“James” Kuang Chi Wan, a Chinese national and former resident of Montreal, was arrested by the FBI after traveling to the U.S. on suspicion of illegally selling weapons to Islamist militants in Libya.
Wan served as the deputy director of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which initially brought him to Montreal.
In January 2023, Wan traveled to the U.S. from Taiwan, arriving at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where the FBI apprehended him, as first reported by Global News.
The FBI alleges that Wan violated international arms embargoes and charged him under the U.S. Arms Export Control Act for attempting to broker illicit deals. According to the FBI, Wan allegedly sold over $1 billion worth of Chinese military equipment, including drones and missiles, between 2019 and 2023.
Weapons supplied to Libya
The weapons were reportedly supplied to militant groups operating under Libya’s Government of National Unity (GNU). This regime, based in Tripoli, has implemented Islamist policies such as morality policing, travel restrictions for women, and other practices consistent with Sharia law, making Libya a fragile state teetering on the edge of Islamic theocracy.
Since the 2011 overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has descended into chaos, with armed factions—including ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Gulf-backed militias, and other regional actors—fighting for control.
SNC Lavalin & the Gaddafi regime
Wan’s case is not the first instance of international corruption tied to Libya. Notably, Quebec-based SNC-Lavalin was embroiled in a bribery scandal with the Gaddafi regime, using illicit payments to secure lucrative construction contracts.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced controversy for pressuring then-Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould to intervene in SNC-Lavalin’s legal case, seeking to reduce the company’s penalties. In 2019, SNC-Lavalin pleaded guilty and paid a $280 million fine.
This scandal contributed to Trudeau’s Liberals losing their majority in the 2019 election, leaving behind a legacy of corruption allegations within his government.
