Shearman Bowen instructed in Operation Afterburner at Southwark Crown court: a prosecution alleging illegal arms trafficking in breach of relevant sanctions

16.06.25

Mark Bowen and Anna Ford are instructed on behalf of our client David Greenhalgh in Operation Afterburner.

Operation Afterburner is a historic and rare HMRC investigation into alleged unlawful arms trafficking and concerns the alleged un-licenced supply of military items, including fighter jets, surface-to-air missiles, battle tanks and radar defence systems to embargoed or sanctioned states in Africa and the middle east. Our client pleaded not guilty on the 13 June 2025 , and the matter has been fixed for a 12-week trial at Southwark CC in April 2026. Counsel instructed are Mark Gatley KC of Garden Court Chambers and Colin Witcher of Church Court Chambers.