Did Blackwater sneak silencers into Iraq?

[cal04]

Security firm under investigation for allegedly sidestepping export controls
By Aram Roston
Investigative producer

Federal agents are investigating allegations that the Blackwater USA security firm illegally exported dozens of firearms sound suppressors — commonly known as silencers — to Iraq and other countries for use by company operatives, sources close to the investigation tell NBC News.

Investigators from various federal agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the State Department and the Commerce Department, are digging into the allegations that the company exported the silencers without getting necessary export approval, according to law enforcement sources, who spoke to NBC News on condition of anonymity. The sources said the investigation is part of a broader examination of potential firearms and export violations.

Ironically, the company’s main responsibility in Iraq is protecting officials of the State Department, the agency that regulates exports of arms. The firm had more than $500 million in federal contracts in 2006.

(snip)
The sources tell NBC News that Blackwater purchased the silencers legally from SWR Manufacturing, formerly of Georgia and now located in Pickens, S.C. SWR manufactures the devices for pistols, rifles and machine guns. The purchases took place over several years, the sources say.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21565556/

[htuttle]

1. Seems to me that silencers are the last thing a 'guard' would need

Did they ship over a case of garrottes, too?

[formercia]

2. Silencers are used primarily for assassinations

The only legitimate use of suppressors would be for fighting in enclosed spaces where the muzzle blast would produce temporary hearing loss and ear protection devices would reduce the ability to communicate and hear movement.

So, is Blackwater running hit teams?

[benEzra]

3. It would depend on what caliber/weapon the suppressors were made for.

If .300 Whisper or .45 ACP (or even 9mm), assassinations might be the intended purpose, but not 5.56mm suppressors--they are commonly used to preserve hearing from short-barreled carbines (they are still quite loud with suppressors, but without suppressors are deafening). It's also possible that the person/people who took them over wanted to look more badass.

Does anybody know what make/model/caliber the suppressors were for? I haven't run across that info yet.

[formercia]

4. Supersonic projectiles are always noisy.

There isn't a suppressor made that will silence that.

The Soviets built a suppresor into their AK 74 SPETZNAZ 'shortie' version similar to the M4 for the reason you mentioned.

The aftermarket version.....

http://www.rusmilitary.com/html/firearms_BRsuppressor.htm