British Customs seize scud missile parts destined for Libya - Brief Article

Airline Industry Information, Jan 10, 2000

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2000 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

It has come to light that British Customs and Excise officers seized an illegal shipment of scud missile parts bound for Libya on 24 November 1999 at London-Gatwick Airport.

The consignment of 32 crates was found onboard a British Airways flight from Taiwan to Tripoli via Malta with the missile parts apparently disguised as automotive spares. The Sunday Times has reported that the operation also discovered documents suggesting that other similar consignments had already been successfully transported to Libya.

The cargo was apparently sent to Britain, which restored ties with Libya in July 1999, from Taiwan under the name of a knitwear company in the southern China province of Fujian.

The British government is set to protest to Libya over the incident and will not allow the country to evade a European Arms embargo prohibiting the export of missile technology to Libya according to Reuters.

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