Iran Steps Up Bell Smuggling | Aviation International News

Iran Steps Up Bell Smuggling

Iran is continuing its global, coordinated and illegal campaign to http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/iran-counterfeiting-bell

By Mark Huber • Contributor

June 27, 2011

Iran is continuing its global, coordinated and illegal campaign to smuggle Bell helicopters and spares to keep its fleet flying in contravention of international arms embargoes. Several high-profile international arrests in late May, one in London and the remainder in Spain, point to a fresh round of smuggling activity.

Two Belgians, Willy de Greef and Roland Depelchin, and their front companies, Meca Airways and Meca Overseas Airways, were indicted by a U.S. federal grand jury in March on charges of attempted export to an embargoed country (Iran), wire fraud, money laundering, smuggling, conspiracy and making false statements. De Greef was arrested in London in May and is awaiting extradition. Cohort Depelchin remains at large. The duo are accused of lying to parts suppliers about the destination of such items switches, fuel cells and turbine bypass valves.

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