Laureys became a
Companion of the Liberation and was demobilised in December 1945. He took up his previous profession as a photo-engraver and worked as a printer and editor of magazines such as '
and '. In
Cyprus and
Algeria, he was the head of
press agency Air in 1956 and 1957. He would establish more than ten
graphic arts enterprises, for example
Presse aéronautique associée. During the 1960s, Laureys became an arms dealer, providing aviation resources for several conflicts around the globe, but also for a
Hollywood film. In one scene of the 1962 film
The Longest Day, the makers needed some
Supermarine Spitfire fighter aircraft. Laureys restored and provided three Spitfires, and flew one of the planes himself in the film. During the
Congo Crisis, several French officers and soldiers were enrolled at the
Katangese armed forces of
Moïse Tshombe's secessionist
State of Katanga, including fellow Companion of the Liberation
Edgard Tupët-Thomé,
Roger Trinquier, and
Roger Faulques. Laureys sold many items to Katanga, including
North American P-51 Mustang aircraft. During the
North Yemen Civil War, Laureys shipped the first batch of arms to the mercenaries allied with the
Royalists such as
Bob Denard. Finally, during the
Nigerian Civil War, he sold two
Douglas A-26 Invader aircraft to the mercenaries of the
Biafran Air Force. One of them, registered under RB-26P, it was first sold to aerial survey company
Société Carta by the
Armée de l'Air in 1966, and last seen at
Creil near Paris in June 1967. Then, it was sold by Laureys to Biafra, and flown to Biafra in August 1967 by two American pilots. Furthermore, he provided Biafra with
Alouette helicopters, and pilots. ==Distinctions==