Brazil was alleged intended recipient of US couple’s nuclear submarine secrets

Jonathan Toebbe held a top-secret security clearance and specialized in naval nuclear propulsion. Photograph: US Navy/AFP/Getty Images

The country that an American spy couple tried to sell nuclear submarine secrets to last year has been revealed to be Brazil.

Jonathan and Diana Toebbe, a suburban couple who lived in Annapolis, Maryland, were arrested last October and charged with attempting to sell the design of US nuclear-powered submarines to someone they thought was a representative of a foreign power – but who turned out to be an undercover FBI agent.