Two Former UN Employees in Montreal Charged with Conspiring to Sell Chinese Military Equipment and Libyan Oil to Libya, Violating UN Sanctions
Two former employees of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a UN agency in Montreal, have been charged with conspiring to sell Chinese-made drones and other military equipment to Libya, in violation of UN sanctions.
The men, identified as Fathi Ben Ahmed Mhaouek, 61, and Mahmud Mohamed Elsuwaye Sayeh, 37, allegedly engaged in the illegal activities between 2018 and 2021.
The military equipment included large drones capable of carrying multiple missiles, and the sales were facilitated through shell companies.
The charges carry the force of law in Canada due to the UN sanctions.
Poirier accused individuals of conspiring to violate Canadian regulations by supplying military equipment to one of the factions in the Libyan civil war, which ended in 2020, and helping to finance the group.
The second part of the scheme involved exporting Libyan oil to China, with the oil fields under the control of General Khalifa Haftar.
The plan was to sell large quantities of crude oil to China without disclosure.
Haftar led the self-styled Libyan National Army and controlled much of the country's east during the civil war, maintaining power in the region.
A Canadian citizen named Mhaouek was arrested in Montreal, Quebec on Tuesday for alleged involvement in a conspiracy to illegally export military equipment and crude oil to Libya.
His accomplice, Sayeh, is still at large and an Interpol red notice and a Canada-wide warrant have been issued for his arrest.
The two men were suspected of making several million dollars in commissions if the goods reached their final destinations.
The motivation behind the conspiracy was primarily financial, but it could have also benefited China by supporting Haftar's faction and giving China prime access to Libyan oil.
No indication has been found that the goods ever reached their intended destinations.
In 2022, the RCMP initiated an investigation into two UN employees, Poirier and Sayeh, following the receipt of credible intelligence.
Both men had diplomatic immunity due to their work with the UN, which had to be waived by ICAO for them to be charged.
The UN's international civil aviation organization has been collaborating with the police investigation.
ICAO was not aware of the conspiracy before being approached by the police.
The whereabouts of Sayeh, a Libyan national, are unknown, as he could be in Libya or elsewhere due to his influence and networking at ICAO.
The UN civil aviation agency has committed to upholding Canadian laws, UN standards, and its own ethics code.
ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) is working with the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) to investigate individuals who left the organization and are under investigation for unspecified actions.
ICAO does not condone any behavior that goes against its values.
The military equipment included large drones capable of carrying multiple missiles, and the sales were facilitated through shell companies.
The charges carry the force of law in Canada due to the UN sanctions.
Poirier accused individuals of conspiring to violate Canadian regulations by supplying military equipment to one of the factions in the Libyan civil war, which ended in 2020, and helping to finance the group.
The second part of the scheme involved exporting Libyan oil to China, with the oil fields under the control of General Khalifa Haftar.
The plan was to sell large quantities of crude oil to China without disclosure.
Haftar led the self-styled Libyan National Army and controlled much of the country's east during the civil war, maintaining power in the region.
A Canadian citizen named Mhaouek was arrested in Montreal, Quebec on Tuesday for alleged involvement in a conspiracy to illegally export military equipment and crude oil to Libya.
His accomplice, Sayeh, is still at large and an Interpol red notice and a Canada-wide warrant have been issued for his arrest.
The two men were suspected of making several million dollars in commissions if the goods reached their final destinations.
The motivation behind the conspiracy was primarily financial, but it could have also benefited China by supporting Haftar's faction and giving China prime access to Libyan oil.
No indication has been found that the goods ever reached their intended destinations.
In 2022, the RCMP initiated an investigation into two UN employees, Poirier and Sayeh, following the receipt of credible intelligence.
Both men had diplomatic immunity due to their work with the UN, which had to be waived by ICAO for them to be charged.
The UN's international civil aviation organization has been collaborating with the police investigation.
ICAO was not aware of the conspiracy before being approached by the police.
The whereabouts of Sayeh, a Libyan national, are unknown, as he could be in Libya or elsewhere due to his influence and networking at ICAO.
The UN civil aviation agency has committed to upholding Canadian laws, UN standards, and its own ethics code.
ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) is working with the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) to investigate individuals who left the organization and are under investigation for unspecified actions.
ICAO does not condone any behavior that goes against its values.
Translation:
Translated by AI
