(LONDON) – Two men have been convicted in the United Kingdom after a court found they attempted to broker weapons deals linked to conflict affected countries including South Sudan and Sudan.
The case, heard at Southwark Crown Court in London, involved allegations of illegal international arms trafficking over several years. Prosecutors said the operation attempted to arrange the supply of military equipment including fighter aircraft and surface to air missile systems.
British national David Greenhalgh, 68, and Greek national Christos Farmakis, 48, were both found guilty of multiple offences connected to illegal arms brokerage activities. The court heard that the proposed deals involved weapons transfers from Eastern European countries to destinations including South Sudan, Sudan, Libya, Iraq and Iran.
Greenhalgh was convicted on eight counts linked to illegal arms trafficking, along with two additional related offences. Farmakis, who was tried in his absence, was convicted on eight counts and one further related offence.
According to prosecutors, Farmakis operated negotiations through a Cyprus registered company known as Black Betty Consulting. Authorities alleged that the company was used to facilitate discussions and arrangements involving military hardware destined for countries affected by conflict and international sanctions.
The Crown Prosecution Service said Greenhalgh controlled the Airservices group of companies, which operated across several countries including the United Kingdom, Greece, Macedonia, Hong Kong and South Sudan. Prosecutors argued that this international structure helped conceal the activities from British regulators and investigators.
HM Revenue and Customs stated during the investigation that British citizens remain subject to UK arms trading laws regardless of where business operations take place internationally. Officials said this allowed UK authorities to pursue the case even though many of the alleged transactions and negotiations occurred outside Britain.
The court heard that between July 2009 and December 2016 the pair attempted to broker weapons supplies to countries that were under UK arms embargo restrictions during that period.
South Sudan has previously faced international scrutiny over the movement of weapons into conflict areas during periods of heightened political instability and civil unrest.