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German Arrested For Trying To Sell To Libya

Feds: Man Tried To Get Airplanes, Parts For Gadhafi

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Federal agents have arrested a German pilot accused of offering to buy military cargo planes and aircraft engines for Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi.

Klaus Ernst Buhler (pictured, right) of Dusseldorf, Germany, was taken into custody Wednesday while working in Nassau County, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court Thursday.

The arrest capped a yearlong sting by federal agents.

Buhler, 48, was charged with two counts of attempting to export military engines to Libya without a license and approval from federal officials. Each charge carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence. He was being held in jail without bond.

A 1986 trade embargo prohibits selling anything to Libya.

Speaking through an interpreter at a court hearing Thursday, Buhler told U.S. Magistrate Thomas Morris that he was in shock.

Before his arrest, Buhler said his Libyan connections, including a best friend whom he described as a personal assistant to Gadhafi, offered to buy six Chinook engines and parts for $5.6 million. He said he also wanted two entire C-130 cargo planes and other parts in the future, though a price was not discussed.

"Buhler described himself as very connected to Libya for the past 25 years and said he had a commission arrangement with the Libyan government for obtaining military equipment," the complaint said.

The only money that exchanged hands prior to the arrest was $12,500 Buhler sent to an offshore bank account after undercover agents told him the money was needed to help bribe someone to steal the engines from the military, according to the complaint.

Rolls-Royce Corp., which manufactures plane engines, alerted authorities about Buhler's visit to their Indianapolis office in August 2000.

Rolls-Royce officials said Buhler told them he was a German commercial pilot and representative of an African company.

Rolls-Royce officials grew suspicious because Buhler didn't have licenses to buy such engines.

U.S. Customs agent Henry Connell contacted Buhler in March, posing as a supplier of military hardware. They later met, and Connell says Buhler mentioned his connection to Libya.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

Answers

Response to FLA man busted for trying to buy .mil parts for Libya

Bigtime OOOPS!

The title should be German man.....

Now where did I hide that thing I need.

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002

is that better?

-- Anonymous, January 11, 2002