Federal prosecutors charge alleged would-be gun smuggler
Federal prosecutors in Utah say a man from the United Arab Emirates tried to buy 89 sniper rifles and smuggle them to Belarus.
The U.S. Attorney for Utah said Thursday that 44-year-old Kolar Rahman has been indicted on four charges alleging that he tried to buy the weapons from an undercover agent and send them to the central European country despite a U.S. arms embargo.
The case started after a Salt Lake City firearms manufacturer was contacted about shipping guns to Belarus, touching off a two-year investigation.
Prosecutors say that Rahman sent $13,000 down payment for 10 sniper rifles after months of communication, and told two undercover agents he wanted to buy more before he was arrested in Chicago on Nov. 4.
No lawyer was immediately listed for Rahman in court records.
