Jailed pensioner who trafficked fighter jet parts to Iran ordered to pay £700k

A jailed pensioner who trafficked fighter jet parts to Iran in shipments he claimed were goggles, wheelbarrows and gloves, has been ordered to pay back £700,000.

Retired company boss Alexander George, 80, of Long Ashton, Bristol, was jailed in 2018 for shipping military items to Iran, including MiG 29 and US F4 Phantom parts, following an HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation.

George, who employed the help of others and their businesses to move the parts through countries that included Malaysia and Dubai, made more than £5 million from an operation which violated Weapons of Mass Destruction controls.

At a confiscation hearing on 8 June 2022 at Southwark Crown Court George, who was absent due to ill health, was ordered to pay £700,000 within three months or face a further three months in prison.

If he fails to pay back the money he will be jailed and will still owe the amount when released.

Nicola Dunk, Assistant Director, HMRC’s Fraud Investigation Service, said:

“George sold banned items that ended up in Iran and profited in the process. He didn’t care what they might be used for and was cynical in his attempts to undermine strict trade embargoes and internationally agreed controls.

“Our actions don’t stop once someone is convicted, we will look to reclaim money acquired from ill-gotten means. If George doesn’t pay this confiscation order he will be returned to prison and will still owe the money when released.”

The UK operates a strict licensing regime to uphold international sanctions and to ensure military equipment and dual-use items, which could be used by both the military and civilian sectors, do not fall into the wrong hands.

HMRC investigators found that George bought the aircraft parts from the United States and sent them to his companies in Malaysia and Dubai before illegally shipping them on to Iran.

But he became concerned he was being investigated and even searched the internet to find out who was wanted by the FBI, CIA and Interpol for selling aircraft parts to Iran.

George was questioned by HMRC officers at Heathrow Airport in August and December 2010 and denied he was dealing in aircraft parts. He told officers he was dealing in wheelbarrows, goggles and gloves for the construction industry.

George was convicted of knowingly exporting controlled military or dual-use goods between February 2010 and March 2016. He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years at the Old Bailey on 22 November 2018.

Paul and Iris Attwater were convicted of the same offence at Southwark Crown Court. They each received a six-month suspended prison sentence at the same court on 26 October 2018.