Abstract:

A 39 year-old citizen of Uzbekistan is being charged with smuggling of a consignment of the dual use material tantalum from Russia to Iran. The suspect, Anar Godzhayev, is owner of AGS Impeks, an enterprise incorporated in 2006 in Astrakhan, Russia, which engaged in exporting goods to Iran.

In July 2007, Godzhayev was reportedly approached by a business associate (who was also a “former classmate”) with a request to deliver a one-ton consignment of goods made from tantalum, tantalum sheeting, and foil from Russia to Iran.[1] Press reports indicate that Godzhayev, aware that export of tantalum required special procedures, forged the customs declaration for the shipment. He stated that the consignment contained aluminum-cobalt-molybdenum catalysts instead of tantalum. However, customs officials discovered the discrepancy between the declared and actual goods before the shipment, placed on board of the cargo vessel "Ishim," left Russia.

Godzhayev, presently on trial in an Astrakhan court, is charged with violating article 188, section 2 (contraband) of Russia’s criminal code. If convicted, he could face up to 7 years in prison and a fine of up to 1 million rubles.[1]

Abstract Number:  20080200
Headline:  An Uzbek man accused of attempted tantalum smuggling from Russia to Iran
Date:  17 July 2008
Bibliography:  "Uzbek man accused of trying to smuggle WMD goods to Iran," RIA Novosti, 17 July 2008.
Material:  Nuclear Related Dual-Use Materials, Tantalum

Sources:

[1] "V Astrakhanskoy oblasti grazhdanin Uzbekistana obvinyon v popytke kontrabandy v Iran tonny tantala, ispolzuyemogo pri sozdanii oruzhiya," ITAR-TASS, 17 July 2008; in Integrum-Techno, http://www.integrum.ru.{Entered 9/23/08 AL}