Arms industry executives arrested outside Las Vegas gun exhibition

USA - Police arrested 21 arms-industry executives on 18 January as they arrived in Las Vegas for the 2010 Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Tradeshow and Conference.

Federal agents used the show as an opportunity to arrest them all at once, and accuse them of bribing officials in an unnamed African country in an effort to secure an arms-dealing contract.

Allegedly, the executives provided the country’s presidential guard with bullet-proof vests, pistols, tear-gas launchers and other equipment.

Among the accused were Britons Lee Wares, Pankesh Patel and David Painter.

One other defendant was arrested in Miami.

See the March edition of Exhibition World for more details.