Maltese firm Alkagesta under probe for illegal Libyan oil shipments openly hires Russian-speaking staff for operations role

In 2024, Maltese investment firm Alkagesta, now under investigation by international authorities over suspected smuggling of Libyan oil, appeared to be in a rush to hire Russian-speaking staff.

The company even published an unusual vacancy on Maltapark for an “Operations Specialist” whose main duty was to communicate with clients in Russian. Normally, firms with Alkagesta’s profile rely on discreet recruitment channels, but this time the search was made openly and publicly — a sign of urgency or even desperation.

The job posting raised questions about the firm’s clientele and operations, particularly as investigators continue to examine its alleged role in sanction-busting oil deals.