ICE removes Taiwanese national who conspired to export sophisticated US military equipment to China

WASHINGTON — A Taiwanese national who conspired to export defense articles to the People's Republic of China was removed from the United States late Wednesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Ko-Suen Moo, 64, was arrested Nov. 9, 2005, by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents in Miami for trying to buy sophisticated military parts, including an F-16 fighter jet engine, to export to the People's Republic of China without obtaining an export license from the U.S. Department of State. While housed at the federal detention center in Miami, Moo attempted to bribe several public officials to have the criminal charges dismissed.

Moo pleaded guilty on May 17, 2006, to conspiracy to export defense articles in violation of the Arms Export Control Act and failure to register as an agent of a foreign government, the People's Republic of China. And on July 24, 2006, he pleaded guilty to bribery of public officials.

He was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison.

On July 12, 2011, Moo came into ERO custody at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Ga., where he remained until his removal. Escorted by ERO officers, Moo departed the United States from the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Tuesday and arrived at the Taoyuan International Airport in Taipei, Taiwan, on Aug. 17. Upon arrival in the country, he was turned over to local authorities in Taiwan.

ERO coordinated this removal with the HSI Office of International Affairs and local authorities in Taiwan.