A British businessman has been found guilty of brokering illegal deals involving former Soviet fighter jets and weapons destined for some of the world's most volatile war zones, including Sudan, South Sudan, and Libya. This marks a first-of-its-kind prosecution in the United Kingdom.
The Conviction
David Greenhalgh, 68, from Croydon, south London, and his Greek associate Christos Farmakis, 48, were convicted of brokering deals for a chilling arsenal of weapons. Between July 2009 and December 2016, the pair attempted to broker the supply of controlled military goods sourced from former Soviet states and Eastern European countries.
The goods included surface-to-air missile systems capable of bringing down aircraft, Mi-24 combat helicopter gunships, battle tanks, anti-tank missile launchers, rocket-propelled grenades, fighter jets, tens of thousands of AK-47 assault rifles, and millions of rounds of ammunition.
Unlicensed Deals
None of the deals were licensed by UK authorities, and some were worth tens of millions of dollars, according to the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) investigation. Farmakis failed to attend the trial at Southwark Crown Court, and HMRC is working with international partners to bring him to the UK to face justice.
The pair acted as middlemen to arrange, transport, and deliver weapons without the required licences under UK law. To conceal the true destination of the weapons, they used forged end-user certificates falsely claiming the goods were destined for countries not subject to sanctions.
Greenhalgh's Operations
Greenhalgh was the owner and controlling director of the 'Airservices' group of companies, which he operated across multiple jurisdictions including the UK, Greece, Macedonia, Hong Kong, and South Sudan. He deliberately used his overseas companies for what he described in his own correspondence as his "sensitive projects," believing he could place himself beyond the reach of UK law. However, he could not.
Farmakis was a London-based business adviser employed by Greater London Enterprise, a company funded by the London boroughs. Behind that respectable facade, he ran a Cyprus-registered company called Black Betty Consulting, through which he conducted negotiations for the supply of controlled weapons and military goods, leading to multiple counts on the indictment.
Intended Destinations
The intended destinations included Sudan, South Sudan, Libya, Iraq, and Iran – all countries embargoed under UK law at the time. The Crown's case uncovered emails where the defendants openly discussed the need to forge end-user certificates, use false shipping documents, and route deliveries through third countries to conceal where weapons were ultimately headed.
In one email found on his devices, Farmakis wrote: "Any activity without an EUC is illegal and subject to criminal investigations," making clear he understood precisely what he was doing. Greenhalgh, writing about a proposed deal to supply 100,000 AK-47 rifles to South Sudan, noted that "Iraq/Syria is hoovering up every piece of small arms in market" and warned a contact that "Europe WILL NOT accept your paperwork. You will need support from other Brothers."
Statements from Authorities
Edwige Hill, Deputy Director in HMRC's Fraud Investigation Service, said: "Greenhalgh and Farmakis showed a blatant disregard for international sanctions, seeking to profit from the illegal supply of weapons. These convictions are a clear warning to others that you will face justice for breaching the UK's strict controls and brokering illegal supplies to sanctioned and embargoed destinations. Effective controls and enforcement of the licensing regime contribute to the UK's national security. It's a priority for the UK Government and HMRC will pursue those who try to circumvent it."
Anja Hohmeyer, Specialist Prosecutor from the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "Greenhalgh and Farmakis treated the international arms trade as their personal business opportunity – systematically sourcing weapons from former Soviet states and attempting to channel them into some of the world's most dangerous conflict zones, including Libya and South Sudan. They knew exactly what they were doing. Their own emails showed them discussing how to evade UK licensing controls, falsify end-user certificates, and disguise the true nature of their deals. One document found on Farmakis's device was nothing less than a blueprint for wholesale evasion of the UK's arms controls. This conviction sends a clear message: UK arms trafficking and brokering laws apply to anyone subject to this jurisdiction, wherever in the world they try to conduct their business. The CPS will not hesitate to prosecute those who seek to profit from conflict."
Sentencing
They face sentencing on 22 July 2026.
