News Desk
The U.S. Department of Justice has implicated entities within the Maldives in a far-reaching smuggling operation involving aircraft parts and avionics. Israeli national Gal Haimovich has pleaded guilty to charges related to export control and smuggling violations.
On September 10, 2024, the Justice Department announced that Haimovich, 49, engaged in a scheme to unlawfully export aircraft parts and avionics from U.S. manufacturers to Russia. According to court documents, Haimovich owned an international freight forwarding company that was part of a larger network operating across multiple countries, including the United States and Israel. This company served as a conduit for individuals and entities seeking to evade U.S. export control laws.
Haimovich’s operation, which ran from March 2022 to May 2023, involved arranging “more than 160 shipments to companies in the Maldives and United Arab Emirates that were responsible for the illicit transshipment of the goods to Russia,” the Justice Department stated. These intermediaries in the Maldives and UAE were crucial in rerouting the goods, which included sensitive components with potential missile technology applications, to Russia.
Attention has been drawn to certain Maldivian companies that have conducted business with Israeli firms, including some high-profile figures affiliated with the ruling party, who have previously been the subject of public discussion.
The economic relationship between Russia and the Maldives is significant, with Russian tourism contributing approximately $517,808 per day to the Maldivian economy. This daily influx underscores the substantial economic impact of Russian visitors, who account for about 2.7% of the Maldives’ total GDP. In contrast, the United States contributes considerably less to the Maldivian economy, with a daily economic impact of $163,014.
The Justice Department’s press release, first reported by Florida media on September 12, 2024, and later covered by the Times of Israel, emphasized that Haimovich’s firm was hired by Russian entities, including Siberia Airlines, to misrepresent the final destination of the aircraft parts to U.S. suppliers.
As part of his plea agreement, Haimovich has agreed to forfeit over $2 million and various aircraft components. His sentencing is set for November 22, 2024. The investigation, led by the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement and the FBI, is part of Task Force KleptoCapture, which targets efforts to evade international sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.
The brief mention of Maldives in the Justice Department’s announcement highlights the complexities of enforcing international trade regulations and the ongoing challenges in combating illicit smuggling networks.
