Several suspects detained by Belgian authorities over corruption scandal in NATO weapons contract case Photo

Prosecutors from several countries are investigating possible corruption in the awarding of defence contracts through NATO. According to the Belgian public prosecutor's office, the suspicion is that employees of NATO's Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) in Luxembourg passed on confidential information to defence companies.

The defence alliance announced on May 14 that several individuals had been detained over suspected corruption in procurement contracts, Caliber.Az reports citing the European Conservative publication. 

“NATO law enforcement authorities in multiple countries have arrested individuals suspected of corrupt practices linked to NATO contracts,” AFP quoted NATO spokeswoman Allison Hart, as reported by the article. “NATO – including the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) – is cooperating fully with law enforcement to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.”

Belgian prosecutors confirmed that two individuals have already been detained following anti-corruption raids, with one having been formally arrested and another released.

“The investigation involves possible irregularities in awarding defence contracts for NATO purchases, including ammunition and drones,” Belgian prosecutors stated. They clarified that the case may specifically involve "confidential information passed by employees of the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, based in Luxembourg, to defence firms competing for contracts.”

Belgian authorities stated that multiple former employees of NATO's procurement agency, which is seated inside the alliance’s HQ facilities in Brussels, are reportedly implicated. Meanwhile, prosecutors in Luxembourg said that police had conducted "a number of searches" and confiscated documents connected to the investigation.

Simultaneously, operations coordinated by Eurojust - the European Union's criminal justice agency - took place in Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and the US at the request of the Belgian authorities.

By Nazrin Sadigova