The FBI has issued a wanted poster for Baoxia Liu, a Chinese national, offering a $15 million reward for information regarding her involvement in smuggling U.S. drone technology to Iran. Along with three co-defendants, she faces charges related to a conspiracy that allegedly violated U.S. export controls and aided the IRGC’s military endeavors.

On Wednesday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released a wanted poster for Baoxia “Emily” Liu, a Chinese national. The U.S. State Department announced a reward of up to $15 million for information regarding Liu and three other individuals implicated in a conspiracy to smuggle U.S. drone technology to Iran. Liu and her co-defendants were charged in January 2024 for unlawfully exporting and smuggling U.S.-controlled items to entities connected to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The co-defendants of Liu include Li Yongxin (“Emma Lee”), Yung Yiu Wa (“Stephen Yung”), and Zhong Yanlai (“Sydney Chung”). They are accused of utilizing an array of front companies in mainland China and Hong Kong to export dual-use electronic components that could aid in the production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ballistic missiles for the IRGC and its affiliates.

The State Department stated that the Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program aims to disrupt the financial mechanisms of the IRGC, which is classified as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). The IRGC has been implicated in financing terrorist activities globally, including through sales of military equipment, such as drones. Since 2007, Liu and her associates allegedly misrepresented the end users of U.S. goods, disguising their shipments as destined for China when they were actually intended for Iran.

The announcement follows heightened tensions in the region, as President Donald Trump recently authorized military strikes against Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. Meanwhile, Israel intensified its operations against Hamas in Gaza. The State Department emphasized that the IRGC, alongside the Iranian Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL), has leveraged U.S. technology to develop arms supplied to allied governments and groups.

The activities of Liu and her co-defendants have led to significant violations of U.S. sanctions and export control laws, as a large volume of military-capable products has been exported to IRGC-affiliated companies. As the situation unfolds, the U.S. continues to pursue accountability and aims to safeguard national security by disrupting these illicit networks.

The FBI’s announcement of a $15 million reward reflects the seriousness of the allegations against Baoxia Liu and her associates. These individuals are accused of smuggling U.S. drone technology to Iran’s IRGC, thus violating U.S. export laws. The U.S. government is determined to dismantle such networks, emphasizing the imperative of safeguarding national security and countering global terror financing through strict enforcement of sanctions.

Original Source: www.foxnews.com

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