The Federal Bureau of Investigation has arrested a former United Nations agency executive in Montreal on charges of attempting to broker illegal arms deals worth more than $1 billion between Libya and China.
According to the Canadian newspaper Global News, the official is accused of leading a scheme to help China sell $1.54 billion worth of drones and missiles to militants in Libya between 2019 and 2023, in collaboration with six other suspects.
The report further states that the U.S. Department of Justice has charged the official with violating the U.S. Arms Export Control Act after the FBI uncovered evidence suggesting he financially benefited from the scheme.
Additionally, the report claims that Khalifa Haftar’s contact with China was made through an intermediary, resulting in an agreement to supply Libyan militants with advanced military drones, weapons, and computer systems to operate them, aiming to help Haftar’s forces gain a quicker military advantage.
According to Global News, FBI documents indicate that Chinese officials were uneasy about direct involvement in Libya due to concerns over the UN arms embargo.
The report also highlights that Italian customs authorities intercepted and seized Chinese-made Wing Loong military drones, destined for Libya. The Italian Guardia di Finanza confirmed that its officers had confiscated parts of two Chinese military drones, which were concealed inside shipping containers while en route to Libya.
