Washington, March 29, 2025: A 67-year-old dual citizen of Pakistan and Canada, Mohammad Jawaid Aziz, also known as Jawaid Aziz Siddiqui and Jay Siddiqui, has been arrested for allegedly violating US export control laws by supplying restricted equipment for Pakistan’s missile, nuclear, and drone programs, the US Justice Department announced.
Siddiqui was apprehended on March 21 in the Western District of Washington while attempting to enter the United States from Canada.
According to a recently unsealed indictment, Siddiqui operated a procurement network through his Canada-based company, Diversified Technology Services, from 2003 until March 2019.
The network allegedly procured US-origin goods for restricted Pakistani entities by concealing their true end-users. To evade detection, Siddiqui and his co-conspirators used front companies to mask transactions and transshipment through third countries to bypass US export controls.
Siddiqui faces charges of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and violating the Export Control Reform Act.
If convicted, he could face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge based on US Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI and Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS).
The prosecution is led by Assistant US Attorney Bradley Endicott and Trial Attorney Nicholas Hunter from the National Security Division, with support from Assistant US Attorney Michelle Jensen.
Authorities emphasized that Siddiqui and his network used fake companies to disguise the original entities involved, rerouting shipments through third countries to facilitate the illegal procurement.
The investigation is ongoing, with Homeland Security Investigations Minneapolis, the FBI Minneapolis Field Office, and the BIS Chicago Field Office leading efforts.
