Israeli weapons dealers tried to send jet parts to Iran in violation of embargo

Shipment of F-4 Phantom parts which originated in Binyamina was confiscated in Greece en route to Iran, Greek daily reports.

Israeli weapons smugglers tried to send fighter jet parts to Iran in violation of an arms embargo, Greek daily Kathimerini reported on Monday, citing the findings of a probe carried out by US Homeland Security and Greece's Financial Crimes Squad.

The arms dealers attempted to send the spare parts for F-4 Phantom aircraft via Greece, according to the report. The illegal transaction was carried out in two phases, in December 2012 and April 2013.

The spare parts shipment originated in Binyamina, south of Haifa, and was shipped to a Greek company near Athens registered under the name Tassos Karras SA. Greek authorities determined that the firm was a ghost company.

Greek authorities confiscated the shipment before it could be sent to Iran, which has a large fleet of F-4 Phantom aircraft.

In November 2013, a court in Athens ruled that the confiscated parts should be delivered to US authorities, Kathimerini reported. The Greek report did not reveal the identity of the Israeli firm or individuals who shipped the goods.

JPOST