Arms Dealer Tried To Sell Missiles To FBI
LIFE STYLE EXTRA (UK) - An illegal arms dealer plotted to sell million of pounds worth of anti-aircraft missiles plus infantry weapons to terrorists, the Old Bailey heard today.
British businessman Syed Bukhari, 46, planned to supply a Colombian terror group with 200 Surface-to-Air Missiles, plus rocket propelled grenades and 900 AK-47 assault rifles - sufficient weaponry to arm a battalion of 1,000 men, the court was told.
Bukhari agreed to supply the weapons to an undercover FBI agent who was posing as an arms dealer for the Colombian left wing terrorist group FARC, the court heard.
In return Bukhari would be supplied with NASA developed unmanned aircraft drones capable of firing missiles, laser-guided targetting sights and night vision goggles, the jury heard.
But London-based Bukhari was caught in an FBI sting and was arrested in July 2004 by British police who were working alongside their American counterparts, the Old Bailey heard.
The Russian-made shoulder launched missiles, the Igla SA18, are capable of bringing down an aircraft in flight and costs £130,000 each.
The missiles are the world's most advanced and are capable of beating missile avoidance technology fitted to aircraft - making aircraft defenceless. The deal to supply the missiles would have been worth over £26 million or $38 million, the court heard.
Julian Bevan QC, prosecuting, said: "This case is one which involves the illegal trade of arms. In 2002, Bukhari was a broker for the sale and supply of goods, including military hardware and equipment.
"His business was conducted in this country through a number of companies, some of which were owned and controlled by his family.
"It's the Crown's case that between September 2002 and July 2004 he entered into an agreement to supply arms to a man, David Sullivan, who was in fact an undercover agent for the FBI.
"Sullivan posed as an illegal arms trader. All the conversations were recorded and some were videoed.
"This case concerns an agreement entered into by Bukhari and Sullivan which involved Bukhari supplying to Sullivan a number of weapons. The weapons that were to be supplied included no less than 200 surface to air missiles -
shoulder launched missiles which are capable of destroying aircraft in flight.
"It was also part of the agreement that he would supply rocket propelled grenades sufficient to equip a battalion - 900 to 1000 men - and thirdly, no less than 900 AK-47s.
"The cost of the SAMs (surface to air missiles) would alone have exceeded $38 million.
"It's quite clear that in the course of the discussions he had with Sullivan that Sullivan made it absolutely clear this was not to be a legitimate transaction.
"There were repeated references by him to smuggling, falsification of documents, bribery and corruption. Sullivan said to Bukhari at a very early stage that he represented a group rather than a country, with an emphasis on
Colombia.
"Towards the end of their meetings he told Bukhari he was acting as an agent for a terrorist group in Colombia, FARC."
The court heard that Bukhari had got involved in the deal when another man had telephoned him from America, saying he had some "powerful and beautiful things" to offer.
FBI agent Sullivan was then sent to meet Bukhari and they met in a London hotel room in December 2002, the jury heard.
"Sullivan made it perfectly plain that he was an illegal arms trader", said Mr Bevan. "It's perfectly plain that Bukhari showed interest into what Sullivan could supply him.
"The items Sullivan was telling Bukhari he could supply included a guided laser system that he had available for supply and night vision goggles.
"The guided laser system could pin point the location of a target and assist in directing weapons to that target to within 10 metres. That system is called Viper."
Sullivan also claimed he could supply unmanned aircraft drones capable of firing missiles, the jury heard.
Mr Bevan said: "Sullivan then turned his attention to what he required himself and told Bukhari that what he required were SA-18 missiles that were able to destroy aircraft in flight and tanks.
"Bukhari's reaction to that request by Sullivan was that he would see what he could do to obtain those weapons."
Bukhari was arrested when British police working alongside their American counterparts swooped in July 2004.
Bukhari, of Hendon, north London, denies agreeing to obtain property for the purposes of terrorism contrary to s.17 of the terrorism act.
British businessman Syed Bukhari, 46, planned to supply a Colombian terror group with 200 Surface-to-Air Missiles, plus rocket propelled grenades and 900 AK-47 assault rifles - sufficient weaponry to arm a battalion of 1,000 men, the court was told.
Bukhari agreed to supply the weapons to an undercover FBI agent who was posing as an arms dealer for the Colombian left wing terrorist group FARC, the court heard.
In return Bukhari would be supplied with NASA developed unmanned aircraft drones capable of firing missiles, laser-guided targetting sights and night vision goggles, the jury heard.
But London-based Bukhari was caught in an FBI sting and was arrested in July 2004 by British police who were working alongside their American counterparts, the Old Bailey heard.
The Russian-made shoulder launched missiles, the Igla SA18, are capable of bringing down an aircraft in flight and costs £130,000 each.
The missiles are the world's most advanced and are capable of beating missile avoidance technology fitted to aircraft - making aircraft defenceless. The deal to supply the missiles would have been worth over £26 million or $38 million, the court heard.
Julian Bevan QC, prosecuting, said: "This case is one which involves the illegal trade of arms. In 2002, Bukhari was a broker for the sale and supply of goods, including military hardware and equipment.
"His business was conducted in this country through a number of companies, some of which were owned and controlled by his family.
"It's the Crown's case that between September 2002 and July 2004 he entered into an agreement to supply arms to a man, David Sullivan, who was in fact an undercover agent for the FBI.
"Sullivan posed as an illegal arms trader. All the conversations were recorded and some were videoed.
"This case concerns an agreement entered into by Bukhari and Sullivan which involved Bukhari supplying to Sullivan a number of weapons. The weapons that were to be supplied included no less than 200 surface to air missiles -
shoulder launched missiles which are capable of destroying aircraft in flight.
"It was also part of the agreement that he would supply rocket propelled grenades sufficient to equip a battalion - 900 to 1000 men - and thirdly, no less than 900 AK-47s.
"The cost of the SAMs (surface to air missiles) would alone have exceeded $38 million.
"It's quite clear that in the course of the discussions he had with Sullivan that Sullivan made it absolutely clear this was not to be a legitimate transaction.
"There were repeated references by him to smuggling, falsification of documents, bribery and corruption. Sullivan said to Bukhari at a very early stage that he represented a group rather than a country, with an emphasis on
Colombia.
"Towards the end of their meetings he told Bukhari he was acting as an agent for a terrorist group in Colombia, FARC."
The court heard that Bukhari had got involved in the deal when another man had telephoned him from America, saying he had some "powerful and beautiful things" to offer.
FBI agent Sullivan was then sent to meet Bukhari and they met in a London hotel room in December 2002, the jury heard.
"Sullivan made it perfectly plain that he was an illegal arms trader", said Mr Bevan. "It's perfectly plain that Bukhari showed interest into what Sullivan could supply him.
"The items Sullivan was telling Bukhari he could supply included a guided laser system that he had available for supply and night vision goggles.
"The guided laser system could pin point the location of a target and assist in directing weapons to that target to within 10 metres. That system is called Viper."
Sullivan also claimed he could supply unmanned aircraft drones capable of firing missiles, the jury heard.
Mr Bevan said: "Sullivan then turned his attention to what he required himself and told Bukhari that what he required were SA-18 missiles that were able to destroy aircraft in flight and tanks.
"Bukhari's reaction to that request by Sullivan was that he would see what he could do to obtain those weapons."
Bukhari was arrested when British police working alongside their American counterparts swooped in July 2004.
Bukhari, of Hendon, north London, denies agreeing to obtain property for the purposes of terrorism contrary to s.17 of the terrorism act.
posted by Marko at 2/06/2006 08:50:00 AM
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