China attempted to smuggle $1 billion worth of military drones to Libya disguised as COVID aid

China attempted to send $1 billion worth of drones to Libyan warlord General Khalifa Haftar disguised as COVID-19 aid, according to Defense News, citing court documents filed in Canada. The scheme involved Chinese state officials conspiring with corrupt U.N. officials to smuggle 42 drones marked as pandemic supplies, in violation of U.N. arms embargo on Libya. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police uncovered the plan through FBI intercepts, revealing attempts to exchange Libyan oil for Chinese drones between 2018 and 2021.

Two Libyan nationals working at the International Civil Aviation Organization (a U.N. agency) in Montreal were charged with conspiracy in April by Canadian authorities. One was arrested, while the other remains at large. The documents indicate that a U.S. citizen was also implicated but not charged. In July, Italian authorities seized Chinese military drones bound for Benghazi, Libya, in July, in violation of the arms embargo.