UAE foils major arms trafficking plot linked to Sudanese army

Abu Dhabi: UAE State security services have thwarted an attempt to illegally transfer weapons and military equipment to the Sudanese Armed Forces. The security services foiled the smuggling of about five million pieces of ammunition of military equipment to the Sudanese army.

Attorney General Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi announced that the operation was uncovered after authorities arrested members of a cell involved in mediation, brokering, and the unlawful trafficking of military equipment, all conducted without the necessary licences from the competent authorities.

The suspects were apprehended while inspecting a shipment of ammunition aboard a private aircraft at one of the country’s airports. The plane was found to be carrying approximately five million rounds of 7.62 x 54mm calibre ammunition, classified as Geranov-type military equipment. Additionally, part of the financial proceeds from the illicit deal was recovered from two of the suspects in their hotel rooms.

The Attorney General revealed that investigations uncovered the involvement of the cell members with high-ranking figures in the Sudanese Armed Forces.

Among those implicated were the former Director of Sudanese Intelligence, Salah Gosh; a former officer in the same agency; an adviser to the former Minister of Finance; a politician closely aligned with Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and Yasser Al Atta; and several Sudanese businessmen.

According to the findings, the group had completed a substantial arms deal—worth millions of dollars—which included Kalashnikov rifles, ammunition, machine guns, and explosives. The transaction involved transferring these weapons from the Sudanese military to an importing company inside the country.

The financial transfers were conducted through the informal "Hawala Dar" system, using a company owned by one of the fugitive members of the cell, who remains affiliated with the Sudanese Armed Forces. The operation was carried out in coordination with Colonel Osman Al Zubair, who oversees financial transactions for the Sudanese military. To conceal the true nature of the deal, the group allegedly fabricated commercial contracts and invoices falsely claiming the funds were for a sugar import transaction.

Investigations concluded that the arms deals were carried out at the request of the Sudanese Armed Forces Armament Committee, under the leadership of Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and his deputy, Yasser Al Atta, with their full knowledge and approval. The cell members were directly tasked with mediating and executing the transactions by Ahmed Rabie Ahmed Al-Sayed—a politician closely associated with both Al Burhan and Al Atta—who was responsible for issuing the necessary approvals and end-user certificates.

The findings confirmed the involvement of defendant Salah Gosh in orchestrating the trafficking of military equipment into the country, in coordination with the other members of the cell. The group received a profit margin of $2.6 million—representing the price difference between the actual value and the invoiced amount of the two arms deals. This sum was distributed among the cell members and their associates. Authorities seized Salah Gosh’s share of the proceeds in possession of defendant Khaled Youssef Mukhtar Youssef, a former Sudanese intelligence officer and former director of Gosh’s office.

The investigations further revealed that the shipment seized in the latest operation arrived aboard a private aircraft from a foreign country, which had landed at one of the country’s airports for refuelling. The flight had officially declared that it was carrying medical supplies. However, under the supervision of the Public Prosecution and pursuant to judicial warrants issued by the Attorney General, a search was conducted, leading to the discovery of military equipment on board.

 Authorities also seized copies of the forged contracts related to the two arms deals, counterfeit shipping documents, as well as audio recordings and electronic correspondence exchanged among members of the cell. The investigation uncovered the involvement of several companies owned by a Sudanese businessman of Ukrainian origin, including one operating inside the country. These companies played a role in supplying the Sudanese Armed Forces with weapons, ammunition, explosives, and drones—working in coordination with the cell members and the Sudanese Armed Forces’ financial officer. Several of these entities are currently listed under US sanctions.

The ongoing investigations confirmed that the group’s interests and substantial financial gains are directly tied to the continuation of internal conflict in Sudan. The Attorney General emphasised that this incident represents a grave violation of state security, as it involved using the country’s territory as a conduit for the illicit trafficking of military equipment destined for a nation in the midst of internal strife. He further noted that the actions committed constitute serious criminal offences under the law.

The Public Prosecutor concluded by affirming that the Public Prosecution is continuing its investigation procedures with the defendants in preparation for referring them to urgent trial proceedings. He added that the final results of the investigation will be announced upon its conclusion.