January 1, Feds Block Foreign Weapons Coup Plot

Wyatt’s Take

• Two men tried to smuggle weapons for a coup in South Sudan.
• Federal law enforcement stopped military-grade arms from leaving the U.S.
• Both men face prison time for breaking export laws.

Federal agents broke up a plot to send nearly $4 million in illegal weapons from the United States to South Sudan. The plan involved outfitting opposition groups with heavy arms to overthrow the government and put one of the plotters in power.

A Maryland man got 46 months in prison and his partner from Utah received 41 months, plus both face years of supervised release. The men admitted to trying to buy Stinger missiles, grenade launchers, machine guns, rifles, and millions of rounds of ammo to smuggle overseas, hiding their plan as “humanitarian aid.”

“From a suburb of our Nation’s capital, Ajak conspired to export U.S. weaponry to South Sudan, where he planned to lead a coup and install himself in power,” said Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg.

Prosecutors say the men made fake invoices, tried to bribe officials, and knew they were breaking U.S. laws set to prevent American arms from fueling overseas conflicts. South Sudan is under an arms embargo, and these efforts risked American lives if the weapons were turned against U.S. forces.

“By disrupting an attempt to unlawfully export advanced weapons systems, this investigation helped protect U.S. forces from weapons that could potentially be utilized against them on future battlefields,” said John Helsing of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

The men must forfeit almost $2 million raised for the plot, with all seized by authorities. Homeland Security and other agencies led the investigation, stressing national security comes first.

“The defendants in this investigation knowingly sought to undermine national security by violating U.S. laws related to illegal arms trafficking and the export of weapons,” said Acting Special Agent Matthew Murphy of HSI Arizona.

Stopping these illegal weapons shipments keeps Americans safer and helps prevent wars not our own.

Wyatt Matters

When our government blocks illegal arms deals, it shows respect for law, order, and American lives. Middle America believes in strong borders and keeping our country safe from those who would sell us out for money or power.

Read the original coverage here