Where Industry and Security Intersect
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | BUREAU OF INDUSTRY AND SECURITY |
| Friday, August 17, 2007 |
Office of Public Affairs |
| www.bis.doc.gov | 202-482-2721 |
WASHINGTON — The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) today announced that Armor Holdings, Inc. (Armor) has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $1,102,200 to settle charges that it committed 167 violations of the Export Administration Regulations. The charges were related to unlicensed exports of crime control equipment to foreign consignees in 41 countries including Egypt, Mexico and France.
"Rigorous compliance with all aspects of our export control system is critical," said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement Darryl W. Jackson. "Compliance is vitally important for crime-controlled items, which can be misused if they fall into the wrong hands."
BIS charged that Armor, located in Jacksonville, FL, exported 96 shipments of crime control items without first obtaining the required BIS licenses, and exported three shipments of items in excess of the licensed value. The shipments took place from 2001 to 2004, and included handcuffs, riot helmets fingerprinting equipment, and face shields. BIS also charged Armor with failing to file Shipper’s Export Declarations, misrepresenting license authority and failing to comply with recordkeeping requirements.
BIS controls exports and re-exports of dual-use commodities, technology, and software for reasons of national security, policy, nuclear nonproliferation, chemical and biological nonproliferation, regional stability, crime control, and short supply. Criminal penalties and administrative sanctions can be imposed for violations of the Export Administration Regulations.