A Moroccan businessman is under investigation by the Spanish National Court for allegedly illicitly trading drones to a Libyan militia.
In an operation led by the Spanish National Police, five individuals, including a regular contractor of the Ministry of Defense and three others from his company, have been arrested.
Exclusive information from EL ESPAÑOL newspaper, confirmed by legal sources familiar with the case, reveals that Mohamed Rachad Andaloussi Ouriaghli, a 34-year-old businessman with close ties to the Moroccan government, is among those implicated.
The targeted company, Star Defense Logistics & Engineering (SDLE), known for weapon manufacturing and trade, had secured 400 contracts with the Ministry of Defense in five years. Investigations suggest that Andaloussi’s involvement was crucial for the alleged illegal exports.
Andaloussi, considered “in the circle of trust” of a Libyan citizen also implicated in the case, is accused of supplying material to the Special Deterrence Forces (RadaSDF), an Islamic radical group.
The Ghali case, which originated in 2020, resurfaced in 2021 when Spain faced a diplomatic crisis with Morocco following the controversial reception of Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali. Mohamed Rachad Andaloussi Ouriaghli, among the complainants, is now being investigated for allegedly shipping weapons to Libya through a Spanish firm.
Andaloussi, born in Tangier in 1989 and a civil and port engineer, obtained Spanish nationality at 26. With a background in business diplomacy, he emerged as a prominent figure in the Moroccan Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Services in Spain.
Connections to high-profile individuals and influence were evident at Andaloussi’s wedding in September 2021, attended by political and business figures from Spain, Morocco, and beyond.
Further investigation revealed the involvement of four others in the illegal export of anti-drone systems to Tripoli airport, valued at over two million euros. Spanish police arrested them for their alleged participation in the crimes of smuggling of prohibited goods and smuggling of dual-use material, which can be destined for both the civil and military fields. This violated the international embargo on Libya, constituting smuggling offenses.
The SDLE company, already embroiled in a cartel scandal related to Ministry of Defense tenders, now faces additional legal scrutiny and a hefty fine of 7.1 million euros imposed by the Spanish authorities.
