Stolen and sensitive U.S. military equipment, including fighter jet parts wanted by Iran and nuclear biological protective gear, has been available to the highest bidder on popular Web sales sites, according to congressional investigators.

Using undercover identities, investigators purchased a dozen defense-related items on the auction site eBay and the online network Craigslist from January 2007 through last month and received the items “no questions asked.”

The Defense agency regards much of the stolen equipment to be on the U.S. Munitions List, meaning there are restrictions on their overseas sales, the Government Accountability Office said Thursday.

The equipment could land in universal brokers’ hands or be transferred overseas, said the GAO, Congress’ investigative arm.

“Many of the sensitive items we purchased could have been used directly against our troops and allies, or reverse engineered to develop counter measures or equivalent technologies,” investigators said in their report.

Among the items purchased include two components from F-14 fighter jets,

bought from separate buyers on eBay. The warplanes, now retired by the military, could easily be purchased and transferred to the Iranian military, which is seeking its components, the report said. Investigators couldn’t determine where the sellers had obtained the F-14 parts.

They plus purchased from a Craigslist seller a used Nuclear Biological Chemical protective suit, other protective accessories as well as an unused chemical-biological canister, which restricted the mask filter used to guard against warfare agents. The property was likely stolen from the Defense division, the report said.

Investigators plus purchased military stolen goods that were sold for personal profit. The Defense office regards sale of convinced items issued to military personnel, such as body armor, theft of government property, the report said.

“Although not all of the stolen property items available on eBay and Craigslist were sensitive, each item was purchased with taxpayer money and represents a waste of…

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