Counterfeiting is out of control!

Three Chinese nationals were arrested last December for illegally redistributing stolen – military grade – semiconductors, along with selling counterfeit components to US defence contractors. Daofu Zhang, Jiang Guanghou Yan and Xianfeng Zuo were arrested in Conneticut in December 2015, but this was not the first time that some of the companies had been investigated. The FBI first began watching Yan along with another Chinese company for trafficking in counterfeit semiconductors back in 2012. Following this, a press release from the Department of Justice states that ‘Yan sold a total of 45 counterfeit intel microprocessors to an undercover agent, who had advised Yan that the components would be used on a U.S Navy contract involving submarines’. Along with the direct sales of counterfeit components, Yan has also been known to set up organised theft of valued components from US Navy bases, replacing them with counterfeits that do not even function. Yan, and the other two Chinese nationals are now facing charged of violating the International Emergency Economics Powers Act – carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison as well as a 1 million USD fine. The problems surrounding counterfeit components do not appear to be decreasing, and reports of counterfeit components have quadrupled since 2009. It is more important than ever that you make sure your components are coming from a certified and trusted company who can provide all relevant details about the part at your request. At Cyclops, we have thorough procedures in place to ensure that the part you desire is exactly what you will receive. If you have any questions then please don’t hesitate to give us a call 01904 424 424.

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