Ex-Military Parts Dealer Faces Jail Over £5m Iran Smuggling Scam
Alexander George, 80, from Long Ashton, Bristol, has been ordered to cough up £700,000 or risk more prison time for illegally shipping military aircraft parts to Iran. The grandad made over £5 million by sneaking MiG 29 and US F4 Phantom parts past strict UK export controls.
How He Pulled Off the Massive Smuggling Operation
Between 2010 and 2016, George used a network of businesses in Malaysia and Dubai to funnel sensitive military goods bought in the US to Iran. Despite clear Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) restrictions, he enlisted others to transport the parts, ignoring international trade embargoes.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) uncovered his scheme and grilled him twice at Heathrow Airport in 2010. George feigned innocence, claiming he only sold harmless construction gear like wheelbarrows and goggles.
Crime Doesn’t Pay: Court Orders George to Repay or Face Prison
George was sentenced in 2018 to two and a half years behind bars at the Old Bailey for knowingly exporting controlled military goods. At Southwark Crown Court in June 2022, he was ordered to pay £700,000 within three months or face an extra three months in jail. The 80-year-old was absent due to illness at the hearing.
“He didn’t care what these prohibited items were used for. His cynical attempts to sidestep trade embargoes harmed international security,” said Nicola Dunk, Assistant Director of HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service.
“We will always seek to reclaim money made through illegal means. If George fails to pay, he will go back to prison and still owe the cash on release.”
Partners Get Suspended Sentences
Paul and Iris Attwater, who were involved in the same smuggling ring, were found guilty too. They each received six-month suspended sentences in October 2018 at Southwark Crown Court.
UK’s Strict Controls on Military Exports
The UK enforces a tough licensing system to stop military and dual-use tech falling into the wrong hands. George’s case highlights how serious HMRC is about clamping down on those flouting export ban laws.
