Pakistani captain found guilty in smuggling case tied to deaths of two Navy SEALs

Published June 5, 2025 6:01pm ET



A federal jury on Thursday convicted the Pakistani captain of a weapons-smuggling boat intercepted in January last year by U.S. forces in the Arabian Sea, a mission that led to the deaths of two Navy SEALs, on charges of transporting Iranian advanced weaponry to the Houthis in Yemen and threatening fellow crew members.

Muhammad Pahlawan, 49, was found guilty in the Eastern District of Virginia of conspiring to provide material support to terrorists, supporting Iran’s weapons of mass destruction program, transporting explosive devices intended to harm others, and witness intimidation. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 22, and he faces up to 20 years in prison on most counts.

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