Venezuelan illegal air shipments under the probe

US authorities filed charges against four Florida residents for their participation in a scheme to illegally export military equipment to Venezuela, said the Federal Attorney for the Southern District of that state. Materials such as turbines, refrigeration systems, rotation disks, valves, and assembly parts for airplanes were exported to Venezuela.

Three of the defendants, Alberto Pichardo (an official of the Venezuelan armed force, FAV), Freddy Argüelles (FAV ex-pilot), and Victor Brown, were charged in court of "being involved in violations of the Exported Arms Control Act" with he intent to send military equipment to Venezuela.

In this criminal plot to "purchase and sell aircraft components," the fourth defendant, Kirk Drellich, the 49 year old owner and president of SkyHigh Accessories, will appear in Florida next week. According to the charge, the purpose of the "scheme" was the defendants' personal enrichment. The final purchaser, since 2009, was the FAV, according to Efe.

Translated by Alejandro Osio