U.S. Firm Searched in Iraq Arms Probe
MIAMI — U.S. Customs agents probing possible illegal arms sales to Iraq searched a Miami development firm allegedly linked to an international weapons dealer, the company’s attorney said Friday.
The target of the probe is Carlos Cardoen, owner of Industrias Cardoen S.A. of Chile, which in the past supplied the Iraqi army with weapons, including cluster bombs, law enforcement sources said.
Customs spokesman Michael Sheehan confirmed that search warrants were served at the address of Swissco Development Co. and related firms.
Swissco attorney Abbey Kaplan said Customs agents made it clear to the company’s owner, Anthony Mijares, during the search Thursday that he was suspected of helping Cardoen smuggle weapons.
Kaplan acknowledged that Mijares and Cardoen are friends, but said the Swissco companies had nothing to do with Cardoen’s businesses. Swissco is simply a real estate development company, he said.
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