MOSCOW: A man from San Rafael, California, who allegedly organized an electronic equipment smuggling scheme to Russia was arrested.
Pavel Flider, proprietor of electronic equipment company, Trident International Corp. of San Francisco and Richmond, is a naturalized United States citizen of Russian descent. Federal authorities of the US accuse businessman of smuggling computer chips with civilian and military application to Russia by submitting false or misleading shipping documentation.
According to American authorities, Flider was buying electronic components in the United States and transported them to Russia through Estonia and Finland while receiving needed funds from banks located in Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Czech Republic and Hong Kong.
Flider and his company were indicted this month on 25 counts of smuggling and money laundering by a federal grand jury. Businessman remains in custody waiting for a detention hearing.
