Where Industry and Security Intersect
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(WASHINGTON) -- The Commerce Department today imposed a $60,000 civil penalty on LEP Profit International, Inc. (LEP) of Marietta, GA, for allegedly preparing shipping documents that contained false information, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Enforcement F. Amanda DeBusk announced.
"Freight forwarders are key players in making sure exports are properly licensed. We rely on them to understand the importance of export controls, and to know when to make inquiries," DeBusk said.
The Department alleged that on 12 occasions the Seattle office of LEP prepared and used export control documents to effect exports to Vietnam, representing that the commodities were licensed by the U.S. for such export. In fact, none of the exports was licensed by the U.S. for export to Vietnam.
LEP agreed to pay the penalty to settle the alleged violations of the export control regulations. A portion of the penalty, $15,000, will be suspended for two years then waived so long as LEP complies with the export control regulations. The Bureau of Export Administration's San Jose Field Office conducted the investigation.
In announcing the settlement and the cooperation of LEP during the investigation, DeBusk pointed out that, "as a result of this case, LEP renewed its commitment to achieving export compliance by training its personnel and developing more effective export procedures. We wish all forwarders would follow their example," she said.
The Bureau of Export Administration controls and licenses exports and reexports of dual-use commodities, technology and software for reasons of national security, foreign policy, nonproliferation and short supply.
In April of 2002 the Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) changed its name to the Bureau of Industry and Security(BIS). For historical purposes we have not changed the references to BXA in the legacy documents found in the Archived Press and Public Information.