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GAO Finds Stolen Military Gear on eBay, Craigslist
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April 11, 2008
GAO Finds Sensitive and Stolen Military Gear on eBay and Craigslist ‘GAO says that sensitive military hardware could be reverse engineered by foreign governments.’ -
Craigslist and eBay are both under close scrutiny for unknowingly fencing illegal goods and services.
A team of investigators from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found what it calls sensitive defense-related items for sale on both eBay and Craigslist. The investigators made undercover purchases of these sensitive goods and issued a report to the members of the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives.
The report was penned by Gregory D. Kutz (PDF), Managing director of Forensic Audits and Special Investigations. The report outlines exactly what sensitive and stolen items the GAO found on eBay and Craigslist.
On eBay investigators were able to purchase an F-14 antenna. The GAO says that Iran is the only country currently operating the F-14 and that replacement components are in high demand. The report also says that winning bidders on other auctions held by the same seller were in countries like Bulgaria, China, and Russia.
The GAO was able to purchase nuclear biological and chemical gear on Craigslist. Investigators say that this gear could be reverse engineered to develop countermeasures and to produce equivalent technology. The report also claims that this gear is stolen military property.
The investigators were also able to purchase enhanced small arms protective inserts on eBay. The report says that the body armor plates were made in June of 2007 and are currently in use by American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Winners on other body armor items offered by the same seller are noted as originating in China, Taiwan and Singapore. The body armor is reported to have been either stolen from the U.S. military of the manufacturer.
The report says that the GAO has found that some F-14 components found for sale were purchased from the Government Liquidation Web site and that the items had not been demilitarized properly. The DOA’s investigation was conducted from January 2007 through March 2008.
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