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British Arms Broker Sentenced to 16 Years for Illegal Missile and Jet Deals
By Drooid · · How we work
Illegal Arms Deals Lead to 16-Year Sentences
On September 23, a London court sentenced David Greenhalgh, 68, and Christos Farmakis, 48, to 16 years’ imprisonment for arranging unlicensed exports of weapons. The convictions stem from a series of transactions between 2009 and 2016 that supplied ex-Soviet S-125 Pechora surface-to-air missiles to South Sudan, AK-47 rifles, battle tanks, ammunition, and fighter jets to Libya during its civil war.
Background of the Offences
The prosecutions revealed that Greenhalgh and Farmakis repeatedly attempted to circumvent United Kingdom arms export bans to sell arms for profit. In addition to the South Sudan missile sale, the pair planned shipments to Iran, Iraq and Syria, all in breach of international embargoes. Farmakis was identified through an email sent from his government-funded Greater London Enterprise account, which led investigators to documents outlining the proposed Libyan jet sales following the 2011 Arab Spring.
Key Individuals Convicted
- David Greenhalgh – British arms broker convicted of ten counts of involvement in unlicensed arms supply.
- Christos Farmakis – Greek national convicted of nine offences; tried in absentia, current whereabouts unknown.
- Judge Sally-Ann Hales – Presiding judge at Southwark Crown Court who emphasized the defendants’ deliberate attempts to breach export bans.
- Edmund Burge – Prosecutor who noted that only one charge involved the actual transfer of weaponry, specifically the missile system to South Sudan.
Legal Findings and Sentencing
Judge Hales sentenced both men to 16 years, describing their conduct as a systematic effort to profit from prohibited sales. Prosecutor Burge highlighted the role of Farmakis’s email in exposing the scheme.
Implications for UK Arms Export Controls
The case underscores heightened scrutiny of private intermediaries who exploit government-funded positions to facilitate illicit arms trades. It also signals the UK’s willingness to impose lengthy custodial terms for breaches of export restrictions, reinforcing the legal framework intended to prevent weapons from reaching conflict zones.
