B.C. man accused in conspiracy to obtain U.S. technology for Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program

A Canadian man from British Columbia is currently in custody in Washington state, facing allegations of being involved in a conspiracy to smuggle U.S. technology through Canada to circumvent restrictions aimed at limiting Pakistan’s nuclear ambitions. Mohammad Jawaid Aziz, also known as Jawaid Aziz Siddiqui, is accused of working as a middleman in this illicit scheme, alongside two unnamed co-conspirators.

The indictment, filed in U.S. District Court in Minnesota, reveals that Aziz and his associates allegedly acquired prohibited equipment worth thousands of dollars for Pakistan’s military and weapons programs through front companies. The illegal activities date back to 2019, when an undercover U.S. government agent posing as an employee of a Minnesota company involved in the sale of linear actuators targeted Aziz in a sting operation.

Although the offenses occurred in 2019, Aziz was only apprehended on March 21 while trying to cross from British Columbia into Washington state. He is currently in custody awaiting transfer to Minnesota. The U.S. Department of Justice claims that Aziz operated an underground procurement network through his Surrey-based company, Diversified Technology Services, from 2003 to March 2019. The network’s objective was to obtain U.S.-origin goods for restricted entities in Pakistan associated with nuclear, missile, and UAV programs.

Aziz is facing charges of conspiracy to violate the U.S. International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the Export Control Reform Act. The indictment outlines how Aziz, a dual citizen of Pakistan and Canada, and his co-conspirators procured dual-use U.S. goods for prohibited entities in Pakistan, including those on the Entity List. This list includes Pakistani government agencies and private labs involved in nuclear weapons development.

The court documents list various items worth hundreds of thousands of dollars that Aziz is accused of purchasing for restricted Pakistani entities. These include thermal conductivity units, a digital video microscope, and a centrifugal pump. The undercover operation in 2019 involved an attempt to purchase goods for Pakistan’s National Development Complex, with Aziz coordinating the acquisition through a Minnesota-based firm.

During the sting operation, the undercover agent informed Aziz that the goods had been seized at the border due to suspected smuggling. Aziz claimed the items had a commercial application and instructed the agent to hold onto them for another potential customer. If convicted, Aziz could face up to 20 years in prison for his involvement in the conspiracy.

This case highlights the importance of strict enforcement of export controls to prevent the proliferation of sensitive technology to entities engaged in prohibited activities. Aziz’s arrest serves as a warning to those seeking to bypass such regulations for illicit purposes.