On Wednesday, September 19th, a walkie-talkie belonging to a member of Hezbollah in Lebanon was detonated, resulting in casualties. The Lebanese Ministry of Communications indicated that the exploded walkie-talkie was a discontinued model produced by the Japanese company ICOM. The Japanese company promptly responded to this incident.
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Communications, these IC-V82 radio equipment were not provided by authorized dealers, did not have official licenses, and had not undergone security department review.
Information from the ICOM website showed that the IC-V82 model had been discontinued, and almost all models currently in circulation are counterfeit products.
CNN analysis revealed that photos shared on social media on Wednesday displayed explosive devices with markings consistent with IC-V82.
Reuters and other media outlets also reported that the communication devices that exploded in Hezbollah in Lebanon were labeled “ICOM” and “Made in Japan.” These devices are believed to be products from ICOM based in Osaka.
The explosion resulted in at least 20 deaths and over 450 injuries.
ICOM, the Japanese company, stated that they are investigating reports of their walkie-talkies being used in the explosion incident in Lebanon on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the company stated on its website: “Earlier today, global media reported that walkie-talkie devices bearing the ICOM logo were involved in an explosion in Lebanon. We are currently verifying the facts.”
ICOM mentioned that the specific model of walkie-talkie related to the Lebanon explosion was discontinued ten years ago, and they cannot confirm whether these devices are counterfeit goods or shipped from their company.
“The IC-V82 is a handheld radio produced and exported from 2004 to October 2014, including to the Middle East. It was discontinued approximately 10 years ago, and since then, our company has ceased shipments.” ICOM stated on Thursday.
The company added that the batteries in these explosive devices have also ceased production and do not have holographic seals used to distinguish counterfeit products, making it difficult to determine if the products were shipped from their company.
ICOM emphasized that all their radio equipment is manufactured in Wakayama Prefecture and strict management systems are in place to ensure that only designated components are used in their products.
“All our radio equipment is produced in the same factory, and we do not manufacture overseas,” the company said.
ICOM stated that exports to overseas markets are done through authorized distributors and the company has established export plans based on government trade security regulations, implementing strict export controls.
According to Nikkei News, ICOM was established in 1954 and is a comprehensive manufacturer of radio equipment, engaged in walkie-talkies, land, maritime, and aviation radio equipment. The consolidated sales for the 2023 fiscal year (ending in March 2024) reached 37.1 billion yen, with business operations also conducted in Europe and the United States.
(This article referenced CNN’s report)