A recent documentary has unveiled significant details about an illicit arms trafficking and money laundering network, following the federal appellate court of Abu Dhabi’s recent sentencing of several individuals involved, including Salah Gosh, the former director of Sudan’s intelligence service, and Yasser Al-Atta, assistant to the commander of the Sudanese Armed Forces.
The documentary reveals that the accused executed their plot through two interlinked deals, employing business entities and financial structures to mask the illegal nature of their operations. The first deal, which involved assault rifles, artillery, and explosives, was carried out by Sudanese businessman Rashid Omar, residing in the UAE, through his brokerage firm. Coordination for the deal was facilitated with Mohamed Fattah Al-Beik, a former advisor to the Sudanese finance minister. Ahmad Rabea, also a broker, was in charge of liaising with Yasser Al-Atta to obtain the necessary ‘end-user’ certificate to finalise the transaction.
Urgent Deal
The documentary highlights that the accused agreed on a contract worth $13 million, while the actual value of the transaction was $10 million. The remaining $3 million was allocated as commissions distributed among the parties for their roles in arranging and facilitating the deal. The payments were channelled through licensed companies and banking accounts within the UAE. After shipping the equipment to Port Sudan by sea, it was agreed that the payment would be made in the UAE, amounting to over 20 million dirhams, with some delivered in cash and the rest transferred via the banking system. In this context, Maher Abdel Jalil handed Rashid Omar 8 million and 379 thousand dirhams in cash, which he kept within the country.
As the Port Sudan government urgently required a second order of ‘Jiranov’ munitions, Salah Gosh allegedly instructed the use of the remaining funds held by Rashid Omar to finance this follow-up deal. Osman Al-Zubair, the treasury official for the Sudanese military, requested invoices reflecting this amount. Under Gosh’s directives, part of the funds was allocated to a supplier’s representative, covering the initial payment and Gosh’s commission of one million and 545 thousand dirhams, which was received in cash by Khaled Youssef, Gosh’s former office manager. Additionally, 536 thousand dirhams were designated to cover costs for an aircraft stationed at one of the UAE’s airports, falsely declared to be carrying medical and humanitarian supplies.
Operation Foiled
The documentary reveals that UAE security agencies had been monitoring the movements, communications, and transactions of the accused, having received authorization for recordings and surveillance from the public prosecutor. They successfully intercepted them at the airport while preparing to transfer the shipment to its destination. Investigations further disclosed that the conspiracy was not limited to the thwarted shipment but extended to an attempt to smuggle an additional 5 million rounds of ‘Jiranov’ ammunition through six other deals. Gosh’s commission was found in Khaled Youssef’s possession, along with two million and 371 thousand dirhams from the operation, located at Rashid Omar’s residence.
The federal appellate court in Abu Dhabi sentenced eight defendants to life imprisonment, including Salah Gosh, Yasser Al-Atta, and Osman Al-Zubair. Seven other defendants received three years in prison and a fine of one million dirhams each for money laundering crimes. The court also ordered the confiscation of seized materials, including one million and 545 thousand dirhams, and mandated the deportation of those convicted from the country following the completion of their sentences, while acquitting two defendants.