NCJ Number
219540
Journal
Homeland Defense Journal Volume: 5 Issue: 6 Dated: June 2007 Pages: 34-37
Date Published
June 2007
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the efforts of the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) to keep enforcement export control on sensitive goods.
Abstract
The Export Administration Act of 1979 provided a statutory authority for controlling the export of certain dual-use goods that could be used to build sophisticated weapons including weapons of mass destruction (WMD). An example of a dual-use good is a triggered spark gap that is used in medical devices called lithotripters but can also be used to trigger a nuclear detonation. The author explains that as the proliferation of world-wide of terrorism continues, it has become increasingly important to control the types of materials that are exported from the United States in an effort to keep WMD out of enemy hands. As such BIS has had a renewed focus on stopping the export of dual-use items and their efforts have not gone unrewarded as evidenced by the arrest of a South African electronics dealer and a Pakistani terrorist who attempted to export 200 trigger spark gaps from the United States. Other BIS investigations have led to the arrest and conviction of individuals for attempting to export sensitive, dual-use goods to terror-related organizations. BIS enforcement efforts also focus on United States antiboycott laws, which are intended to prohibit certain conduct related to the Arab League boycott of Israel. As such, BIS stands at the forefront of efforts designed to ensure that sensitive dual-use goods are not exported out of the country and into terrorist hands.