Chinese Man Admits Bid to Smuggle US Military Modems
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
US prosecutors said 29-year-old Chinese citizen Dingwei Chen pleaded guilty in federal court in Salt Lake City to violating the Arms Export Control Act over an alleged scheme to obtain sensitive US military communications equipment and send it to China.
According to the US Department of Justice, the equipment included military-grade satellite modems and radio devices made by a US company specifically for the US military, and such items cannot be legally exported without authorization from the State Department's Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.
Investigators said Chen and others explored several delivery routes, including Switzerland, Saipan and ultimately Mexico, while using encrypted communications and cryptocurrency payments to avoid detection.
Chen now faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for October 19.
Key Points
- The US Department of Justice announced on Monday, August 10, that Chen admitted the offence in federal court in Salt Lake City.
- Prosecutors said Chen conspired with others to buy satellite modems and radio equipment from a foreign arms dealer on the black market.
- The group first planned shipment through Switzerland, later considered delivery in Saipan, then decided to smuggle the equipment out via Mexico.
- To purchase 10 military modems, they paid more than US$40,000 upfront and later settled the remaining roughly US$30,000 in Tether.
- Authorities said Chen claimed the deal was only a trial run and that he still had funds for additional military equipment worth tens of millions of dollars.
Why It Matters
The case shows how export-control enforcement can extend beyond direct shipments, focusing also on payment methods, routing plans and encrypted coordination when military technology is involved.
For Hong Kong readers, it is a reminder that cross-border trade in dual-use or military-linked equipment is under intense scrutiny, especially when US-China tensions remain unsettled and compliance risks can escalate quickly.