London: China allegedly plotted to send $1 billion worth of armed drones to Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar, using a UK-based shell company to bypass the United Nations arms embargo, according to a report by The Telegraph.
The covert operation was reportedly designed to deliver up to 92 armed drones, each capable of carrying multiple missiles, disguised as humanitarian COVID-19 aid. The drones were to be exchanged for discounted Libyan crude oil, as part of a broader Chinese strategy to exert influence over Libya and accelerate the resolution of its ongoing civil war, all while securing economic gains from the country’s oil-rich resources.
Details of the plot emerged during an ongoing investigation in Canada, where authorities uncovered a web of emails from 2018 to 2021. These emails revealed plans to use a network of shell companies based in the UK, Egypt, and Tunisia to facilitate the transactions. The investigation suggests that the Chinese government likely sanctioned the operation to conceal its involvement in the arms deal.
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The probe led to the identification of three individuals allegedly involved in the scheme, including two men who were charged in Canada with conspiracy related to the illegal sale of Libyan oil and military equipment. These individuals were working with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a global body that regulates air travel.
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This revelation has raised serious concerns about China’s role in fueling instability in the region while simultaneously violating international arms sanctions.
