US Gun Parts Exporter Mislabeled Packages to Evade Russia Controls, DOJ Says
A U.S. business owner allegedly exported gun parts and accessories to Russia illegally by routing them through Kazakhstan and mislabeling the shipments to evade authorities, DOJ said last week. Maxim Larin, a Florida resident who owns multiple U.S.-based firearms supply companies, illegally worked with a person in Russia to evade export restrictions and ship items controlled under both the Export Administration Regulations and International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the agency said.
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Larin was arrested and charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act, conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act, attempted violation of the AECA, smuggling goods from the U.S., and submitting false export information. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
DOJ said Larin began shipping the gun parts and accessories to Russia as early as December 2022, when he worked with a Russia-based person to undervalue and mislabel the shipments to try to avoid scrutiny from U.S. authorities. Larin also warned the Russian person about using any parcels with images of “soldiers on the packaging,” because those “may be a red flag for the customs if they open it,” Larin said, according to DOJ. Larin also sent an email asking: “Would you like us to remove the package boxes, or take a risk with the customs?”
In May 2023, Larin agreed to ship “enhanced firearms triggers and charging handles” to Kazakhstan “at the request” of the Russian person, and DOJ noted that the Bureau of Industry and Security requires exporters to obtain a license before shipping those items to Kazakhstan. After asking the Russian person “how he would like the items declared,” Larin was told to label the package as containing clothing, tools and a light switch. “Larin shipped the parcel and mislabeled its contents,” DOJ said in its allegations.
In another instance in December 2023, Larin agreed to ship a “Rapid Targeting and Ranging Module (‘Raptar’) target acquisition device,” which DOJ said is a gun accessory that allows for long-range targeting. Larin didn’t obtain the required ITAR license from the State Department before trying to export it to Kazakhstan, DOJ said. It said Homeland Security Investigations intercepted the shipment and seized it in California.