Virginia Co. Settles Charges of Unlicensed Export of Cargo X-Ray System

The U.S. Department of Commerce today announced that L-3 Communications of Arlington, Virginia, has agreed to pay a $33,000 civil penalty to settle charges that it exported a mobile cargo x-ray system containing an item controlled for missile technology reasons from the United States to the Netherlands in violation of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). The company also agreed to conduct transaction-by-transaction audits of eight of its companies concerning all exports of items subject to the EAR during the period of January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2005.

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security charged that on
November 4, 2002, L-3 Communications exported a CX-2500M mobile cargo x-ray system, containing a Linatron-M3 Modular linear x-ray accelerator, to Dutch Customs in the Netherlands, without first obtaining the required Department of Commerce export license.

The United States vigorously enforces export controls on U.S.-origin items for national security, nonproliferation and antiterrorism reasons. Companies wishing to export controlled items may do so only after obtaining the required licenses from the Department of Commerce. The export of a controlled item without the proper license approval is a violation of the EAR and is subject to criminal penalties and administrative sanctions.

Acting Assistant Secretary Wendy Wysong commended Special Agent Steven Fisher of the Washington Field Office for his work on this investigation.