Former Broward County residents accused of illegally exporting AR-15 parts to South America
Posted: 8:43 PM, Jun 28, 2019 Updated: 1 hour ago
By: WFTS Digital Staff
BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. -- Two former Broward County residents are accused of exporting AR-15 parts to Argentina.
On Wednesday, authorities arrested 60-year-old John James Peterson and 67-year-old Brunella Zuppone for their alleged involvement with an international weapons smuggling group based out of Argentina.
According to court documents, Peterson and Zuppone illegally exported thousands of AR-15 parts from the U.S. to the Argentine smuggling group without a required license from the U.S. Department of State.
Authorities from both the United States and Argentina conducted a series of search warrants and confiscated over 189 long arms, 156 handguns, one mortar round, one hand grenade, over 30,000 rounds of assorted caliber ammunition, five vehicles and $110,000 in cash. Authorities said they confiscated enough parts to make up over 50 AR-15 assault rifles.
More:
https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/state/former-broward-county-residents-accused-of-illegally-exporting-ar-15-parts-to-south-america
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2 charged in massive international arms smuggling scheme
Curt Anderson, Ap Legal Affairs Writer Updated 2:45 pm CDT, Friday, June 28, 2019
MIAMI (AP) — Two people have been charged in Florida with orchestrating a massive arms smuggling scheme involving thousands of weapons and parts sent to South America, federal officials said Friday.
Homeland Security Investigations officials said at a news conference that authorities seized 5,300 firearms and components, many of them powerful AR-15 rifles. More than two dozen people have been arrested in Argentina, Brazil and the U.S.
Matthew Albence, deputy director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said the weapons were mailed in pieces using false labeling from the U.S. to South America and assembled there. The weapons parts were shipped through the U.S. Post Office and other delivery services.
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In addition to the weapons and ammunition, authorities seized more than $100,000 in cash. Anthony Salisbury, chief of Homeland Security Investigations in Miami, said most of the weapons were intended for Brazil after transiting through Argentina.
More:
https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/2-charged-in-massive-international-arms-smuggling-14059276.php
Also posted in LBN:
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