Illicit Supplier of Aircraft Parts to Iran Placed on Denied Persons List

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Commerce announced today that Winter Aircraft Products SA, also known as Ruf S. Lopez SA, located in Madrid, Spain, and its executive officers, Rufina Sanchez Lopez and Jose Alberto Diaz Sanchez, have had their export privileges under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) denied for a period of ten years.

“This action by demonstrates our commitment to enforce the trade embargo against Iran , which was imposed to protect U.S. national security,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement Darryl W. Jackson.

The Denial Orders were imposed by the Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security against Winter Aircraft and the two executives for violating the EAR in connection with the unlawful diversion and transshipment of U.S.-origin aircraft parts through Spain to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

BIS charged each with committing two violations of the EAR for evading the licensing requirements maintained by the U.S. Government for the exportation of the aircraft parts. In 2000, Winter Aircraft and the two executives acquired aircraft parts from the United States , concealed the identity of the country of ultimate destination from the U.S. suppliers, and then transshipped the parts through Spain to Iran with a substantial markup in price. Winter Aircraft and the executives each received a charging letter from BIS but failed to file an answer to the charging letters.

Under the Denial Order, Winter Aircraft and Sanchez Lopez and Diaz Sanchez may not directly or indirectly participate in or benefit in any way from any transaction subject to the EAR, including by exporting or reexporting an item subject to the EAR, applying for an export license from BIS, or by transporting, financing or servicing an item subject to the EAR, or benefiting in any way from a transaction involving such an item. It is also a violation of the EAR for any person to participate in a transaction subject to the EAR involving a denied party.

For more information, please visit www.bis.doc.gov. The full text of the Denial Orders and the Order of the Under Secretary can be found on BIS’s website at: http://efoia.bis.doc.gov/ExportControlViolations/TOCExportViolations.htm. Also, additional information regarding persons subject to Denial Orders can be found at: http://www.bis.doc.gov/complianceandenforcement/ListsToCheck.htm.

BIS controls exports and reexports of dual-use commodities, technology, and software for national security, foreign policy, and non-proliferation reasons. Criminal penalties and administrative sanctions can be imposed for violations of the Export Administration Regulations.