Latest news with #SalahGosh
Gulf Insider
01-05-2025
- Gulf Insider
UAE Thwarts Weapon-Smuggling Attempt; 5m Rounds Of Ammunition Destined For Sudan Seized
UAE security services have foiled an attempt to illegally transfer weapons and military equipment (smuggling) to the Sudanese Armed Forces, the UAE's Attorney-General Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said. Dr. Al Shamsi stated that the security services succeeded in preventing the transfer of a quantity of military equipment to the Sudanese Armed Forces following the arrest of members of a cell involved in unauthorised mediation, brokering and illicit trafficking of military equipment, without obtaining the necessary licences from relevant authorities. The defendants were arrested during an inspection of ammunition in a private aircraft at one of the country's airports. The plane was carrying approximately five million rounds of (54.7 x 62mm) Goryunov-type ammunition. Authorities also seized part of the financial proceeds from the deal in the possession of two suspects in their hotel rooms. Al Shamsi said the investigation revealed the involvement of cell members from the Sudanese military leaders, including former intelligence Chief Salah Gosh, a former officer of the intelligence agency, a former advisor to the finance minister, and a political figure close to General Abdel Fattah Al Burhan and his deputy Yasser Al Atta. Several Sudanese businessmen were also implicated. According to investigators, the cell members completed a military equipment deal involving Kalashnikov rifles, ammunition, machine guns, and grenades worth millions of dollars. The arms were transferred from the Sudanese army to an importing company in the UAE using the HAWALADARS transfer method. The transaction was facilitated through a company owned by a fugitive cell member working for the Sudanese Armed Forces, in coordination with Colonel Othman Al Zubair, who is in charge of financial operations in the Sudanese military. Fake contracts and commercial invoices were used to falsely claim the payments were for a sugar import deal. The investigation concluded that these deals were carried out at the request of the Sudanese Armed Forces' Armament Committee, chaired by Al Burhan and his deputy Al Atta, with their full knowledge and approval. The cell members were directly assigned to broker and finalise the transactions by Ahmed Rabie Ahmed Al Sayed, a political figure close to the Sudanese Commander-in-Chief and responsible for issuing end-user certificates and approvals. Investigators confirmed that Salah Gosh played a central role in managing illegal military equipment trafficking within the UAE, in coordination with other cell members. The group earned $2.6m in profit margin above the actual value of the two deals, which was distributed among themselves and several accomplices. Gosh's share was found in the possession of suspect Khalid Youssef Mukhtar Youssef, a former intelligence officer and Gosh's ex-chief of staff. The seized shipment had arrived at a UAE airport aboard a private aircraft from a foreign country. The aircraft had landed to refuel and officially declared it was carrying a consignment of medical supplies. However, the military cargo was discovered under the supervision of the Public Prosecution, based on judicial warrants issued by the Attorney General. Authorities also seized copies of the contracts related to the two deals, forged shipping documents, as well as audio recordings and messages exchanged among the cell members. The investigation uncovered several companies owned by a Sudanese-Ukrainian businessman, including one operating in the UAE. These companies were found to have provided the Sudanese army with weapons, ammunition, grenades, and drones, in collaboration with the cell members and the military's financial officer. One of the companies is listed under US sanctions. The ongoing investigations revealed that the group's financial interests and profits are closely tied to the continuation of internal conflict in Sudan. The Attorney-General stressed that this incident represents a grave breach of the UAE's national security, turning its territory into a platform for illegal arms trafficking to a country experiencing civil strife, in addition to constituting criminal offenses punishable under law. He concluded by stating that the Public Prosecution is continuing its investigation procedures in preparation for referring the suspects to urgent trial proceedings. Final results will be announced upon the completion of the investigation.
TimesLIVE
30-04-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
UAE thwarts illegal attempt to transfer ammunition to Sudan's army: report
United Arab Emirates (UAE) state media reported on Wednesday that security services had thwarted an attempt by Sudanese military leaders and others to illegally transfer ammunition to Sudan's army. The report by the WAM news agency said authorities had found about 5-million rounds of ammunition on a private plane at an airport and had made a number of arrests. There was no immediate response from Sudan's armed forces which have repeatedly accused the UAE of arming the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), their foes in a two-year-old civil war. The UAE has denied those accusations. The WAM report said the plan to supply weapons had involved a group which included Sudan's former intelligence chief, Salah Gosh. "The defendants were arrested during an inspection of ammunition in a private aircraft at one of the country's airports," a statement by WAM said without specifying which airport or naming the people who were arrested. "The plane was carrying approximately 5-million rounds of 7.54 x 62mm Goryunov-type ammunition," it added. Sudan has filed a case at the International court of Justice accusing UAE of arming the RSF, a charge the UAE denies.
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
UAE says it foiled attempt to transfer ammunition to Sudan's army
DUBAI/PORT SUDAN -UAE authorities intercepted millions of rounds of ammunition at an airport which were being illegally transferred to Sudan's army, Emirati state media said on Wednesday in a report that the Sudanese Armed Forces rejected as a fabrication. Sudan's army has instead long accused the UAE of supplying arms to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces , its rivals in a two-year-old war, claims that United Nations experts have previously found to be credible and are investigating again. The UAE denies all such charges. The report by the WAM news agency said authorities had found "approximately five million rounds of 7.54 x 62 mm Goryunov-type ammunition" on a private plane at an airport and had made a number of arrests. The WAM report said the plan to supply weapons had involved a group that included Sudan's former intelligence chief, Salah Gosh, who the United States targeted with sanctions in 2023 for undermining Sudan's transition to democracy. "The defendants were arrested during an inspection of ammunition in a private aircraft at one of the country's airports," a statement by WAM said, without specifying the airport or the flight path of the plane, or naming those arrested. The wider deal, allegedly worth millions of dollars, also included "Kalashnikov rifles, ammunition, machine guns, and grenades" and was made under the cover of a sugar import deal in coordination with army Colonel Othman al-Zubeir, WAM said. Reuters was unable to reach Gosh and Zubeir to seek comment. Dismissing the report, the army cited its own claimed seizures of weapons supplied by the UAE. "After the Sudanese government revealed its criminal involvement and involvement in the killing of Sudanese through its support and sponsorship of the rebel militia, the UAE is now trying to throw dust in people's eyes and fabricate false accusations," army spokesman Brigadier General Nabil Abdallah told Reuters. Sudan has filed a case at the International Court of Justice accusing the UAE of assisting the RSF in committing genocide in West Darfur, a charge the UAE denies. The court is due to make an initial ruling on the case on Monday. Sudan's army has long managed finances through Emirati banks, a practice that does not appear to have changed despite growing tensions between the two countries, according to sources familiar with such transactions. No arms deliveries through the Gulf state had been reported previously. The war in Sudan, which erupted from a power struggle between the army and the RSF, has devastated the country, killing tens of thousands of people and displacing about 13 million. While the army has retaken most of the capital Khartoum and central Sudan, fighting continues to rage in North Darfur, where hundreds of thousands of people were displaced in an RSF attack on the sprawling, famine-stricken Zamzam displacement camp earlier this month.
Daily Maverick
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
UAE says it thwarts illegal attempt to transfer ammunition to Sudan's army
UAE state media reported on Wednesday that security services had thwarted an attempt by Sudanese military leaders and others to illegally transfer ammunition to Sudan's army. The report by the WAM news agency said authorities had found about five million rounds of ammunition on a private plane at an airport and had made a number of arrests. There was no immediate response from Sudan's armed forces which have repeatedly accused the UAE of arming the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), their foes in a two-year-old civil war. The UAE has denied those accusations. The WAM report said the plan to supply weapons had involved a group which included Sudan's former intelligence chief, Salah Gosh. 'The defendants were arrested during an inspection of ammunition in a private aircraft at one of the country's airports,' a statement by WAM said without specifying which airport or naming the people who were arrested. 'The plane was carrying approximately five million rounds of 7.54 x 62 mm Goryunov-type ammunition,' it added. Sudan has filed a case at the International court of Justice accusing UAE of arming the RSF, a charge the UAE denies.
Gulf Today
30-04-2025
- Gulf Today
UAE scuppers bid to illegally transfer arms, military equipment to Sudanese Armed Forces
UAE security services have foiled an attempt to illegally transfer weapons and military equipment to the Sudanese Armed Forces, the UAE's Attorney-General Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said on Wednesday. Dr. Al Shamsi stated that the security services succeeded in preventing the transfer of a quantity of military equipment to the Sudanese Armed Forces following the arrest of members of a cell involved in unauthorised mediation, brokering and illicit trafficking of military equipment, without obtaining the necessary licences from relevant authorities. The defendants were arrested during an inspection of ammunition in a private aircraft at one of the country's airports. The plane was carrying approximately five million rounds of 7.54 x 62 mm Goryunov-type ammunition. Authorities also seized part of the financial proceeds from the deal in the possession of two suspects in their hotel rooms. Al Shamsi said the investigation revealed the involvement of cell members from the Sudanese military leaders, including former intelligence Chief Salah Gosh, a former officer of the intelligence agency, a former adviser to the finance minister, and a political figure close to General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and his deputy Yasser Al-Atta. Several Sudanese businessmen were also implicated. According to investigators, the cell members completed a military equipment deal involving Kalashnikov rifles, ammunition, machine guns, and grenades worth millions of dollars. The arms were transferred from the Sudanese army to an importing company in the UAE using the HAWALADARS" transfer method. The transaction was facilitated through a company owned by a fugitive cell member working for the Sudanese Armed Forces, in coordination with Colonel Othman Al-Zubair, who is in charge of financial operations in the Sudanese military. Fake contracts and commercial invoices were used to falsely claim the payments were for a sugar import deal. The investigation concluded that these deals were carried out at the request of the Sudanese Armed Forces' Armament Committee, chaired by Al-Burhan and his deputy Al-Atta, with their full knowledge and approval. The cell members were directly assigned to broker and finalise the transactions by Ahmed Rabie Ahmed Al-Sayed, a political figure close to the Sudanese Commander-in-Chief and responsible for issuing end-user certificates and approvals. Investigators confirmed that Salah Gosh played a central role in managing illegal military equipment trafficking within the UAE, in coordination with other cell members. The group earned $2.6 million in profit margin above the actual value of the two deals, which was distributed among themselves and several accomplices. Gosh's share was found in the possession of suspect Khalid Youssef Mukhtar Youssef, a former intelligence officer and Gosh's ex-chief of staff. The seized shipment had arrived at a UAE airport aboard a private aircraft from a foreign country. The aircraft had landed to refuel and officially declared it was carrying a consignment of medical supplies. However, the military cargo was discovered under the supervision of the Public Prosecution, based on judicial warrants issued by the Attorney General. Authorities also seized copies of the contracts related to the two deals, forged shipping documents, as well as audio recordings and messages exchanged among the cell members. The investigation uncovered several companies owned by a Sudanese-Ukrainian businessman, including one operating in the UAE. These companies were found to have provided the Sudanese army with weapons, ammunition, grenades, and drones, in collaboration with the cell members and the military's financial officer. One of the companies is listed under US sanctions. The ongoing investigations revealed that the group's financial interests and profits are closely tied to the continuation of internal conflict in Sudan. The Attorney-General stressed that this incident represents a grave breach of the UAE's national security, turning its territory into a platform for illegal arms trafficking to a country experiencing civil strife, in addition to constituting criminal offences punishable under law. He concluded by stating that the Public Prosecution is continuing its investigation procedures in preparation for referring the suspects to urgent trial proceedings. Final results will be announced upon the completion of the investigation. WAM
