A British businessman and a Greek national have each been sentenced to 16 years in prison after a major UK prosecution uncovered an international arms-brokering operation involving military equipment destined for embargoed countries. The case involved attempts to arrange supplies of fighter aircraft, surface-to-air missile systems, anti-tank weapons, battle tanks and assault rifles between 2009 and 2016.
Two Men Convicted Over International Arms Deals
David Greenhalgh, 68, of Croydon, and Greek national Christos Farmakis, 48, were convicted at Southwark Crown Court in June 2026 under the UK’s Export Control Order 2008. Greenhalgh was convicted on 10 counts, while Farmakis was convicted of nine offenses after being tried in his absence. Both received 16-year prison sentences on September 23.
Authorities said the pair operated as intermediaries in deals involving military equipment sourced from former Soviet and Eastern European countries. The intended destinations included Sudan, South Sudan, Libya, Iraq and Iran, where various UK restrictions or embargoes applied at the time.
The weapons and military equipment involved included fighter jets, Mi-24 combat helicopters, surface-to-air missile systems, anti-tank missiles, battle tanks, AK-47 rifles and large quantities of ammunition.
Missile System Deal Involved South Sudan
Prosecutors said one of the charges involved the actual transfer of a former Ukrainian S-125 Pechora surface-to-air missile system to South Sudan. Other transactions examined during the case involved proposed or brokered deals rather than confirmed deliveries.
South Sudan was still formally part of Sudan until gaining independence in 2011. Prosecutors told the court that the region was therefore covered by the relevant British arms restrictions during the period in question.
Investigators also uncovered evidence concerning proposed weapons supplies to Libya following the 2011 Arab Spring. Documents found through Farmakis’ work email reportedly included plans involving fighter jets and other military equipment.
Investigators Uncovered Attempts to Bypass Export Controls
The investigation found that the defendants allegedly used international companies, false documentation and overseas routes to conceal the final destinations of weapons. HM Revenue and Customs said forged end-user certificates were used to make shipments appear destined for countries that were not subject to the same restrictions.
Greenhalgh operated the Airservices group through companies in several countries, while Farmakis conducted arms-related business through a separate company alongside his work as an adviser at Greater London Enterprise, a government-funded organization. Prosecutors said the business structures were used in attempts to keep transactions outside UK regulatory controls.
The UK’s Export Control Joint Unit confirmed that no relevant licence applications or enquiries had been made for the transactions covered by the indictment.
The prosecution highlights how UK authorities can pursue international arms-brokering activity even when weapons are sourced and transported outside Britain. The case also demonstrates the role that electronic communications, company records and export documentation can play in investigations into suspected illegal weapons trading.
