CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte man faces federal charges for illegally obtaining and attempting to smuggle guns to Ghana, West Africa.
The nine count indictment against Richmond Attah, 33, was unsealed in court on Thursday, charging him with violating the Arms Export Control Act, illegal firearms dealing, smuggling goods from the United States, and making false statements to a firearms dealer.
According to allegations contained in the indictment, beginning in 2013 and continuing to the present, Attah purchased numerous firearms and ammunition he intended to smuggle and illegally export to Ghana.
Officials say Attah hid 27 firearms, including semi-automatic pistols and revolvers, inside a washing machine and a dryer, and 3,500 rounds of ammunition inside a barrel. Attah placed the washer, dryer, and barrel inside a shipping container and attempted to have it shipped from Charlotte to Ghana.
U.S. Customs officers recovered the firearms and ammunition before it was shipped outside the United States.
Attah had his initial appearance in federal court Thursday.
