Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Seven charged, including two U.S. citizens, in Taliban drug and missile sting

Seven men, including two American citizens, were charged today with selling drugs and missiles to help the Afghan Taliban.


They are expected to be arraigned in New York, according to an unsealed indictment filed in Manhattan Federal Court.


It was alleged that U.S. citizens Alwar (Allan) Pouryan and Oded (Dedy) Orbach discussed selling surface-to-air missiles, grenade launchers and other weapons.


An email seized by prosecutors revealed a price list ranging from around $120 for an M16 rifle to $87,000 and upwards for a Javelin anti-tank missile.


Pouryan, an arms dealer, and Orbach - were arrested in Romania where they are awaiting U.S. extradition proceedings.


Five others,  Maroun Saade, 58, Walid Nasr, 37, Corneille Dato, 48, Martin Ravenous Bouraima, 40, and Francis Sourou Ahissou, 45, were held last week in Liberia and are due to be extradited to New York.

Prosecutors claim the  men were recorded by federal agents agreeing to store and ship tons of cocaine and heroin to the U.S. for the Taliban.


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