| | In 1994, some employees of Norinco came under American investigation from both the [[FBI]] as well as the [[BATF]] after a successful sting dubbed “Operation Dragon Fire.” In May 1996, in what was called "the largest seizure of fully operational automatic weapons in U.S. history,"<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,135999,00.html Anatomy of a Sting], Michael S. Serrill, [[Time magazine]], Jun. 24, 2001.</ref> 14 individuals and an [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]] company were indicted for the unlicensed importation and sale of 2000 [[AK-47]]'s into the United States. [[U.S. Customs]] agents posing as arms traffickers convinced a group of Chinese arms dealers, including three Norinco representatives, that they were in the market to buy guns for drug rings and [[street gang]]s.<ref>[http://www.courttv.com/archive/legaldocs/misc/smuggle.html Massive Seizure of New Automatic Weapons Illegally Smuggled by PRC Weapons Producers], [[U.S. Department of Justice]] Press Release, May 23, 1996. Retrieved from CourtTV September 25, 2007.</ref> "The defendants offered the government undercover agents more sophisticated weapons, including hand-held rocket launchers, mortars, anti-aircraft missiles, silenced machine guns and even tanks," said a spokesman for the U.S. Customs Service.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/US/9605/23/china.arms/ Feds seize 'incredible arsenal', U.S. agent says China was aware of weapons-smuggling operation], [[CNN]], May 23, 1996.</ref> The Customs Service discovered during the investigation that these weapons were bound for [[Oakland]], [[California]] street gangs.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070301055156/www.washtimes.com/national/20030523-123039-1385r.htm Chinese firm hit with U.S. sanctions], By Bill Gertz, ''The [[Washington Times]]'', May 23, 2003.</ref> According to an affidavit signed by two of the undercover agents involved in the investigation, representatives from Norinco offered to sell urban gangs shoulder-held missile launchers capable of downing a large commercial airliner. | | In 1994, some employees of Norinco came under American investigation from both the [[FBI]] as well as the [[BATF]] after a successful sting dubbed “Operation Dragon Fire.” In May 1996, in what was called "the largest seizure of fully operational automatic weapons in U.S. history,"<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,135999,00.html Anatomy of a Sting], Michael S. Serrill, [[Time magazine]], Jun. 24, 2001.</ref> 14 individuals and an [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia]] company were indicted for the unlicensed importation and sale of 2000 [[AK-47]]'s into the United States. [[U.S. Customs]] agents posing as arms traffickers convinced a group of Chinese arms dealers, including three Norinco representatives, that they were in the market to buy guns for drug rings and [[street gang]]s.<ref>[http://www.courttv.com/archive/legaldocs/misc/smuggle.html Massive Seizure of New Automatic Weapons Illegally Smuggled by PRC Weapons Producers], [[U.S. Department of Justice]] Press Release, May 23, 1996. Retrieved from CourtTV September 25, 2007.</ref> "The defendants offered the government undercover agents more sophisticated weapons, including hand-held rocket launchers, mortars, anti-aircraft missiles, silenced machine guns and even tanks," said a spokesman for the U.S. Customs Service.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/US/9605/23/china.arms/ Feds seize 'incredible arsenal', U.S. agent says China was aware of weapons-smuggling operation], [[CNN]], May 23, 1996.</ref> The Customs Service discovered during the investigation that these weapons were bound for [[Oakland]], [[California]] street gangs.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070301055156/www.washtimes.com/national/20030523-123039-1385r.htm Chinese firm hit with U.S. sanctions], By Bill Gertz, ''The [[Washington Times]]'', May 23, 2003.</ref> According to an affidavit signed by two of the undercover agents involved in the investigation, representatives from Norinco offered to sell urban gangs shoulder-held missile launchers capable of downing a large commercial airliner. |