Two former United Nations employees in Montreal have been charged with participating in a conspiracy to sell Chinese-made drones and other military equipment in Libya, according to Canadian police. The alleged offenses occurred between 2018 and 2021 while the two men were working at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a U.N. agency based in Montreal.
The individuals, identified as a 61-year-old and a 37-year-old, violated U.N. sanctions related to the Libyan civil war by attempting to sell Chinese military equipment to Libya. This equipment included large drones capable of carrying multiple missiles.
Canadian law prohibits the supply of military equipment to factions involved in the Libyan civil war or assisting in financing those groups. The alleged conspiracy aimed to benefit one of the main factions in the conflict, which concluded in 2020.
Additionally, the scheme involved plans to export Libyan oil to China without detection. The oil fields were under the control of Gen. Khalifa Hifter, and the intention was to sell millions of barrels of crude oil to China clandestinely.
While the investigation revealed no evidence that the military equipment or oil reached their intended destinations, the co-conspirators could have gained millions of dollars in commissions if successful.
The investigation commenced in 2022 following credible intelligence received by the RCMP. Both men had diplomatic immunity due to their U.N. roles, which had to be waived by ICAO before charges could be laid.
One of the accused, a Canadian citizen, was arrested in Montreal, while the other, a Libyan national, remains at large. Interpol has issued a red notice and a Canada-wide warrant for the latter's arrest.
ICAO, the U.N. civil aviation agency, stated its commitment to upholding Canadian laws, U.N. standards, and its ethics code. The organization is cooperating with the police investigation and expressed condemnation for actions inconsistent with its values.
