DESCARTES & MEACA
The real story behind War Dogs
The arms deals. The deceptions. The consequences. The man who lived it tells all.
Live webinar + Q&A | 3 June 2026 | 5:00 – 6:30 PM GST
THE STORY
You've seen the film. Now hear the truth.
In 2016, Todd Phillips turned the story of David Packouz into a Hollywood blockbuster. In it, two twenty-somethings talked their way into a $300 million US government arms contract — and watched it fall apart.
The film was entertaining. The reality was more complicated.
In this exclusive webinar, David Packouz sits down with Richard Bistrong — FCPA compliance consultant and former convicted felon — to talk about what really happened: the deals that worked, the lines that got crossed, and what the consequences looked like up close.
This is a rare conversation. Packouz speaks publicly only occasionally. When he does, it's worth listening.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
Weapons. Deals. Millions. And the price of ambition.
- The untold reality behind the War Dogs story - beyond the film
- How multimillion‑dollar weapons deals were made, managed, and justified
- The ethics, risks, and failures that shaped the outcome
- Why ambition, pressure, and incentives can lead to catastrophic compliance breakdowns
- Hard‑earned lessons for businesses operating in high‑risk, high‑reward environments
- Your questions answered live in the 30-minute Q&A
PROGRAMME
3 June 2026
5:00 PM GST — Welcome from Shahab Wahdatehagh, Descartes, and MEACA
5:05 PM — Richard Bistrong interviews David Packouz — the deals, the decisions, and the consequences
6:00 PM — Live Q&A chaired by Shahab Wahdatehagh — your questions to all three speakers
6:30 PM — Close
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
If you work in regulated trade, this conversation is for you.
This webinar is designed for compliance officers, legal and ethics teams, government contractors, and anyone working in international trade or regulated industries. It's equally relevant for anyone who wants to understand how ordinary decisions, made quickly, can compound into extraordinary consequences.
The session is free. The insight is rare. Places are limited.
REGISTRATION FORM
Reserve your place
Free to attend. Live on 3 June 2026, 5:00–6:30 PM GST.
A recording will be available to all registered attendees.
Speakers
Three people who know what these decisions cost.
Former arms dealer and the real-life inspiration behind the 2016 film War Dogs. At 25, Packouz partnered with childhood friend Efraim Diveroli to win a US Department of Defense contract worth nearly $300 million. What followed became one of the most extraordinary — and instructive — stories in the history of US government contracting.
FCPA, anti-bribery, and ethics consultant. Bistrong spent years inside the world of international arms sales before cooperating with the US Department of Justice and serving prison time for FCPA violations. He now works with companies and compliance teams worldwide, translating lived experience into practical guidance. Few interviewers are better placed to ask these questions.
Shahab leads Descartes' Global Trade Intelligence business across EMEA and Asia-Pacific, helping organisations navigate sanctions, denied party screening, and export controls. He brings deep regional knowledge and practical insight to the compliance challenges facing businesses across the Middle East and beyond. He will open the session and chair the live Q&A.