Italian customs police in southern Italy have intercepted a shipment of Chinese “war drones” destined for Libya, which was concealed within wind turbine parts. The seizure of six containers containing fuselages and wings of drones capable of military use was made in the port of Gioia Tauro in Calabria. Each drone, when assembled, would weigh over 3 tons, be 32 feet in length, and have a wingspan of 65 feet. The components, originally camouflaged as wind turbine parts, were believed to be intended for military purposes in Libya.
Photographs released by the Italian Customs Agency indicated that the equipment belonged to China, specifically the Ala Loong II drone previously exported to the UAE. China has been expanding its development and exports of military drones, with deals made worldwide for various drone series including Wing Loong, Rainbow, and WJ drones. Recipients of these drones have included countries such as Algeria, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, and more.
The drones intercepted in Italy were suspected to be headed to Libya and potentially in the hands of General Abdullah Abdullah, a warlord controlling parts of the country. Libya has been in a state of civil war since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, with an ongoing UN embargo on the transfer of weapons and military equipment to and from the country’s ports.
The interception of the drone components was reportedly coordinated with US intelligence, following suspicions that the container ship MSC Arina was transporting them from China to Libya. Italian authorities were also preparing to intercept a second shipment of three containers suspected to be related to an arms-for-oil deal involving Haftar’s forces. General Haftar has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin and has previously relied on the Wagner Group for support.
The interception in Italy is part of a larger investigation that began when Canada uncovered the arms-for-oil deal involving Haftar’s forces. Putin has welcomed Haftar to the Kremlin in the past, with a focus on expanding military presence in Libya. In response to Russian involvement, the US State Department recently sanctioned a Russian state-owned company for allegedly printing counterfeit Libyan currency, exacerbating the country’s economic challenges.
Overall, the interception of the Chinese drone components in Italy underscores the complex web of international relations and conflicts in the Mediterranean region, particularly in Libya. The seizure highlights the ongoing efforts to prevent the flow of weapons and military equipment to conflict zones, as well as the role of intelligence cooperation in identifying and intercepting such shipments.
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https://www.newsweek.com/us-nato-ally-italy-seizes-china-drone-parts-libya-1920493
