ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Syrian-born U.S. citizen has been charged with smuggling rifle scopes, night-vision goggles and other military-style gear from the United States to Islamic militants in his home country.
According to an indictment unsealed Friday, 50-year-old Amin al-Baroudi personally brought such gear to Syria and arranged several other shipments between 2011 and 2013. Prosecutors say the goods went to the insurgent group Ahrar el-Sham, which aims to establish an Islamic state in Syria and fights alongside al-Qaida's official branch there.
Court documents show al-Baroudi was arrested on Thursday at Washington Dulles International Airport. He is a former California resident. His attorney said in court Monday that al-Baroudi had been living in Saudi Arabia before returning to the United States.
A judge ordered al-Baroudi detained pending further court proceedings.
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