HSI-led investigations net seizure of Iranian weapons, fuel

An investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigation’s (HSI) Washington D.C. Field Office and Defense Criminal Investigative Service’s (DCIS) Mid-Atlantic Field Office has led to the seizure of Iranian arms from vessels in the Arabian Sea.

According to the DHS, the offices worked in conjunction with the U.S. Navy Central Command (NAVCENT). They seized more than 170 surface-to-air missiles and eight anti-tank missiles, and approximately 1.1 million barrels of Iranian petroleum products from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IGRC) weapons smuggling network.

The HSI Denver and FBI’s Minneapolis Field Office led an investigation of illegal Iranian petroleum sales with help from NAVCENT to seize petroleum products from Iranian vessels. IRGC, a designated foreign terrorist organization, orchestrated the arms and fuel shipments, which were en route to Houthi militants in Yemen.

The actions represent the government’s largest-ever forfeitures of fuel and weapons shipments from Iran.

“The results announced today by the Department of Justice represent another significant victory for HSI in its ongoing efforts to thwart the nefarious criminal activities of the Iranian regime and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” said Special Agent in Charge Ray Villanueva of HSI Washington D.C. “Protecting our homeland from transnational threats of any kind remains a top priority for HSI. The actions conducted by HSI and our partner organizations, both at home and abroad, demonstrate that no matter where in the world Iran attempts to violate sanctions and arm dangerous entities, HSI stands ready to disrupt their activities and defend the national security of the United States.”

The U.S. government sold the petroleum products for more than $26 million before interest, pursuant to court orders. That money may be directed to the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund.

“The actions of the United States in these two cases strike a resounding blow to the Government of Iran and to the criminal networks supporting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to use all available tools to combat the threats posed by terrorist organizations and all those who seek to harm the United States and its allies.”