Military Smuggling Shipment Discovered from Plane Bound for Iran in Kyiv

Ukraine reported the discovery of a military shipment from a plane bound for Iran at Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv. The Russian news agency Interfax reported on Sunday, January 22, that border guards confirmed the discovery of parts for the 'Fagot' anti-tank guided missile system from a plane headed to Iran. This information was provided to the agency by a spokesperson for the Ukrainian border guard. According to the report, on January 21, during an inspection of air cargo destined for Iran at Boryspil International Airport in Kyiv, guards found 17 boxes containing undocumented shipments that were not mentioned in the flight manifest. Three of the discovered boxes contained parts used in missiles, while the rest were filled with aircraft components. The plane's crew claimed they believed the boxes contained aircraft repair parts. Ukrainian security forces seized the discovered shipment due to violations of international goods transfer laws and handed it over to the Ukrainian government. The reports did not specify which airline the plane belonged to. The 'Fagot' missile, whose parts were discovered in this shipment, is a small, portable missile that can also be fired from an armored vehicle. The Young Journalists Club recently reported that each Fagot missile is priced at $30,000 and noted that the traces of advanced 'Fagot' anti-tank missiles are well-documented in the battles of the past two years in Syria, particularly in the north of the country. In late Esfand 1390 (March 2012), Turkish security officials forced an Iranian cargo plane bound for Syria to land at Diyarbakır Airport in eastern Turkey and subsequently announced that they had discovered an illegal arms shipment destined for Syria during an inspection of the aircraft.