A sanctioned Dutch oil trader at the center of a dispute involving allegations of CIA ties, Russian crude shipments, and multimillion-dollar fraud has sued a prominent U.S. corporate intelligence firm for libel and slander – the latest twist in a saga that has captivated the commodities world.
As reported by the Financial Times, Niels Troost – the only European trader sanctioned for dealing in Russian oil – filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against the Arkin Group, a New York-based corporate intelligence consultancy founded by CIA veteran Jack Devine. Troost accuses the firm of working “with actual malice” to smear him on behalf of his former business partner, commodities investor Gaurav Srivastava.
Troost alleges that Srivastava falsely presented himself as a covert CIA operative who could secure U.S. Treasury licenses enabling legal Russian oil trades after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Troost claims that this ruse led him to continue trading with Russia above the G7 price cap — and ultimately to EU and UK sanctions.
In an earlier lawsuit against the U.S.-based law firm that represented Troost’s company, Troost outlined how he had allegedly been conned into transferring 50% of his company to Srivastava based on the latter’s relations with the CIA.
The current lawsuit reportedly includes more than 500 pages of evidence, including transcripts, authenticated audio recordings, and sworn affidavits. Among the recordings are alleged conversations in which Srivastava discusses “Non-Official Cover” intelligence work, claims to have spoken with CIA Director Bill Burns, and directly references trading oil from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela — contingent on U.S. licensing.
The Arkin Group, along with managing director Victoria Kataoka, is accused of joining Srivastava in an “unrelenting smear campaign” against Troost, portraying him publicly as the architect of a disinformation operation. Troost’s legal filing claims this narrative was amplified by “pay-to-play” media.
Srivastava has consistently denied posing as a CIA operative or engaging in illegal oil trading, calling earlier allegations “fiction.” Devine, for his part, said he looked forward to the truth emerging in court and suggested the case would expose the extent of Troost’s ties to the Russian government.
By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com
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