The Pentagon lost track of sensitive equipment from a $750 million program to help US soldiers spot roadside bombs, and some of it wound up for sale on eBay, Craigslist and other websites.
According to a Navy intelligence document obtained by The Intercept, the missing equipment includes thermal optic imaging and night vision devices that were supplied to US forces to help locate improvised explosive devices.
“Since 2009, some of this advanced hardware has been reported as missing and is actively being sold or discussed on the global market on a variety of websites,” says an intelligence brief by the US Naval Criminal Investigative Service and its Multiple Threat Alert Center.
The report went on to state that “more than 32,000 pieces of equipment were issued” under the program, and the items “are NOT for civilian use and are controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations.” The devices went missing because the military units had poor control over equipment distributed to them, according to the intelligence brief.
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