Investigator Reveals China Tried to Smuggle Drones to Libya Disguised as COVID Aid
China attempted to send $1 billion worth of drones disguised as COVID-19 aid to a Libyan warlord through the assistance of corrupt U.N. officials, according to a Canadian government investigator. The drones were intended for Libyan General Khalifa Haftar, a Russia-backed strongman who controls eastern Libya. The scheme aimed to circumvent U.N. sanctions and was covered under the guise of fighting the Coronavirus.
Two Libyan nationals working in Canada at the International Civil Aviation Organization were charged with conspiracy for the scheme in April. A preliminary hearing is expected in the spring. The accusations were first reported by Defense News and are part of documents submitted in court in Montreal to obtain warrants to access the phones of the men involved.
Italian authorities in July seized Chinese military drones headed for Benghazi, Libya, in violation of a U.N. embargo, further highlighting the illicit nature of the deal.
