U.S.Director Charged With Trying to Sell Bombs to Kenya
On Tuesday, July 11, a co-director of a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. Was charged with attempting to sell Chinese strike drones, aerial bombs, and missiles to several countries, including Kenya.
Gal Luft, a 57-year-old American national and co-director of the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, was apprehended for the first time in February 2023 for, among other offenses, his ties to China.
According to Reuters and other international news sources, Luft was charged with functioning as an unregistered agent of China.
US prosecutors’ court filings allege that Luft facilitated weapon sales to Kenya, China, Libya, and UAE, among others.
In 2016, the US-Israeli dual citizen reportedly attempted to sell Kenyan bombs, and strike drones, and missiles. It was not immediately apparent to senior Kenyan officials that the director of the think tank was in Kenya to broker the deal.
Prosecutors believe Luft sold Chinese-manufactured armaments while serving Chinese interests.
According to court documents, the suspect apprehended on February 17 fled after being released on bail.
The Washington, DC-based Institute for the Analysis of Global Security is a think tank that focuses on energy and US security.
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Strike Drones
Strike drones are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) with military capabilities to conduct airstrikes and land bombs on enemy territory, which the suspect attempted to sell to Kenya.
The drones are capable of colliding with hostile targets.
The United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, China, South Korea, Italy, and India, among other military powers, have utilized UAVs extensively.
Kenya’s Drone Use
The Kenyan military and other law enforcement agencies, such as the police, use drones for surveillance primarily.
In December 2022, the Interior Ministry utilized drone cameras to locate bandit hideouts in Elgeyo Marakwet County during an operation.
At the commencement of the operation, Governor Wisley Rotich of Elgeyo Marakwet stated, “The thieves are aware that the land is vast and has little infrastructure, and they frequently use this knowledge to evade law enforcement after staging attacks.”
“Using drone technology, officers will be aided in locating and pursuing criminals, even if they flee into the wilderness.”
U.S. Director Charged With Trying to Sell Bombs to Kenya
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