Two former staff of the Worldwide Civil Aviation Group (ICAO) in Montreal have been charged with conspiracy for facilitating the unlawful sale of Chinese language drones and navy tools destined for Libya, in accordance with an RCMP investigation.
Fathi Ben Ahmed Mhaouek, 61, who’s from Sainte-Catherine, Que., is anticipated to look on the Montreal courthouse Tuesday afternoon. He was arrested at his residence Tuesday morning, RCMP Sgt. Charles Poirier confirmed.
Poirier says the person’s alleged confederate is Mahmud Mohamed Elsuwaye Sayeh, 37, a Libyan nationwide, and remains to be needed by police. Interpol has issued a crimson discover for his arrest. He’s accused of utilizing a scheme to hide navy tools sellers and consumers.
Tools concerned within the scheme embody drones that resemble “a small aircraft that may carry missiles,” in addition to management and command platforms to function the drones, Poirier stated.
“This tools is topic to UN sanctions associated to Libya and due to this fact can’t be offered to Libya,” he stated.
Chinese language interference in Libya
Poirier stated the present investigative concept means that China would have benefited from the deal by supporting the faction of Libyan Nationwide Military commander Khalifa Haftar.
“We’re principally taking a look at a case of Chinese language interference in Libya,” Poirier stated, noting that the RCMP investigation began in 2022. “All of it boils right down to actions in Canada that have been made to facilitate that deal.”
As a part of the conspiracy, Mhaouek allegedly “conspired to facilitate the purchases of Libyan oil between prohibited entities and the Folks’s Republic of China,” a information launch from the RCMP printed Tuesday reads.
“We’re speaking thousands and thousands of barrels [of crude oil] that might have been leaving Libya to go to China,” Poirier stated.
He added that the lads “actually met at ICAO” whereas they each loved practical diplomatic immunity.
ICAO stated in a press release Tuesday that the accused had left the group “various years in the past.” Citing the continued investigation and judicial proceedings, the group didn’t present extra particulars.
Had the deal gone by means of, each of the accused would have obtained a number of thousands and thousands of {dollars} in fee per thirty days.
They’re each charged underneath the United Nations Act and its Laws Implementing the United Nations Resolutions and Imposing Particular Financial Measures on Libya.
