U.S. offers $15 million reward for woman, 3 accomplices accused of smuggling drone technology to Iran

The U.S. Department of State is offering a reward of up to $15 million for a woman and three accomplices who have been allegedly smuggling U.S. technology to Iran for nearly 20 years.

Liu Baoxia, also known as Emily Liu, allegedly worked with three associates to use front companies in China to send U.S. electronic components to companies linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the State Department said in a news release. The associates were identified as Li Yongxin, also known as Emma Lee; Yung Yiu Wa, also known as Stephen Yung; and Zhong Yanlai, also known as Sydney Chung.

The electronic components could be used in the production of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, ballistic missile systems, and other “military end uses,” the State Department said. Thousands of components were sent, the State Department said in another post.

Liu and her associates allegedly misrepresented who the electronic components would be sent to, so they were exported to the Chinese front companies under the belief they were being sent to China. Instead, they were exported to Iran-linked companies Shiraz Electronics Industries, Rayan Roshd Afzar, and their affiliates, the State Department said.

Read more: CBS News