In order to disrupt illicit trafficking flows and prevent organised criminal groups and terrorists from acquiring illicit firearms, it is of crucial importance to link current law enforcement efforts on firearms control and on tracing of illicit firearms into broader and integrated criminal justice responses. This approach aims to enhance the legal controls and strengthen the criminal chain: from detection and seizure of illicit firearms to their systematic identification, recording and tracing, to subsequent investigative and prosecutorial actions.
As the most affected regions by illicit trafficking and misuse of firearms, the American and African regions remain in the focus of international and national efforts to curb these problems.
Considering the complementarity of their actions, the INTERPOL Firearms Programme and the UNODC Global Firearms Programme developed this joint action targeting firearms trafficking. The action is part of the EU Global Illicit Flows Programme (GIFP) and is funded by the European Union.
The overall objective of the project to disrupt illicit trafficking in firearms by linking law enforcement efforts with broader criminal justice responses in Central and South America as well as in West and Central Africa. Read more...
Illicit firearms trafficking is a cross cutting threat that enables and aggravates organized crime, armed conflict, terrorism, in addition to being a serious crime on its own merit. Read more...