Liu Baoxia

Liu Baoxia (born 10 September 1981), also known by the aliases Emily Liu, Emily Lau, Baoxia Lau, and Baojuan Liu, is a Chinese businesswoman and alleged procurement agent who has been accused by United States authorities of participating in an international network that illegally exported U.S.-origin electronic components to Iran. U.S. prosecutors allege that the components were destined for organisations linked to Iran's military and defence industries, including entities associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics (MODAFL).

Born in Weifang, Shandong Province, China, Liu is reported to have operated or controlled several trading companies based in the People's Republic of China. According to U.S. authorities, she worked as a procurement agent and arms broker, using companies in China and Hong Kong to obtain export-controlled electronic components manufactured in the United States. Investigators allege that these components were subsequently diverted to Iran in violation of U.S. export control laws and international sanctions.

The alleged conspiracy is said to have operated over a period of several years. U.S. officials claim that the network procured sophisticated electronic components with potential military applications while concealing their ultimate destination through intermediaries and false export documentation. Such components are commonly used in advanced communications systems, missile guidance, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and other military technologies. The United States maintains strict export controls over these products because of their strategic importance.

On 30 January 2024, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia issued a federal arrest warrant for Liu after she was charged with conspiracy, unlawful export of U.S.-origin goods to Iran, smuggling goods from the United States, violating the Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, submitting false or misleading export information, and aiding and abetting. The charges form part of a broader U.S. effort to disrupt procurement networks alleged to support Iran's defence industry despite longstanding economic sanctions.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) subsequently placed Liu on its wanted list. Authorities state that she has ties to both China and Iran and may travel between the two countries. The FBI has described her as speaking Mandarin, Cantonese, and Farsi, and has identified her occupation as a procurement agent and operator of multiple Chinese trading companies.

In 2025 and 2026, the U.S. Department of State's Rewards for Justice program announced that it was offering a reward of up to US$15 million for information concerning individuals involved in financial and procurement networks associated with the IRGC, including Liu and alleged associate Yanlai Zhong. The reward reflects the U.S. government's assessment that such procurement networks play a significant role in enabling Iran to acquire restricted technology despite international sanctions.

As of mid-2026, Liu has not been reported to have been arrested or extradited to the United States. She remains the subject of an active federal arrest warrant and is listed as wanted by the FBI. The allegations against her have not been tested in a U.S. criminal trial, and she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

External Links

• FBI

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