Russian Man Arrested in Florida Over Smuggling US Parts for Putin's Drones

A Russian man has been arrested in Florida on suspicion of smuggling U.S. parts for the production of President Vladimir Putin's drones, which are being used in the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Russian citizen Denis Postovoy, 44, was arrested on Monday morning in Sarasota on charges of violating export restrictions, money laundering, defraud, and illegally supplying Russia with dual-use and military microelectronics from U.S.-based and foreign-based distributors, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

Since at least February 2022—when Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine—Postovoy procured and illicitly exported microelectronic components with military applications that can be used in drones, from the U.S. to Russia, court documents allege.

Drones have been used extensively by both Russia and Ukraine in the ongoing war, now in its third year.

Postovoy and other individuals in his network allegedly purchased the goods via a web of companies that he owns or operates in Russia, Hong Kong, and elsewhere, and exported the microelectronics to Russia without applying for or obtaining the required licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce.

"Postovoy repeatedly concealed and misstated the true end users and end destinations of the microelectronics by submitting false information on export-related documents," the department said.

The U.S. parts were allegedly shipped to Russia via intermediary destinations, including Hong Kong, Switzerland, Estonia and elsewhere, and Postovoy received payments in U.S. dollars from foreign bank accounts.

The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.

Newsweek has contacted Russia's Foreign Ministry for comment by email.

The Russian Embassy in Washington said in a statement that although it is "aware of Postovoy's detention in Florida, no official notification from the local authorities has been sent," Russian state-run news agency and radio broadcast service Sputnik reported on Tuesday.

"We have asked the State Department to furnish information about Postovoy's whereabouts," the embassy said, adding that Russian diplomats intend to contact Postovoy to ensure he has the necessary consular and legal assistance.

Postovoy's first hearing has been scheduled for September 19 in Tampa, Florida, Sputnik said.

Separately on Monday, the U.S. Attorney's office in Boston said two men—Sam Bhambhani, 55, of North Attleboro, Massachusetts, and Maxim Teslenko, 35, of Moscow, Russia—were accused of selling laser equipment to Russia's nuclear energy industry. They were both charged with illegal smuggling and conspiring to violate and evade export controls.

"These two men are accused of helping Russia illegally acquire cutting edge, American-made laser welding machines in support of this hostile nation state's nuclear program," Jodi Cohen, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, said in a statement.

"This is yet another flagrant example of Russia using illicit procurement networks to advance their goals to the detriment of our country's national security."

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