Cyprus-Linked Companies Embroiled in International Arms Trafficking Scandal
In a significant development that ties Cyprus to a global controversy, two businessmen of Arab origin, Samir Raja and Mohammad Deiry, have been implicated in a network of illegal arms trafficking to states hostile to the West. The duo, currently on the FBI’s wanted list, have been operating through companies established on the Mediterranean island.
According to US authorities, Raja, 45, and Deiry, 63, are key figures in the Black Shield network, which has been hit with severe sanctions by the US Treasury Department. This network is named after a company in which both individuals are said to be shareholders. Their operations have raised serious concerns, as they are accused of trafficking arms without proper licenses and engaging in money laundering activities.
The US Department of Justice has released information indicating that through Black Shield, Raja and Deiry have facilitated the illegal supply of weapons and ammunition used in global conflicts by forces opposing Western interests. The extent of Cyprus’s involvement is still under investigation, but documents from the US Southern District Court suggest a connection, albeit with limited details.
One notable piece of evidence from the indictment is an encrypted message sent by a conspirator. It contained photos of certificates for 750,000 rounds of 23 mm anti-aircraft missiles, with the final recipient falsely listed as an entity in Northern Cyprus.
Further scrutiny reveals that Raja and Deiry have ties to at least two Cypriot companies—S. Group Airlines Ltd and Centuronic Ltd—with registered offices in Paphos. These entities were recently sanctioned by OFAC in a broader move against Belarus for its role in supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In S. Group Airlines Ltd, Raja serves as director and Deiry as secretary. Meanwhile, Centuronic Ltd lists Raja as director and Tatiana Protopovich from Belarus, identified by OFAC for involvement in arms procurement efforts, as secretary.
The revelation of these activities has cast a spotlight on Cyprus’s corporate oversight and raised questions about the island’s inadvertent role in international arms trafficking schemes.
