Chinese man admits plot to import missiles to US

[AGENDA21]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A Chinese national living in Southern California admitted on Wednesday trying to arrange the sale from China to the United States of 200 shoulder-fired missiles that can be used to bring down airplanes.

Chao Tung Wu, 51, pleaded guilty in Los Angeles federal court to conspiring to import the missiles for a buyer who turned out to be an undercover FBI agent.

When Wu was indicted in November along with another man, Yi Qing Chen, they became the first people charged under a 2004 U.S. law forbidding the import of aircraft-destroying missile systems into the United States, officials said.

Wu, who also admitted to trafficking methamphetamine, counterfeit bills, cigarettes and Ecstasy tablets into the United States, made a plea bargain with U.S. prosecutors in hopes of reducing a possible 25-year prison term.

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2006-04-20T000919Z_01_N19285507_RTRUKOC_0_US-CRIME-MISSILES.xml&rpc=22

[benburch]

1. Notice that this is a manufactured terror?

Nobody here wanted them, other than the FBI's fake terrorist.

[seabeyond]

4. this is what i am thinking. ya.... n/t

[TomClash]

2. Also notice the guy's motive was money nt

[FloridaPat]

3. The Real Question: can they catch anyone who isn't with the FBI?

[Missy M]

5. Those two guys sure were diversified.....

from cigarettes etc to shoulder-fired missiles. The whole thing sounds fishy to me.

[AGENDA21]

6. Chinese military linked to missile smuggling

Court papers made public yesterday in the case of a California man who pleaded guilty to trying to smuggle anti-aircraft missiles into the United States show that a Chinese general and state-run manufacturer are linked to the crime.

Wu told the undercover agent that the plan for getting the missiles out of China involved the help of a "corrupt customs broker" in China and falsified export papers, the statement said. The deal involved a "Gen. Wang" in China who was to supply the weapons.

China's military has been linked to past illicit arms deals, including the attempted sale of AK-47 assault rifles to Los Angeles street gangs.

http://washingtontimes.com/national/20060419-110441-8567r.htm