Africa-Press – Cape verde. An investigation by NATO and Belgian and Luxembourg judicial authorities into NATO contracts for the acquisition of munitions and drones has led to the arrest of several individuals accused of corruption, the parties announced.
“Thanks to an investigation launched by the NATO procurement agency (NSPA), judicial authorities in several countries have arrested several individuals accused of corruption in connection with contracts with the Alliance,” a NATO spokeswoman told AFP.
The Belgian justice system said it had arrested two suspects, one of whom was placed in pre-trial detention and the other was released after questioning.
The investigation, Belgian judicial authorities said in a statement, “focuses on possible irregularities in the awarding of contracts to defense companies for the purchase of military equipment for NATO, such as munitions and drones.”
Investigators suspect that several NSPA employees, both active and retired, passed confidential information to companies to help them secure contracts.
Police in Luxembourg, where the NSPA is based, said they had carried out several searches and seized “documents useful for establishing the truth,” according to a press release from the Grand Duchy’s judicial authorities.
“Belgian, Dutch, Italian, Spanish and US authorities carried out simultaneous operations which led to the arrest of suspects,” he added, without giving further details.
NATO, for its part, says it is working in “close collaboration” with judicial authorities to bring those responsible to justice.
For More News And Analysis About Cape verde Follow Africa-Press
