California resident Chao Tung Wu, 51, and Yi Qing Chen, 41, were accused by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of trying to sneak into the United States QW-2 shoulder-fired missile systems used by the Chinese military.

A US law adopted after the September 11, 2001 attacks prohibits importing anti-aircraft missile systems.

An indictment unsealed earlier this month charged that the pair "conspired with foreign nationals to smuggle in the United States shoulder-fired and surface-to-air missiles designed to shoot down aircraft."

If convicted, each California man would face mandatory punishment of 25 years to life in prison.

Wu, Chen and others were originally indicted in August as part of "Operation Smoking Dragon," a federal investigation into an international smuggling ring.

The men have also been charged with conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and Ecstasy along with millions of counterfeit cigarettes.

Wu was also implicated in a scheme to import "Supernotes," high quality counterfeit 100-dollar bills, into the United States, according to prosecutors.

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