A human rights group, Project Ploughshares, discovered a Canadian-made infrared sensor camera system was used for targeting US strikes against alleged Venezuelan drug boats.
The sensors were part of a L3Harris Technologies WESCAM MX-Series sensor system used to track and surveil boats that were struck as they sailed from Venezuela in the first two strikes made public in September. The system, built in Hamilton, Ontario, has been sold in large volumes to the US.
The MX-Series are electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems that that support intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and target missions from air, land and maritime locations, according to the L3Harris website.They are commonly housed in turrets on the underside of helicopters, planes and drones. A page on the company’s website describes five different MX-Series turrets, which have “outperformed their major competitors in every performance area, giving them the longest EO/IR target identification and designating ranges in the industry.”
Project Ploughshares noted in a report that human rights groups and UN officials have determined the attacks occurred in international waters in the absence of any declared conflict, amounting to “extrajudicial killings.” The group added, “Canada is legally bound to ensure its exports of military goods does not contribute to the violations of international law.” But the group said a long-time agreement between the US and Canada most military goods Canada sends to the US bypass export controls.
“There has to be more human rights oversight…We are seeing Canadian weapons being misused,” said Kelsey Gallagher, a senior research with Project Ploughshares, in a report by CBC. The group focuses on disarmament and international security. Gallagher said Canada has a responsibility under the UN Arms Trade Treaty to assess if its defense product exports might be used to violate human rights overseas.
The Trump administration has defended the attacks as necessary to try to prevent more imports of drugs to the US. President Trump has said the ships struck were smuggling drugs operated by “narcoterrorists.” US military has launched five strikes in the Caribbean starting in September and most recently last Friday, with at least 21 people killed over all the strikes. The US has released videos from four strikes. The administration on Thursday said it was involved in a non-international armed conflict and called the suspected smugglers “unlawful combatants.” It has also called the strikes self-defense.
Global affairs Canada told CBC that it was aware of the US operation and is monitoring the situation. L3Harris said it does not comment on military missions. CBC analyzed the Project Ploughshares report with input from military experts who said it undoubtedly the L3Harris technology.
The MX-Series are electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) systems support intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and target missions from air, land and maritime locations, according to L3Harris. Housed in turrets on the underside of helicopters, planes and drones, the company says the five different MX-Series turrets have “outperformed their major competitors in every performance area, giving them the longest EO/IR target identification and designating ranges in the industry.”
