SAN DIEGO » Authorities say a Chinese man is under indictment for violating arms trafficking laws after allegedly trying to buy a $20,000 pair of night vision goggles from an undercover agent in San Diego.

Yang Xin, also known as Troy Shin, from the Guizhou province in China, was indicted last week by a San Diego federal grand jury.

Authorities tell the Union-Tribune newspaper they don’t know who Xin is working for but usual buyers for such gear include foreign governments and criminal organizations.

The investigation into Xin started in 2014 when a search of his email showed he had obtained equipment from a $1.7 million theft from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

Xin bought the equipment from a Camp Lejeune Marine who pleaded guilty to stealing and selling the gear.