Overview
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), through the Counter-Proliferation Investigations (CPI) program and export enforcement authorities, prevents illicit procurement networks operating on behalf of hostile nations, foreign adversaries, terrorist networks, and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) from acquiring sensitive U.S.-origin military equipment, technical data, dual-use commodities and technology, and components and data used to produce weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. Relying upon HSI’s customs and border search authorities, HSI enforces U.S. laws involving the illegal export of military items and controlled dual-use goods, as well as investigates violations of U.S. sanctions imposed on countries, regimes, entities and individuals.
HSI has statutory authority to enforce and investigate violations of all U.S. export control laws and regulations, including:
- Arms Export Control Act (AECA)
- International Traffic in Arms Regulations
- Export Control Reform Act (ECRA)
- Export Administration Regulations
- Trading with Enemies Act
- International Emergency Economic Powers Act
HSI leads the Export Enforcement Coordination Center (E2C2) which was created in 2010 by Executive Order 13558 to serve as the primary forum within the Federal Government for federal agencies to coordinate and enhance their export enforcement efforts. The E2C2 facilitates multi-agency collaboration, minimizes duplication of efforts, and strengthens the critical links between law enforcement, the intelligence community and export licensing agencies.
In addition to its HSI Director, E2C2 is run by Deputy Directors from the Department of Commerce, Office of Export Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. E2C2 also has a Senior Intelligence Community Liaison designated by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). E2C2 has representatives from 24 different agencies from the Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, Commerce, State, Energy, Treasury and Defense (DOD), and ODNI.
The Counterproliferation Mission Center (CPMC) in Huntsville, AL is staffed with subject matter experts, federal employees and contractors who provide field personnel with CPI case support, enhanced leads and a robust training curriculum. The CPMC ensures HSI agents have access to key capabilities to combat global illicit procurement networks seeking to unlawfully exploit U.S. export control laws by providing case support, lead enhancement and advanced training.
Through Project Shield America, HSI special agents conduct presentations for U.S. manufacturers and exporters of arms and sensitive technology. The program provides an overview of export laws and solicits the private industry's assistance in preventing illegal foreign acquisition of their products.
Notable ICE CPI Cases
Firearms Trafficker Sentenced to 19.5 years for Supplying Weapons and Ammunition to the Sinaloa Cartel – A firearms trafficker supplied weapons and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition to the Valenzuela TCO, a component of the Sinaloa Cartel. The Valenzuela TCO was one of the largest importers of cocaine into the United States. Starting in 2020, they became involved in a violent conflict with another component of the Sinaloa cartel. The arms trafficker supplied firearms and ammunition to the TCO, including .50 caliber rifles, submachine guns, grenade launchers, assault style rifles and handguns. This HSI-led case has resulted in charges against 109 defendants and the seizure of 2,000 kilograms of cocaine and fentanyl, more than $16 million in cash and 21,000 rounds of ammunition.
Caribbean Arms Trafficking Ringleader Charged with Conspiracy to Smuggle Firearms to the United States – On January 22, 2025, an indictment was unsealed charging a Trinidadian national with conspiracy to commit smuggling and conspiracy to traffic firearms, based on an HSI-led investigation. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The individual led a ring that unlawfully exported firearms, firearms components including upper/lower receivers and gun parts kits and related items from Florida to Trinidad and Tobago. The weapons were concealed within boxing equipment, speakers and other household items to avoid detection.
Iranian Oil Sanctions – On February 15, 2024, two foreign nationals were charged with plotting to export Iranian petroleum to China and using the proceeds to benefit Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – Qods Force in violation of U.S. Sanctions against Iran. This is an HSI and FBI-led investigation into a Chinese National and an Omani Nation who allegedly obtained oil from Iran using AIS spoofing and multiple transfers of the oil between tankers. They then allegedly used fraudulent documents to mask the oil’s origination, electronic communications to arrange sales and shell corporations to launder the money.
Smuggling Firearms from the United States to Iraq – On October 4, 2024, an HSI investigation resulted in four men being charged with conspiracy to violate ECRA by smuggling firearms to Iraq without obtaining federal firearm export licenses. Law enforcement detained 38 firearms sent by one of the suspects intended for Iraq. The individuals face a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Defense-related Technical Data to China – On December 12, 2024, a four-count indictment was unsealed charging a Chinese National with conspiracy, wire fraud, smuggling, and a violation of the AECA for exporting controlled data to China and defrauding DOD. The Legal Permanent Resident allegedly conspired to send 70 drawings of technical data related to end-use aviation, submarine, radar, tank, mortars, missiles, infrared and thermal imaging targeting systems and fire control systems to China without a license from the Government. He also unlawfully supplied DOD with Chinese-origin rare earth magnets for aviation systems and other military items. This case was a joint multiagency investigation by HSI, DCIS, FBI, IRS-CI, NCIS and the Department of Energy Office of the Inspector General.
Disclosure of Sensitive Military Schematics to Turkey – On October 24, 2024, a woman from Orlando, Florida was sentenced to 15 months in prison conspiracy to defraud the United States, wire fraud, money laundering, violations of ECRA and a violation of AECA. Since 2019, the woman operated a front company in Florida to secure procurement contracts to supply critical military components to DOD, including ones for use in aircraft carriers, submarines, armored vehicles and tanks. She and her two conspirators were manufacturing the parts in Turkey and providing the manufacturer with sensitive, export-controlled drawings of critical U.S. military technology. The Turkish manufacturer would ship the items to Florida, where they would be repackaged with any reference to their Turkish origin removed before being provided to the U.S. Government. The woman would then launder the proceeds back to Turkey. The military determined that many of the items supplied were not in confirmation with product specifications and if they failed could have potentially rendered the end system inoperable.
Former Green Beret and Venezuelan Attempt to Send Firearms and Military-related Equipment to Venezuela – On August 5, 2024, an HSI investigation led to the arrest of a U.S. Army veteran and a Venezuela national for their roles in exporting AR-type firearms, night vision devices, laser sights, and other equipment to Colombia without obtaining the required export licenses, with an ultimate goal of carrying out activities in Venezuela. The two procured the equipment using a Florida-based company and exported them to Colombia where they were seized by the Colombia national police. This is a joint HSI, FBI, and Commerce Department case, with assistance from CBP.
HSI Investigation Leads to Two Year Imprisonment Sentence for 20-year Fugitive who Conspired to Export Defense Equipment to Iran – On March 26, 2024, a U.S. and Taiwanese citizen was sentenced to two years in prison after pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy to export defense materials to Iran that are embargoed by Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations. From January 2002 to March 2003, the individual conspired to attempted to send high-definition satellite space images of Tehran, Iran and antennas without obtaining proper licensing. The individual remained a fugitive until he was arrested on April 10, 2023, in Rome, Italy.
HSI Investigations Leads to Sanctions Against Wagner Group-linked Companies in the Central African Republic – On May 30, 2024, HSI joined the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in announcing sanctions against two companies for enabling Wagner Group security operations and Wagner Group-linked illicit mining in the Central African Republic. HSI’s work with its interagency partners led to the formal designation of the Wagner Group as a transnational criminal organization.
Weapons Destined for Taiwan Seized Resulting in Five Arrests – On October 21, 2024, HSI and the Taiwan Criminal Investigative Bureau (CIB) announced the arrest of five individuals for weapons smuggling. This investigation marked the first time Taiwan and the United States conducted an international controlled delivery of seized weapons and related components for prosecutorial purposes pursuant to a Mutual Legal Assistance Agreement. HSI and CIB conducted the investigation following a CBP seizure of 16 disassembled handguns and numerous magazines destined for Taiwan.
Two Men are Charged for Conspiring to Smuggling Laser Equipment to the Russian Nuclear Energy Industry – On September 16, 2024, following an HSI investigation, two men from Russia were charged with smuggling and conspiracy to violate and evade export controls related to the sale and export of laser welding machines to an electromechanical plant in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The company is a subsidiary of a Russian state corporation headquartered in Moscow that oversaw Russia’s civilian and military nuclear program. The indictment indicates that the individuals knew that the machines were intended for the portion of the plant involving Russia’s nuclear weapons.
Raytheon Company Order to Pay over $950 million for Foreign Bribery, Export Control, and Defective Pricing Schemes – On October 16, 2024, Raytheon Company entered into a three-year deferred prosecution agreement with the Department of Justice in connection with conspiracy to violate the anti-bribery provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act for engaging in a scheme to bribe a government official in Qatar and conspiracy to violate AECA by willfully failing to disclose the bribes in export licensing applications with the Department of State. This HSI investigation, in coordination with the Department of Justice and FBI, was part of two schemes to defraud DOD in connection with the provision of defense articles and services, including Patriot missile systems and a radar system. The resolution resulted in criminal and civil penalties totaling nearly $1 billion.