Brit supported Taliban by repeatedly sending them infrared night vision rifle scopes | UK | News | Express.co.uk

Oct 18, 2024

A British man who kept sending night vision and thermal imaging rifle scopes to members of the Taliban in Afghanistan, to support their terror activities, has been jailed for seven years.

Detectives and HMRC customs investigators identified that Muhammad Choudhary, 41, from east London, sent thermal imaging night vision rifle scopes by airmail to Pakistan on a number of occasions in 2017 and 2018.

Upon questioning, he later admitted they were intended for use by the Taliban, which, at the time, launched various attacks against the then-Government and coalition forces in Afghanistan.

Acting Commander Gareth Rees, of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “This case is a prime example of how terrorist activity can take many different forms, and shows that we will investigate anyone in the UK who supports terrorist activity, regardless of what it may be in support of or to where it may be linked.

“This was a unique case where Government colleagues identified potential terrorist-related activity and shared information with us. Further enquiries conducted by Counter Terrorism Command officers led to Choudhary being convicted and jailed for various terrorism offences.”

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Mike Pass, Assistant Director, Fraud Investigation Service, HMRC, said: “The UK operates a strict licensing regime to uphold international sanctions and to ensure military equipment does not fall into the wrong hands. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure effective controls and enforcement on military goods, which contributes to the UK’s national security.”

Choudhary first came to the attention of HMRC after a seizure of rifle scopes at Heathrow Airport in January 2018. It was identified that Choudhary was the person behind the consignment, which was intended for an address in Pakistan.

Further enquiries revealed that Choudhary bought the sniper sights from legitimate hunting suppliers. He was interviewed under caution by HMRC investigators and he later admitted in interview that the recipient and end users were members of the Taliban.

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As a result, this information was passed to the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command and officers launched an investigation, which resulted in Choudhary being charged with various terrorism offences in September 2023.

At an Old Bailey hearing in January, he pleaded guilty to a charge of fundraising for the purposes of terrorism (contrary to section 15 of the Terrorism Act, 2000), and two charges of making funding arrangements for the purposes of terrorism (contrary to section 17, TACT, 2000).

Choudhary was also previously charged with 23 offences under the Customs and Excise Management Act (1979). He pleaded not guilty to these offences at a hearing in February, and it was subsequently agreed for these offences to lay on file.

He was sentenced on Tuesday, 15 October, at the Old Bailey to a total of seven years’ imprisonment, with an additional year to be served on an extended licence.