A British court has handed down a 16-year prison sentence to David Greenhagg, a 68-year-old arms dealer, for his involvement in illicit arms deals with several countries, including Libya. According to reports from Reuters, Greenhagg was found guilty of arranging illegal arms transactions between 2009 and 2016. The deals involved various types of arms and ammunition, including AK-47 rifles and combat tanks.
The court also found Christos Farmakis, a 48-year-old Greek national, guilty on nine counts and sentenced him to 16 years in prison in absentia. Farmakis's whereabouts are currently unknown. The two men were accused of repeatedly attempting to circumvent arms export bans to make substantial profits. Investigations revealed that they were involved in arranging arms deals with Libya, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, in violation of the arms embargo imposed on these countries.
The case against Greenhagg and Farmakis came to light after Farmakis used a work-related email address to arrange deals, one of which was forwarded to his supervisor, leading to the discovery of documents related to plans to sell fighter jets and other arms to Libya following the 2011 events. The plans were part of a larger pattern of illicit arms dealing, with the two men seeking to exploit loopholes in international arms export regulations.
The London court heard that Greenhagg and Farmakis were involved in a complex network of arms deals, with the two men working together to broker transactions with countries under arms embargoes. The court found that they had shown a blatant disregard for international law and had prioritized profits over the risks of their actions.
The sentencing of Greenhagg and Farmakis marks a significant victory for law enforcement agencies working to combat illicit arms trafficking. The case highlights the challenges of policing international arms deals and the need for continued cooperation between countries to prevent the proliferation of arms to countries under embargo.
The UK's Serious Fraud Office and the Metropolitan Police Service worked together on the case, which was hailed as a major success in the fight against international organized crime. The case also underscores the importance of international cooperation in preventing the flow of illicit arms to conflict zones.
The verdict and sentencing have been welcomed by anti-arms trafficking campaigners, who have long called for greater efforts to prevent the flow of illicit arms to countries in conflict. The case serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance in monitoring international arms deals and for holding those involved in illicit arms trafficking accountable for their actions.
Key points
- A British court sentenced David Greenhagg to 16 years in prison for arranging illegal arms deals with Libya and other countries.
- Christos Farmakis, a Greek national, was also sentenced to 16 years in prison in absentia for his role in the illicit arms deals.
- The case highlights the challenges of policing international arms deals and the need for continued cooperation between countries to prevent the proliferation of arms to countries under embargo.
