US investigators bust USD50 million Aeroflot smuggling ring

A multi-agency investigation in the US has busted a major smuggling ring in stolen goods involving employees of Russian airline Aeroflot.

According to unsealed court documents 10 current and former employees of the airline have been charged in a $50 million scheme in stolen goods being smuggled out of the country on flights.

Two of those were charged in absentia and are considered fugitives.

The scheme focused mostly on Apple products such as the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, the Justice Department said.

"As alleged, the defendants were members of an international smuggling ring that used a network of operators here and in Russia to circumvent US export laws and regulations," said Seth DuCharme, acting US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York.

"With the arrests, the network has been disabled thanks to the outstanding work of the Eastern District of New York prosecutors who worked tirelessly alongside our agency partners to closely scrutinize the goods and individuals."

As a result, the US State Department revoked the visas of more than 100 Aeroflot employees.

In one incident a defendant allegedly transported nine suitcases filled with 235 Apple products valued at about $250,000 on one trip.

"If you believe it is acceptable to exploit positions with a foreign airline to smuggle millions of dollars in illegal goods back to Russia as we allege, the answer is Nyet," said William Sweeney, assistant director-in-charge of the FBI’s New York Field Office.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, Customs and Border Protection and other US authorities.

Written by Ray Montgomery, US Editor

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