NATO NSPA SUSPENDS SHIPPING HUSBANDING COMPANIES FOLLOWING MAJOR FRAUD INVESTIGATION
Santa Claus is bringing coal and grim news this season to a network of thieves, corrupt shipping agents, and organized crime associates operating within the naval shipping husbanding industry. Following an extensive investigation, multiple companies have been suspended for defrauding the Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Navy (UK), United States Navy, and several NATO navies managed by NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA).
The first company suspended is Global Defence Logistics(GDL), registered in Romania and controlled by Greek brothers Johannis and Antonio Gelasakis from Creete, with Turkish partners Toufiq Moran and Haldu Hozbek, and former U.S. Navy Captain Eric Meyer. An international investigative team comprising NATO member authorities verified thousands of fraudulent invoices issued by the company. These invoices artificially inflated quantities and charges for services that were never provided, resulting in hundreds of millions of euros in losses to NATO-managed naval operations.One of the Gelasakis managers was arrested in Romania after attempting to bribe a fuel contract officer with €1 million, a bribe that was promptly reported. The U.S. Department of Justice has since issued an indictment against Gelasakis and his manager, and an Interpol arrest warrant has been issued.
The second suspended entity is Shipping Consultants Associated (SCA), registered in the United Kingdom, with operational offices in various tax havens, including the Principality of Monaco. The company is owned by Jacobo Landi and Ambra Landi, and was incorporated by their father, Giovanbattista Landi.
Giovanbattista Landi is well known to authorities for a history of fraudulent bankruptcies, multiple criminal charges, and prison sentences related to falsifying customs documentation to evade import duties, taxes, and to misrepresent cargo quantities and origins.
Investigators found that SCA produced fake invoices by copying legitimate suppliers’ invoices—replicating logos and tax registration numbers—while altering addresses and bank account details to divert payments fraudulently.
NATO NSPA has collected thousands of documents from authorities and suppliers across Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Greece, Bahrain, Dubai, and Japan. The investigation also uncovered collaboration with partners in Spain, Greece, and the Netherlands, as well as ship chandlers and food suppliers in Sicily.
The investigation began several years ago and was supported byOriginal invoices provided directly by legitimate suppliers, Multiple on-site inspectionsand Cross-border financial audits.
Latest Fraud Case: Suez Canal Tug Operations
The most recent fraud involves SCA, in collaboration with Egyptian associate Adel El-Lamei of Mitchell JR Misr, in relation to U.S. Navy and NATO ship transits through the Suez Canal. The scheme involved inflating the number of tugboats used, significantly overcharging for canal transit services.
U.S. officials have since met with the Suez Canal Authority to obtain verified original invoices. If indicted they could face up to 20 years in prison and restitution totaling tens of millions of dollars once the audit is finalized.
As a result of this scheme, millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars were unlawfully diverted. Jacobo and Ambra Landi, along with their associates, are expected to face severe criminal penalties, including long prison sentences and substantial financial restitution.
The message from NATO NSPA is unequivocal: Fraud, corruption, and abuse of taxpayer-funded defense contracts will not be tolerated.Further actions and arrests are expected as investigations continue.
A NATO NSPA press release detailing these actions in link below dated 11 December 2025.
