Spanish authorities announced Thursday the arrest of the owner of a company accused of illegally exporting military equipment to Saudi Arabia, some of which was used in the war in Yemen.
This company based in Malaga, in the south of Spain, would have exported
“military engines and spare parts for tanks and armored personnel carriers”
worth 2.8 million euros, indicates in a press release from the Civil Guard.
The company, which did not have authorizations to export military equipment, presented these parts as being intended for civilian trucks, adds the Civil Guard, which specifies that it is investigating the actions of another person in the context of this affair.
According to the press release, the Malaga company, whose name has not been revealed, is also accused of having provided technical assistance for
"the modernization of numerous armored vehicles of the Saudi armed forces"
, again outside of any framework. legal.
Armament
In Spain, companies wishing to export weapons or military equipment must be registered in a special register and have a license approved by the authorities for the export of each batch.
In its press release, the Civil Guard assures that
“part”
of the material exported by this company to Saudi Arabia
“was used in armored vehicles used in the war in Yemen”
.
Since 2014, this country has been the scene of a civil war opposing the government, supported by a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia, and the Houthi rebels, close to Iran, who control part of the country, including the capital. Sanaa.
This conflict has left hundreds of thousands dead and caused one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
Saudi Arabia is one of the world's largest arms importers, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Siprin).
Arms sales to this country give rise to regular criticism from NGOs, such as Amnesty International, who point out in particular the fact that part of the weapons delivered to Riyadh are ultimately used in Yemen.
After the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the end of 2018, attributed to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Ben Salman by American intelligence, Germany for its part announced an embargo on arms sales to Riyadh.
Berlin finally lifted this embargo in January.