the US military.

Federal prosecutors claim that Ashraf placed orders through emails for purchase of specific gyroscopes including eight VG34-0803 which is designed for medium size, multi-payload UAC designed for tactical long endurance missions, with a primary mission of reconnaissance, surveillance and communication relay.

He also placed orders for 10 Memsic VG800CA-200 Low Drift MEMS Vertical Gyros, which has a military and non-military applications and is used to increase stability inside a UAV.

Both the items come under export control of the US Government.

These models, in fact, were designed for Israel and is used for reconnaissance capable of flying more than 20 hours.

The total cost of these military hardware was nearly USD 3,45,000, for which he made an advancement payment of USD 62,000 in five wire transfers.

According to court documents, Ashraf concealed to the official of the US-based drone company – who was in fact an official of Department of Homeland Security – about the actual reason for his purchase of such equipment.

When the officials from the US drone company told Ashraf that this equipment could not be shipped directly to Pakistan, Ashraf gave them a Brussels address.

"Ashraf requested that Person A (from the US drone company) transship the modules to Pakistan, through Belgium," the indictment said.

Federal prosecutors alleged that Ashraf filled out fraudulent documents in the name of Innovative Links, a shell company used by him.

But he was purchasing these for AERO, which is in fact a wing of the Pakistan military, prosecutors said. The trial is scheduled for February 7.