Two foreign nationals have been arrested in Serbia after the United States accused them of allegedly attempting to smuggle “sensitive U.S. military technology” to China, including missiles, air defense radars, and drones.
The American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seeking 63-year-old Briton John Miler, who is also a U.S. citizen, and Chinese national Cui Guanghai on charges related to conspiracy to conduct interstate stalking, smuggling, and violations of the Arms Export Control Act.
Both men are currently in custody in Serbia and could be extradited to the United States.
The British Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the British national following his arrest in April and is “in contact with local authorities and his family.”
Court documents suggest that the two men discussed how to export a device capable of encryption and decryption from the country.
They allegedly paid a $10,000 deposit for the equipment.
They are also accused of attempting to “harass” a protester against the Chinese government by placing a tracking device on his car and slashing his tires.
Todd Blanche, Deputy U.S. Attorney, accused them of an “overt attack” on U.S. national security and its democratic values.
“The Department of Justice will not tolerate foreign repression on U.S. soil, nor will we allow hostile nations to infiltrate or exploit our defense systems,” he added.
If convicted, Miler could face a 20-year prison sentence for violating the Arms Export Control Act and ten years for smuggling.
Court documents reveal details of how the two men sought to acquire weapons used by U.S. defense, such as missiles, air defense radars, drones, and cryptographic devices, whose export to China is prohibited.
Cui and Miler allegedly discussed with two individuals, identified in court documents as “Person 5” and “Person 6,” how to export a cryptographic device from America to China.
They reportedly planned to use small electrical devices, such as blenders, to smuggle it.
The indictment also states that they hired two people in America to prevent a demonstrator from protesting the presence of Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Los Angeles in November 2023.
Miler and Cui did not know that these two individuals, identified in court documents as “Person 1” and “Person 2,” were actually working for the FBI.
“The indictment alleges that foreign Chinese actors targeted a victim in our nation because she criticized the Chinese government and its president,” said Bill Essaile, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California.
“My office will continue to use all legal methods at our disposal to bring foreign nationals engaged in criminal activities on our soil to justice,” he stated.
A similar incident allegedly occurred in the spring of 2025, when an individual posted a video planning to unveil two art statues depicting Xi and his wife.
Cui and Miler paid two other individuals, identified in court documents as “Person 3” and “Person 4,” to try and dissuade the individual from sharing images of the statues online.
They paid them $36,000, but the indictment states that these two individuals were also connected to the FBI and acted at the FBI’s direction.
The two men remain in Serbia, and the U.S. is in contact with Serbian officials regarding their extradition.
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Source: Danas; Photo: Pexels