An American couple has been arrested on charges of nuclear espionage. As the Justice Department in Washington announced Sunday, the duo sold secret plans for nuclear-powered US warships to an employee of the Federal Police FBI, whom they believed to be representative of a foreign government, for nearly a year.
The ministry said the 42-year-old husband worked as a nuclear engineer for the US Navy. Through his work, he had access to secret data on nuclear-powered submarines, which he and his wife (45) sold in crypto currency for a total of about $100,000 (86,400 francs).
Memory Card in Peanut Butter Sandwich
In April 2020, the husband first sent a package with secret data to a foreign government to establish contacts, it said. The package was intercepted, at which point an FBI agent introduced himself to the couple as a representative of the foreign government.
The couple then handed over several memory cards to the undercover FBI agent over the course of several months—hidden, among other things, in peanut butter sandwiches or chewing gum packs that had been left in previously agreed upon locations.
A hearing has been set for Tuesday against the couple from the state of West Virginia. (AFP)
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