56 riflescopes/combat optics seized during joint operation
WILMINGTON, Del. —U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents in Wilmington, Delaware, along with the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), and Office of Export Enforcement (OEE), seized 56 riflescopes/combat optics, previously detained from a reshipping business located in Newark, Delaware, Dec. 22, 2017, following a joint enforcement action.
The 56 export-controlled combat optic scopes have a combined domestic value of $63,500, and were seized after the investigation revealed they were to be exported to China contrary to U.S. laws and regulations. The scopes are controlled for export through their inclusion on the Commerce Control List (CCL) and the U.S. Munitions List (USML).
"Homeland Security Investigations will use all resources at its disposal to prevent our sensitive and restricted technology from being illegally exported,” said Marlon V. Miller, special agent in charge of HSI Philadelphia. “HSI's robust counter proliferation program ensures measures are in place to safeguard our borders and defend our interests across the world.”
HSI and Department of Commerce OEE Special Agents partner to address vulnerabilities in the export sector and work to conduct Project Shield America (PSA) outreach presentations to certain “reshipper” businesses that are unique to Delaware.
Since May of 2015, HSI Wilmington and OEE, have made 19 seizures of export-controlled items leaving the United States, all of which originated from Delaware. The 19 HSI seizures include the following USML export-controlled items: military thermal riflescopes, military-grade laser illuminators, rifle barrels and rifle triggers and the following CCL export-controlled items: riflescopes/combat optics, integrated circuits with a military radar application, law enforcement batons and taser devices.
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