Firearms, terrorism and organized crime

Abstract

This chapter focuses on the nexus between organized criminal groups (OCGs), terrorist groups and firearms. It explores the strategic role and importance that firearms play in the race for power of these groups, and how in-depth investigations into arms trafficking can provide essential elements to investigate and combat the groups. It will also address the possession, use and transfer of firearms to, from and between OCGs and terrorist groups. Increasingly, we are seeing a nexus, or series of connections, between organized criminal groups and terrorist groups, both in terms of firearms movement and in broader terms – such as “commodity swaps” where firearms are exchanged for other licit or illicit products. The question which underpins the chapter is the extent to which legislative and policy efforts can and should take into account the links between firearms in the context of serious crimes such as organized crime and terrorism, as opposed to less serious offences. For example, the issues of whether a person is in illegal possession of a firearm, or committing an acquisitive crime using a firearm should be punished differently by the criminal justice system depending on their possible membership of an OCG or Terrorist group.