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| Interpol Headquarters in Lyon, France [FILE PHOTO: Special Arrangements] |
Lyon: Richard Ammar Chichakli, an alleged associate of arms dealer
Viktor Bout and subject of an INTERPOL Red Notice issued at the request of US
authorities for a range of offences including money laundering, fraud and
conspiring to violate economic sanctions, has been arrested in Australia.
Chichakli, a US – Syrian citizen, is alleged to have
conspired with Bout to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act
(IEEPA) by attempting to purchase two aircraft from companies located in the US.
Chichakli is also subject to United Nations Security Council sanctions and on
the Travel ban and Assets freeze list as associated with an entity providing
financial or military support to armed rebel groups in Liberia or countries in
the region.
Chichakli was arrested after a security checks as part of a
job application with an Australian government agency, revealed a positive match
with details included in an INTERPOL Red Notice, or international wanted
persons alert, issued at the request of US authorities in 2012.
US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator
Michele Leonhart said, “The international law enforcement community has long
recognized Richard Chichakli as a key criminal facilitator in Viktor Bout’s
global weapons trafficking regime and his arrest means the world is safer and
more secure.”
Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara praised the outstanding
investigative efforts of the DEA and thanked the Australian Federal Police, the
Victoria State Police, the Australian Attorney General’s Department, the US
Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, the US Department of
State and INTERPOL for their assistance in this matter.
“As alleged, Richard Ammar Chichakli consorted with the
world’s most notorious arms trafficker in the purchase of aircraft that would
be used to transport weapons to some of the world’s bloodiest conflict zones,
in violation of international sanctions. Thanks to the cooperative efforts of
all of our law enforcement partners, both here and abroad, Chichakli has
finally been apprehended and will now face justice,” said Bharara.
INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble said the case
once again underlined the added value brought to countries through the issue of
INTERPOL Red Notices.
“INTERPOL Washington’s request for a Red Notice to be issued
for Chichakli ensure that the global law enforcement community was alerted to
Chichakli’s wanted status, and the Australian authorities could identify and
arrest him, working with their American counterparts and INTERPOL’s Fugitive
Investigative Support unit at the General Secretariat headquarters,” said the
INTERPOL Chief.
Head of Australia's INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB),
Australian Federal Police Commander Fiona Drennan, and head of NCB Washington
Shawn Bray commended the significant cooperation between NCBs Canberra and
Washington and the FIS unit leading to Thursday’s arrest of Richard Chichakli.
“Cooperation between INTERPOL member countries and effective
use of the international tools available is essential to ensure the safety of
the community and bring criminals to justice," said Commander Drennan.
Chichakli is charged with nine separate offences; conspiracy
to violate the IEEPA; money laundering conspiracy; wire fraud conspiracy; and
six counts of wire fraud, and if convicted faces a maximum sentence of 20 years
on each of the counts.