British and French law enforcement agencies have initiated an investigation into the defense company Thales, based in France, amid allegations of bribery and corruption.
On Thursday, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) in the UK announced that it would be collaborating with France’s Parquet National Financier (PNF) in this endeavor to enhance their joint efforts against international corruption.
Nick Ephgrave, the director of the SFO, emphasized the importance of working together with international partners to combat such serious issues. He expressed hope that this case would strengthen the longstanding partnership between SFO and PNF, built on mutual cooperation and shared achievements. Ephgrave assured that they would rigorously explore all possible avenues in their investigation of these serious accusations.
While the SFO has not provided specific details regarding the allegations, it has been reported that law enforcement officials in France, as well as in the Netherlands and Spain, conducted searches at Thales’s offices in June. This action was taken amid suspicions of corruption related to arms sales to foreign nations.
Thales is a significant player in the defense sector, supplying various products that have been instrumental in supporting Ukraine in its ongoing struggle against the full-scale invasion by Russia, which intensified in February 2022.