LOS ANGELES — A Pakistani military-parts dealer who was arrested outside a Rosarito Beach restaurant this week and deported to the United States at the request of U.S. officials made his first appearance in federal court yesterday. Arif Ali Durrani, 55, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Margaret Nagle and was ordered to be held without bail until his trial, in part because his ties to Mexico and Pakistan make him a flight risk, Nagle said. He'll be arraigned Monday.
Durrani, convicted of illegally exporting HAWK missile parts to Iran nearly 20 years ago, faces charges of illegally exporting components for U.S. fighter jet engines to foreign buyers in 1994. | He was part of the Iran-Contra arms deal. |
David Wales, resident agent in charge of the Ventura office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said government officials here have been "on the lookout" for Durrani and seeking his return for six years on the jet-engine charges. Although Durrani was known to be living in Mexico, he couldn't be extradited because he's not a U.S. citizen, Wales noted. "It was basically just a waiting game until the Mexican authorities picked him up," Wales said.
Mexican officials, who said Durrani was in their country illegally, arrested Durrani in Rosarito Beach on Sunday, and on Wednesday they put him on a flight from Mexico City en route to Pakistan via Los Angeles. He was arrested by federal agents when the flight arrived at Los Angeles International Airport. | Oops, I always get those "direct" and "non-stop" flights mixed up as well. I'm sure it was an innocent mistake by the Mexican officals. |
The indictment, which dates from 1999, alleges Durrani's now-defunct company, Lonestar Aerospace in Ventura, illegally exported 150 compressor blades for the General Electric J85 military aircraft engine to foreign customers in 1994. The J85 engine powered the F-5E "Tiger II" fighter jet and the U.S. T-38 "Talon" trainer aircraft. The compressor blades for this engine are classified as "defense articles" by the United States, making their export subject to strict controls. | Like I said yesterday, up to his old tricks |
In 1987, Durrani was found guilty of illegally exporting guidance systems for the HAWK anti-aircraft missile from the United States to Iran. Durrani served more than five years in prison and was released in September 1992. |