RCMP allege two former UN workers in Montreal tried to sell military drones in Libya
MONTREAL — Two men who used to work for the United Nations in Montreal are facing criminal charges for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to sell Chinese attack drones to a Libyan armed group, and sanctioned oil to China.
Fathi Ben Ahmed Mhaouek, 61, appeared in a Montreal court Tuesday afternoon after he was arrested earlier in the day. He has been charged with one count of conspiracy.
Police and prosecutors say the alleged conspiracy took place between 2018 and 2021, while he was working at the International Civil Aviation Organization, a UN agency headquartered in Montreal.
“The conspiracy consisted of offering oil from Libya for sale that was from entities that are sanctioned by the United Nations. The oil was destined for the People’s Republic of China,” federal prosecutor Marie-Ève Moore told reporters at the Montreal courthouse.