Home / Crime and Justice / FBI Nabs Suspected Industrial Spy Kingpin
FBI Nabs Suspected Industrial Spy Kingpin
14 Feb
Summary
- A Chinese spy targeted GE jet engine secrets.
- Economic espionage involved major US corporations.
- Sloppiness and an FBI sting led to capture.
Xu Yanjun, a Chinese intelligence officer, orchestrated a significant economic espionage campaign targeting the crown jewel of American aerospace: GE jet engines. Operating as the Deputy Division Director of the Sixth Bureau of the Jiangsu Province MSS office, Xu engaged in a mission that involved clandestine tactics such as dead drops, cyberattacks, and the use of aliases.
The espionage operation affected major American corporations, including giants like DuPont, Boeing, and General Motors. Xu played a crucial role in this extensive effort to acquire sensitive corporate information and intellectual property, contributing to one of the largest economic espionage schemes in history.
Ultimately, Xu Yanjun's operation unraveled due to his own mistakes and a meticulously planned FBI sting operation. This sting led to a significant reversal, resulting in his capture and the foiling of his ambitious espionage goals. The intricate details of this case are the subject of a limited podcast series.
