The Global Small Arms Trade and Diversions at Transfer

Abstract

This chapter provides a brief overview of the global small arms trade and examines how firearms under the regulated trade are diverted into the illicit sphere. In doing so, it hopes to illuminate the volume and complexity of the regulated arms trade, and what relationship it has to the illicit proliferation of small arms and armed violence. Estimates of the global arms trade range from US$46.2 to US$195.4 billion. The most reliable source shows that regulated exports of small arms, light weapons, and ammunition make up at least US$6.5 billion of the overall international arms trade. Because of weaknesses in the data, case studies, investigations and journalism remain essential to understanding the small arms trade, especially illicit diversion. This chapter stresses case studies on illegal and diverted exports from the United States and former-Soviet states. Due to changes in export policy, the proliferation of American small arms intended for the civilian market seems likely to get worse and become more global. As for former Soviet states, several illicit transfers have been documented that exemplify the weaknesses and challenges in the arms transfer process that lead to diversions.