Thursday, September 23, 2026 - A British arms broker has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after being convicted of arranging illegal weapons deals involving Libya, Sudan and other embargoed destinations.
David Greenhalgh, 68, was convicted on 10 counts linked to the unlicensed supply of military equipment between 2009 and 2016, while Greek national Christos Farmakis, 48, was also sentenced to 16 years after being convicted in his absence.
The case involved an extensive range of military equipment, including ex-Soviet fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missile systems, anti-tank weapons, battle tanks, AK-47 rifles and ammunition. Prosecutors said the pair used overseas companies, false documentation and third-country routes in attempts to bypass UK export controls.
One completed transaction involved a former Ukrainian S-125 Pechora missile system supplied to South Sudan, while other cases involved proposed weapons deals rather than confirmed deliveries.
The sentences delivered at Southwark Crown Court on September 23 underline the growing scrutiny surrounding international arms brokering and sanctions enforcement.
UK prosecutors said the defendants' activities demonstrated attempts to exploit international business structures to move controlled military goods toward restricted markets.
The case is now drawing attention to how governments track brokers, end-user documents and cross-border transactions as they seek to prevent weapons from reaching conflict zones outside legal controls.
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