Kentucky Residents Charged With Conspiracy to Ship Firearms to Iraq

Four Kentucky residents were arrested on Oct. 4 after conspiring to ship firearms to Iraq without obtaining an export license, DOJ said. They were indicted on conspiracy to violate the Export Control Reform Act and smuggle goods from the U.S., among other charges.

Haider Lazem, Hasan Wasak and Abudllah Alsajee allegedly procured firearms from February 2023 through September 2024 at gun shows in the Louisville area. They then "delivered" the weapons to the fourth defendant, Haitham Al-Dulaimi, who "arranged them" for export to Iraq. The U.S. detained a shipment of 38 firearms meant for Iraq, DOJ said.

The four face a maximum of 20 years in prison for the export control violations and five years in prison for the conspiracy charge. Al-Dulaimi faces a 10-year maximum prison penalty for smuggling.