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| Britain |
| Weapons dealer caught in FBI sting, now on trial in London |
| 2006-02-08 |
| A LONDON-based arms dealer was caught by FBI agents trying to sell millions of dollars worth of weapons to a Colombian terror group, the Old Bailey was told. Syed Bukhari allegedly agreed to supply rocket launchers, machineguns and grenades to terrorists -- enough equipment to arm 1000 soldiers and bring down military jets. But the 46-year-old from Hendon, North London, had unwittingly entered a deal with an undercover FBI agent calling himself David Sullivan. "He (Mr Sullivan) posed as an illegal arms trader," Julian Bevan, QC, told jurors at Monday's hearing. "He told Mr Bukhari he was acting as an agent for a terror group in Colombia." Mr Bevan said that the group -- FARC -- was recognised worldwide as a terror organisation. The pair first met at a London hotel in December 2002. Mr Bevan said: "Mr Sullivan during the course of that meeting made it plain that he was an illegal arms trader, telling Bukhari that he relied on smuggling, false documentation and bribery to achieve his ends. "He indicated by implication that his clients were neither countries nor governments but persons in Mexico and South America with an emphasis on Colombia." At that first meeting, Mr Bukhari is alleged to have shown an interest in what Mr Sullivan could supply him, including a "guided laser system" called Viper that pinpoints targets from a distance, as well as night-vision goggles. In addition Mr Sullivan claimed that he could offer a remote control system, known as Piccolo, which would allow an unmanned aircraft to launch missile strikes. Turning to what he required, the FBI agent told Mr Bukhari that he was seeking surface-to-air missiles. "Bukhari's reaction to the request was that he would see what he could do to obtain this equipment," Mr Bevan said. Between December 2002 and July 2004, Mr Bukhari arranged a shopping list of weapons to sell to Mr Sullivan, the court heard. Mr Bevan said: "The weapons that were to be supplied included no less than 200 surface-to-air missiles, sometimes called SA18s. "It was also part of the arrangement that he would supply rocket-propelled grenades sufficient to equip a battalion, approximately 900 to 1000 men, and no less than 900 AK47 rifles. The cost of the surface-to-air missiles would alone have exceeded pound stg. 21.6 million ($50.8 million)." According to the prosecution, Mr Bukhari and his family are experienced arms dealers and had supplied surface-to-air missiles and helicopters worth pound stg. 50million to Pakistan. Mr Bukhari denies entering into or being concerned in an arrangement where property is to be made available for the purposes of terrorism. The trial continues. |
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