Bosnian National Sentenced for Violating International Sanctions Against North Korea
A Bosnian national was sentenced to five years in prison for conspiring to broker North Korean anti-aircraft missiles in violation of U.S. sanctions and export controls.
A Bosnian national received a 60-month federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to conspiring to broker the sale of Man Portable Air Defense Systems, a prohibited category of anti-aircraft missiles. The scheme involved circumventing U.S. sanctions imposed under the North Korea Sanctions Regulations, according to court documents. Prosecutors emphasized that the defendant’s actions undermined the legal framework designed to restrict North Korea’s access to military technology.
The defendant, Saša Micev, 43, worked with a co-conspirator based in New Mexico to arrange the purchase of SA-18 Igla portable surface-to-air missiles from North Korea without required licenses. Micev provided pricing details, participated in efforts to obtain the missiles through falsified documentation, and attempted to complete the transaction despite knowing it violated U.S. and international law.
In late 2020, Micev and the co-conspirator traveled to Ankara, Turkey, to finalize the sale of the Igla missiles. The transaction collapsed after a price dispute with North Korean suppliers, but prosecutors argued the attempt itself constituted a violation of export and sanctions laws.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations offices in Albuquerque and Phoenix, with prosecution led by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tavo Hall and Holland Kastrin in the District of New Mexico. The Justice Department stated that the sentence reflects the seriousness of attempting to traffic restricted military technology in violation of U.S. law.