Dear Friend,

A major Financial Times investigation shines a spotlight on a vast fuel smuggling operation in Libya—and The Sentry played a key role in uncovering the story.

The result of a months-long collaboration with investigators at The Sentry, “The Illicit Oil Trade That Is Keeping Libya Divided” reveals how billions of dollars in government-subsidized petroleum are being traded in the shadows, financing armed groups, entrenching dangerous divisions, and empowering corrupt leaders who are actively looting their own country—all at the expense of the Libyan people.

As our Director of Investigations Charles Cater notes, while across the country average people are suffering from severe fuel shortages, Libya’s rulers “appear content with the enormous fuel-swap programme.” The scale of the trade, he warns, “can be overwhelmingly attributed to cross-border fuel smuggling.” 

This exposé is already sparking serious policy attention. Revealing corruption, disrupting illicit finance, and standing up for human rights around the world is more urgent than ever. 

And this kind of hard-hitting investigative work is only possible because of supporters like you.

With gratitude,


Justyna Gudzowska


Executive Director, The Sentry