Pakistani Smuggler Sentenced For Trying To Buy Military Drone Parts In Tucson
A Pakistani smuggler convicted of trying to buy military grade drone parts for the Pakistani government out of Tucson was sentenced to 33 months in prison in U.S. federal court, Thursday.
Syed Ashraf thought he was negotiating the sale of parts for military grade drones from sellers in Tucson. They were undercover Homeland Security Investigations agents.
According to court records, Ashraf wanted to buy UAV gyroscopes, a drone part designed for long range capabilities regulated by the State Department. He told investigators they were for the Pakistani military and he was using a shell company to purchase them in Tucson. He was arrested in 2014 in Belgium then returned to Arizona.
Ashraf pleaded guilty to conspiracy to export controlled items without a license.
