The F.B.I reported on Thursday that there are a circle of Russians planning to smuggle out the U.S. microchips. Their attentions are on the chips and other electronic parts that are ordinarily available to buy in the U.S. Nevertheless, even if they purchase and export, they need a license to do so. According to the F.B.I, those chips can be used to build equipment for the army. Behind this chain of buyers is a Houston company named Arc Electronics, which claimed to be traffic lights producer, but their chips ended up in Russian military force such as airplanes and missiles. 11 people from former Soviet Union are being investigated by the F.B.I. Some of them have American citizenship. Alexander Fishenko, a co-owner of Arc Electronics, and an engineer who studied in Russia, is among one of them who is suspected to be the leader of this chain, and a Russian agent. Eight of them are accused of violations in licensing and weapon trading as well. The chipped are found to be shipping from Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Russia Information Agency stated that those charges are of no relations to their intelligence. Nonetheless, Arc Electronics is found to send those chips to a company in Russia called Apex System, which also partially belong to Mr. Fishenko. This Russian company is registered to sell items to military industry productions. Anonymous from the MIG fighter airplane company reported to Russian Information Agency that their 4++ generation jet fighters MIG-35 do not contain any American chips. However, it is very doubtful since in the history, Russia is known to have stolen U.S. classified nuclear weapon technology for its military after WWII.
Written by: Aye-Myat-Myat Thinn
Here is the original article from NY Times!
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