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Ontario man arrested for allegedly sending arms, military items to North Korea
Federal law enforcement officials seized firearms, ammunition and other military items from the home of an Ontario man they allege was sending them to North Korea.
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Courtesy U.S. Department of Justice
)
Topline:
A San Bernardino County man was arrested Tuesday on allegations he sent firearms, ammunition and other military items to North Korea by concealing them in shipping containers on their way out of the Port of Long Beach.
The backstory: The Department of Justice said in a news release that 41-year-old Shenghua Wen of Ontario was charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a law regulating international commerce, and that he acted at the direction of North Korea's government. The DOJ says that a look at his cell phone records revealed conversations Wen had with co-conspirators about shipping the military items to North Korea.
What they found: The federal criminal complaint says law enforcement also seized 50,000 rounds of ammunition from Wen's home, as well as items they say Wen admitted he intended to send to North Korea. They included a chemical threat identification device (left photo) and a handheld receiver designed to detect eavesdropping devices (right photo).
Sponsored message
A Serstech Arx mkII Pharma (“Arx mkII”) chemical threat detection device designed for field operations to identify explosives, narcotics, chemical warfare agents, hazardous materials, and biotoxins present in certain environments.
(
Courtesy U.S. Department of Justice
)
The ANDRE Deluxe Near Field Detection Receiver (“ANDRE”) is a handheld receiver that detects known, unknown, illegal, disruptive, or interfering transmissions. It is designed to locate radio frequency infrared and other types of transmitting devices. According to the manufacturer, it is “portable, non-alerting, and ideal for locating hidden eavesdropping devices."
(
Courtesy U.S. Department of Justice
)
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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