$15M Reward for Chinese Nationals Accused of Smuggling Drone Tech to Iran

The U.S. State Department has announced a reward of up to $15 million for information on four Chinese nationals, including Liu Baoxia, accused of facilitating the smuggling of U.S. military technology to Iran for nearly 20 years. Liu and her associates allegedly used front companies in China to misrepresent shipments of electronic components, which were ultimately intended for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and associated entities, enabling the production of drones and ballistic missiles. The conspiracy involved thousands of components and was designed to evade U.S. sanctions and trade controls, with the technology being used to manufacture military equipment that could end up in the hands of hostile nations, including Russia. Federal arrest warrants have been issued, and the FBI has added Liu and her accomplices to its Most Wanted list. The U.S. government emphasizes the significant threat posed by the IRGC, which has been linked to financing terrorist activities globally. This initiative is part of a broader effort to disrupt the financial mechanisms of the IRGC and its affiliates.