A Pakistani-Canadian citizen has been arrested for operating a long-term scheme to bypass U.S. export laws and illegally send millions of dollars' worth of American technology to organisations linked to Pakistan's military and weapons programs.

On March 21, Mohammad Jawaid Aziz, 67, was detained in the Western District of Washington while trying to enter the United States from Canada. He is still in custody pending his transfer to the Minnesota district. Aziz has been accused of conspiring to break the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Export Control Reform Act, which could lead to a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Additionally, he has been charged with directly violating the Export Control Reform Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

According to the indictment, from 2003 to around March 2019, Aziz ran an illegal supply network through his Canada-based company, Diversified Technology Services. This network was designed to acquire US-made goods for banned organisations in Pakistan linked to the country’s nuclear, missile, and drone (UAV) programs. Aziz, through Diversified Technology Services, purchased various goods from U.S. companies, including sensitive and restricted items. These items were subject to Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and listed on the Commerce Control List. He procured them on behalf of restricted entities in Pakistan.

According to the Department of Justice, Siddiqui and his partners tried to hide who would actually use the goods. They did this by using fake companies and shipping the goods through other countries to avoid being caught by US authorities.