Russia's covert ship ops: Weapons flowing to Libya's Haftar
An Interpol investigation has revealed that Russia is using old ships to smuggle weapons to Marshal Haftar's forces in Libya. These operations are conducted under the flags of various exotic countries, making them difficult to detect.
Key information
- Interpol discovered that Russia is smuggling weapons to Libya using a fleet of old ships.
- These ships sail under the flags of exotic countries, complicating their identification.
- The weapons are delivered to Marshal Khalifa Haftar's forces, which control the eastern part of Libya.
Interpol's ongoing investigation, which began last year, has revealed that Russia is utilizing old ships to smuggle weapons to Libya. These ships operate under flags of exotic countries, which enables them to evade sanctions and makes detection challenging. Russian-smuggled weapons are reaching the forces of Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who holds power in eastern Libya.
According to the Polish Press Agency, ships bound for Tobruk in eastern Libya transport weapons from Russian ports on the Black Sea. Some of the equipment is directed to the Libyan National Army, while some reaches the Rapid Support Forces, active in Sudan. Libyan ports are also used to support military juntas in Africa.
One of the vessels in question is the Barbaros, a cargo ship flying the flag of Cameroon. It was observed crossing the Bosphorus Strait in early 2024. Interpol found dozens of military trucks on its deck. The Barbaros has changed its name and flag several times, complicating tracking efforts.
Consequences for the region
Russian involvement in Libyan ports has increased following the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria. The new regime in Damascus denied Russia access to naval bases, prompting Moscow to expand its activities in Libya. This involvement allows Russia to exert control over migrant smuggling routes to Europe.
Russia's decision to utilize old ships after the invasion of Ukraine has led to an increase in hazardous vessels at sea. Many sail under African flags, making them difficult to identify and regulate.
