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. The alleged offenses occurred between 2018 and 2021 when the two men were working at the International Civil Aviation Organization, a U.N. agency headquartered in Montreal. The two men were identified as Fathi Ben Ahmed Mhaouek, 61, and Mahmud Mohamed Elsuwaye Sayeh, 37, and they violated U.N. sanctions related to the Libyan civil war. The military equipment involved in the conspiracy included large drones that can carry multiple missiles. The regulation prohibits anyone in Canada from supplying such military equipment to factions involved in the Libyan civil war.
In addition to attempting to sell military equipment to Libya, the conspiracy also involved exporting Libyan oil to China. The plan was to sell millions of drums of crude oil to China without anyone knowing about it. The oil fields were under the control of Gen. Khalifa Hifter, who led the self-styled Libyan National Army during the civil war and continues to be a powerful figure in the region. The alleged conspiracy would have financially benefited the two co-conspirators, allowing them to gain several million dollars in commissions. It would have also benefitted China by allowing the country to covertly support Hifter’s faction and gain prime access to Libyan oil.
One of the men involved, Fathi Ben Ahmed Mhaouek, was arrested at his home in Montreal, while the other, Mahmud Mohamed Elsuwaye Sayeh, remains on the run. A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for Sayeh’s arrest, as well as an Interpol red notice. The investigation began in 2022 after the RCMP received credible intelligence. Both men had diplomatic immunity due to their work with the U.N., which had to be waived by ICAO before they could be charged. The U.N. organization has been cooperating with the police investigation, and there is no indication that ICAO was aware of the conspiracy until approached by the police.
It is believed that the two men had not yet successfully delivered the military equipment or crude oil to their intended destinations. The primary motivation behind the conspiracy was financial gain, but it would have also benefited China by allowing them to support Hifter’s faction and gain access to Libyan oil. The investigation is ongoing, and police do not know exactly where Mahmud Mohamed Elsuwaye Sayeh may be located. With the level of influence and networking they had working at ICAO, he could be anywhere, including in Libya.
The UN’s civil aviation agency stated that it is committed to upholding Canadian laws, U.N. standards, and its own ethics code. ICAO strongly condemns any actions of individuals that are inconsistent with the organization’s values and is fully cooperating with the RCMP investigation of the individuals involved in the complaint. The organization emphasized that the individuals involved had left the organization several years ago. The case highlights the importance of upholding U.N. regulations and international sanctions to prevent the illegal sale of military equipment and exploitation of natural resources for financial gain.
