| Other Photos |
 |
|
 |
U.S. Arrest in Russian Helicopter Sale
U.S. authorities have arrested a Florida man, 70-year-old Peter Spitz, for attempting to sell ten Russian-made military helicopters abroad without he appropriate State Department licensing. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a statement saying that Spitzer engaged in electronic correspondence with an undercover agent on the sale of Russian helicopters, the AP reports.
The undercover agent posed as a Zimbabwean official. Spitzer asked $750,000 per helicopter. He claimed to have 30 Russian-made helicopters and fighter jet available. Spitzer will face a federal court in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The United States has been paying greater attention to arms sales both at home and abroad lately, as is evidenced by the arrest of Russian arms trader Viktor Bout in Thailand at U.S request last month. Experts say that charges that he supplied arms to terrorists (negotiated an arms shipment to the Colombian guerilla group FARC) are only a pretext to remove an influential competitor.
Later, authorities accused the U.S. company AEY, Inc. of supplying Chinese arms to the Afghan police and army. Under U.S. legislation, it is illegal for American companies to buy Chinese arms either directly or indirectly. Under its contract, AEY was to deliver ammunition from Hungary.
www.kommersant.com
|
|
|
Photo: Mikhail Pochuev
