LTTE Arms Purchasing Ring Busted in Baltimore

By Aaron Mannes

Last week the U.S. Attorney for Baltimore announced that two complaints and an indictment were unsealed charging six people with conspiring to purchase weapons for the LTTE. The lead agency in the operation was Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This is the second major bust of a Tiger arms purchasing network in the U.S. in two months. Like the previous operation these arrests were the culmination of an impressive operation. The arms purchasers were allowed to sample the merchandise at an arms range in Havre de Grace (a small town not far from Baltimore - or, interestingly, Aberdeen Proving Grounds.) Some of the arrests were actually made in Guam.

On the U.S. side, clearly more resources have been devoted to breaking up LTTE arms buying networks. This is an important development if the terrible civil war that has tormented Sri Lanka for over a quarter century is ever to end. The LTTE is an effective terrorist organization that has carried out over 200 suicide bombings and has also held its own in direct fighting with both the Sri Lankan and Indian militaries.

When interviewed about the previous bust, I stated that the LTTE is capable of hitting the U.S. However, they have historically avoided hitting U.S. targets or even American advisors to Sri Lankan forces to avoid American animus.

One of the key items sought by both LTTE arms-purchasing rings were anti-air missiles (SAMs), indicating that Sri Lankan airpower is a major concern for the Tigers. The apparent success of the Sri Lankan military along with the damage done to the LTTE's international network may be reasons why the LTTE has announced that it is willing to return to the negotiating table.

At the same time, the details revealed by the LTTE operatives show that the Tigers retain substantial capabilities in many areas. The arms buyers mentioned pruchasing an additional $15 million worth of equipment after the first sale, provided their interlocutors with false passports, and were planning another transfer at sea in international waters (indicating that Tiger maritime capabilities remain.) Most worrisome, one of the defendants claimed to be a retired Indonesian Marine General. It is not clear whether this is true, but ties to the Indonesian military would be a valuable asset for the LTTE's internation arms purchasing network.

For more background on the LTTE, see my piece in the Daily Standard.

Cross-posted to the TerrorBlog.

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