Arms Trafficking Research Articles

Activities of international institutions and organizations in the fight against crime

Relevance of the research topic is determined by modern challenges in the field of international security and law and order, associated with the growing scale of crime that extends beyond national jurisdictions. Globalization, the development of information technologies, and the expansion of cross-border cooperation have significantly complicated the fight against transnational crime. In this context, international institutions and organizations play a crucial role in coordinating state efforts, developing joint strategies, and ensuring effective justice. The article examines the activities of key international institutions and organizations involved in combating crime. In particular, it analyzes the functions and areas of work of structures such as Interpol, Europol, Eurojust, Aseanapol, Afripol, and Ameripol. Their contribution to combating crimes of an international nature is characterized. Special attention is paid to the specifics of activities in certain regions, information exchange mechanisms, and the facilitation of legal cooperation among states. The article also provides a clear distinction between international crimes and crimes of an international nature, which is essential for understanding the legal approaches to their classification and prosecution. International crimes, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression, fall under the jurisdiction of international criminal law and are prosecuted by specialized judicial bodies, including the International Criminal Court. In contrast, crimes of an international nature are primarily regulated by national legislation and international agreements, requiring enhanced cooperation among states. Such crimes include transnational organized crime, human trafficking, drug and arms trafficking, cybercrime, money laundering, corruption, and others. As a result of the analysis, it is concluded that effective interaction among states, international institutions, and organizations in combating crime is the key to detecting, solving, and investigating crimes (both international and of an international nature) and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable.

Sources of financing armed conflicts: the case of russia's armed aggression against Ukraine

The research focuses on the financial mechanisms underlying modern armed conflicts. Using the example of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the study analyses various sources of financing that support Russia's military operations, including state funding from the state budget, energy export revenues, bonds and the use of reserve funds. The impact of economic policy and monetary adjustments on Russia's ability to finance armed conflicts is analysed, as well as the role of external support in the form of loans, trade agreements and private contributions, in particular from Russian companies and oligarchs. Significant attention is paid to illicit methods of financing, such as smuggling of arms and other goods, cybercrime, drug trafficking, as well as the use of offshore schemes and tax evasion to circumvent international sanctions and controls. It also examines the role of private investment in military operations, including contributions from oligarchs and the activities of private military companies. The study also describes the impact of international sanctions and economic pressure on Russia's financial strategy, as well as the public perception and social consequences of the financing methods used.

HARMONISATION OF THE CRIMINAL LAW OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC WITH THE LAW OF THE EUROPEAN UNION IN THE FIELD OF INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL OFFENCES

Background: This paper addresses key issues related to the tools used to approximate the definitions of selected crimes within specific areas of the fight against organised crime. Despite the pursuit of communitarisation, some legal constitutions have remained rooted in an intergovernmental approach. Accordingly, this article examines individual international documents that served as the basis for selected international criminal offences incorporated into the Slovak Criminal Code. As with any process of harmonisation involving the legal regulations of individual states, aligning European Union law with Slovak Criminal Law was not easy, and many application problems arose. In this article, we focus on these challenges and explore possible solutions. Methods: In this contribution, standard methods commonly employed in the processing of scientific and professional texts focused on "European" criminal law were applied. The dominant method was the so-called analytical method, mainly used to examine current legislation related to the discussed issue. Additionally, a content and functional analysis of the most important institutes, which were contained in relevant international documents and important court decisions, was carried out. In the case of comparisons between Slovak and European legislation, a comparative method was used. Subsequently, conclusions were formulated using the synthetic method, the aim of which was to present proposals to eliminate shortcomings and improve the current legislation. Results and Conclusions: Through the analysis and comparison of relevant legal frameworks, several findings emerged. Specifically, we have found that the Slovak Criminal Code understands the concept of "organised criminal group" significantly more broadly than the relevant Framework Decision. This fact could cause problems in the recognition of decisions by other states. Additionally, the absence of a uniform definition of the concept of "terrorism" within the European Union is problematic as it may lead to inconsistencies that interfere with fundamental human rights and freedoms. In the field of drug trafficking, while no significant application problems were found in connection with the application of European Union law and the Criminal Code, disparities across the entire European Union, particularly in the criminalisation/decriminalisation of selected types of drugs and the varying severity of sanctions imposed by Member States. For arms trafficking, flaws were identified in the implementation of the relevant protocol into Slovak law, particularly in the definition and treatment of firearms parts and components. In cases of trafficking in human beings committed by a legal entity, the Criminal Code fails to meet the requirements of the relevant directive regarding the punishment of legal entities. Finally, the directive on environmental crimes contains vague terms which may cause application problems when approximating the provisions of the directive in relation to other states.

Legal gaps and threats to public safety from free circulation of deactivated weapons using digital technologies: ways to improve criminal legislation

Relevance. Current weapons legislation of the Russian Federation does not take into account the impact of rapidly developing digital technologies on illegal arms trafficking. Deactivated weapons are freely sold on the Internet without the need for licensing, which creates legal gaps. Combined with the availability of information on weapon conversion and the availability of specialized components, these weapons can be easily modified to fire live ammunition, posing a serious threat to public safety.Purpose: to study is to study the public danger of free circulation of deactivated weapons using digital technologies, as well as to develop proposals for improving criminal and other legislation to increase the effectiveness of combating crime in this area.Objectives: include the analysis of legal gaps in the legislation regulating the circulation of deactivated weapons, the study of relevant judicial practice, the assessment of the impact of digital technologies on the distribution of deactivated weapons through Internet platforms and the availability of information on their modification, as well as the development of proposals for improving legislation and the differentiation of criminal liability.Methodology. The research is based on general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, as well as formal-logical, formal-legal and methods of interpretation of legal norms.The results of the study show that the free circulation of deactivated weapons via the Internet creates conditions for their illegal modification and use for criminal purposes, which is confirmed by the analysis of judicial practice.Conclusions. The authors propose to tighten the legislation on the circulation of deactivated weapons by introducing mandatory licensing, strengthening control over their sale and circulation through digital platforms, and clarifying the differentiation of criminal liability for the illegal circulation and modification of weapons.

DEVELOPMENT OF LEGAL REGULATION OF ILLEGAL ARMS TRAFFICKING: CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF AMENDMENTS TO ARTICLE 263 OF THE CRIMINAL CODE OF UKRAINE AND THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT PRACTICE

The article is devoted to a detailed analysis of the evolution of legal regulation of illegal arms trafficking in Ukraine, focusing on the amendments to Article 263 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The article thoroughly examines the main legislative innovations introduced to this article and their impact on law enforcement practice. The author analyzes the problematic aspects arising in the course of application of the updated provisions and suggests ways to resolve them. Particular attention is paid to the comparison of national legislation with international standards in the field of arms control, which allows identifying shortcomings and gaps in the legal regulation of this area in Ukraine. The article contains a detailed analysis of the court practice on the application of Article 263 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, highlighting the main trends and problems in the interpretation and implementation of legislative changes. In addition, the article addresses the issue of compliance of national norms with Ukraine’s international obligations, in particular in the context of cooperation with international organizations and implementation of international agreements on arms control. The authors offer comprehensive recommendations for improving legal norms in order to increase the effectiveness of the fight against illicit arms trafficking. The proposed ways of improvement include both regulatory and legal measures and organizational and practical steps aimed at improving law enforcement practice. The study has significant scientific and practical potential, as it systematizes legal innovations, analyzes current problems of their application, and suggests effective ways to improve legal regulation in the field of combating illicit arms trafficking. It takes into account the current realities of criminal justice in Ukraine, in particular, the growing number of crimes related to the illegal use of firearms and explosives, which is a consequence of military operations in the east of the country and the rise of organized crime. The practical value of the work lies in the fact that its results can be used at different levels: both in the field of research and directly in the process of law enforcement. For scholars, it is a source for further research, as it highlights the specifics of the development of criminal legislation in the context of European integration and globalization. For practicing lawyers and attorneys, the study offers analytical tools that can be used in the preparation of legal positions in criminal cases related to illegal arms trafficking.

Criminalistics characteristics of arms trafficking offences committed by organised groups and criminal organisations

The article identifies which criminal offences fall into the category of those related to illicit arms trafficking and are the most common in the recorded proportion of criminal offences committed by organised groups and criminal organisations. These include, in particular, criminal offences under Articles 201, 262, 263, 263-1, 264, 410, 411 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The author also emphasises the need to include here also those crimes provided for in Articles 269 and 440 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, but given that they are not common in the recorded number of crimes and criminal offences, it is justified that it is inexpedient to study them in depth. The elements of the forensic characterisation of crimes in the field of illegal arms trafficking committed by organised groups and criminal organisations which have significant forensic significance include: the method of committing the crime, the object of the crime, the circumstances of the crime (including the situation at the scene), traces, characteristics of the leader and other members of the criminal association. It is established that the method of committing crimes in the field of firearms trafficking involving organised groups and criminal organisations is a full-structured one. It is also found that in most cases it includes actions of preparation, direct commission and concealment. Moreover, it is determined that the setting of these crimes includes information about the place and time of preparation for the commission of a criminal offence, as well as the setting of the place of commission and concealment. However, it is emphasised that the trace picture is not always characterised by a significant number of material traces, but it is characterised mainly by ideal traces-reflections preserved in people's memory. With regard to the characteristics of the personalities of criminal groups, the author emphasises that this issue is quite complex and therefore requires further research.

A risk science perspective on how to evaluate the quality of intelligence assessments

ABSTRACT Recent articles on intelligence theory have shown that guidelines for evaluating and expressing the quality of intelligence assessments are based on weak theoretical justifications and lack a proper theoretical foundation. Risk and intelligence analysts face similar issues related to understanding, assessing, and communicating threats and uncertainties. This article draws on risk science’s advances in evaluating the strength of the knowledge used in risk assessments. Using a fictitious arms trafficking case, we demonstrate the compatibility of a strength-of-knowledge approach to quality with the current understanding of confidence in intelligence studies. The aim is to show that risk science’s theoretical framework and formalized language is applicable to the evaluation of intelligence assessment quality as well as to intelligence theory in general. Implications for intelligence practice and research are discussed.

Principles and methods of conducting firearms training for police officers serving in the de-occupied territories

The article examines the specific challenges faced by police officers in the de-occupied territories, including the remnants of ammunition, the activities of sabotage and reconnaissance groups, and illegal arms trafficking. The focus is on how to improve the effectiveness of police firearms training in a high-risk environment. The importance of adapting training programmes to real threats and specific combat conditions in the de-occupied territories is emphasized. Emphasis is placed on the need to integrate tactical elements that simulate combat situations, including building clearance and patrolling, as well as the work of police units in urban environments. The article analyses the importance of psychological resilience of law enforcement officers, which is necessary for actions in stressful and dangerous situations. The author discusses techniques of stress management and emotional regulation, which are key to effective work in extreme conditions. Approaches to coordination between different security forces operating in the de-occupied territories are proposed, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and coherence in the performance of tasks. Particular attention is paid to security issues during exercises conducted in high-risk areas due to the presence of explosive devices. It is determined that law enforcement training should be as close as possible to the real conditions that police officers may encounter during their service. This means that training cannot be limited to standard shooting exercises at training ranges. It is necessary to simulate various scenarios that are likely to occur in the de-occupied territories. The article emphasizes that improving firearms training methods is a prerequisite for increasing the effectiveness of law enforcement officers in performing their duties in the liberated territories and offers recommendations for integrating modern technologies and continuously monitoring the effectiveness of training programmes. The conclusions state that to improve the principles and methods of conducting firearms training for police officers serving in the de-occupied territories, several important aspects should be taken into account. They are aimed at increasing the effectiveness of law enforcement training and adapting the curriculum to the specific conditions of post-war territories.

Ratting on wildlife crime: training African giant pouched rats to detect illegally trafficked wildlife

The illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is one of the largest global crime economies, directly threatening species and their habitats, and biodiversity, and indirectly the global climate, and countries’ economies. Syndicates operating within the IWT are often involved in trafficking of humans, weapons, and drugs. IWT takes place in large scale through international ports, with wildlife being smuggled inside shipping containers. Current methods to combat IWT and screen these shipping containers, such as X-ray scans, are expensive and time-consuming. Scent-detection animals present an innovative approach to combatting IWT, as animals may be better suited to distinguish between organic materials and less susceptible to visual concealment methods. Previous scent-detection work has largely focused on conservation dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). Here, we present a series of proof-of-principle studies training African giant pouched rats (Cricetomys ansorgei) to detect illegally trafficked wildlife. As initial proof-of-principle within a controlled laboratory environment, we trained rats (n=11) to detect the scent of pangolin scales (Manis spp.) and a threatened African hardwood (Dalbergia melanoxylon). In subsequent experiments, we trained these rats (n=10) to detect rhinoceros horn (family Rhinocerotidae), and elephant tusks (Loxodonta spp.). At the conclusion of these studies, rats (n=7) accurately identified all four target species (although ivory samples may have been cross-contaminated, and results should be interpreted with caution) while correctly rejecting non-target items commonly used by traffickers to conceal the presence of illicit material. Rats detected the presence of wildlife targets even when these were concealed in mixtures among non-target items. These results provide the foundation to train rats for scent-detection of illegally trafficked wildlife to combat IWT. The unique attributes of rats could allow them to complement existing screening technologies in the fight against IWT. Rats have low training and maintenance costs, flexibly work with multiple handlers, have a long lifespan, and a sophisticated sense of smell. Their small size also offers unique capabilities for the screening of shipping containers, such as being able to navigate densely packed areas or be lifted to assess contents of sealed containers by screening ventilation systems. Future directions include assessing operational feasibility of deploying rats at ports.

Characteristics of banditry and illegal arms trafficking during the Civil War and the first post-war years in the Belgorod district of the Kursk province

Characteristics of banditry and illegal arms trafficking during the Civil War and the first post-war years in the Belgorod district of the Kursk province

Proceeds Related to Illegal Arms Trafficking: Features of the Investigation in the New Subjects of the Russian Federation

The scientific article is devoted to the criminalistics features of the identification and investigation of crimes related to illegal arms trafficking committed in the new subjects of the Russian Federation. The article analyzes the ways of committing crimes related to illegal arms trafficking, and establishes measures to counteract this type of crime. Special attention is paid to proposals for improving measures used in the fight against crime.

Maritime security and the inter-agency challenge: The case of Ghana

ABSTRACT Maritime security is a major international concern with the Gulf of Guinea recognised as one of the global hotspots of blue crime, such as piracy, kidnap for ransom, trafficking of narcotics, human and arms, and illegal fishing. The complex and complicated challenge of maritime security, a wicked problem, calls for inter-agency coordination, synergy of efforts and scaling up of responses. Given the complexity of maritime security threats, no single organisation has the institutional muscle to single-handedly deal with it. Drawing on evidence from Ghana, where the arrival of maritime security as a concept triggered a shift from single to a multi-agency approach to dealing with maritime issues, the article examines the potential of and challenges associated with inter-agency coordination. In line with recent international developments, African nations like Ghana aim to apply the concept of inter-agency coordination to tackle maritime insecurity in its waters. The paper assesses how inter-agency coordination could be used in an African maritime security governance context, while examining power imbalance, strife for agency autonomy and other obstacles that have to be addressed to ensure that the promises associated with the concept are fulfilled.

THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE BIOCEANIC ROAD AND THE BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE (BRI) FROM A BRAZILIAN PERSPECTIVE ON CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS

The current changing in world dynamics leads to an increased complexity on countries relations. From this perspective, the article's general objective analyses the impact of Latin America and East Asia integration through the Bioceanic Corridor and the Belt and Road Initiative on illicit markets. The specific objectives focus on identifying complicating elements for regional security, stemming from the collaborative and competitive engagements of actors within illegal networks. The adopted methodology is predominantly qualitative, involving bibliographic review, document analysis and case studies based on data from academic and government documents, and reports from international organizations. The addressed topics include drug and weapons trafficking, infrastructure initiatives, regional and global interconnection, and their relations to the criminal phenomena in South America. From the results obtained, the article emphasizes the anticipatory dimension, providing preventive recommendations in international collaboration, standardization of informational capabilities through common data models in road logistics hubs, and the application of security protocols in maritime hubs, with emphasis on the ARESP methodology (Risk Analysis with Emphasis on Port Security), contributing to regional integration on global security, and proposing practical and collaborative measures to anticipate and mitigate potential challenges arising from the interconnection of illicit networks on a global scale.

Perspectivas de estudiantes de secundaria del Departamento de Oruro sobre la trata de personas

Human trafficking is the third most lucrative crime worldwide, after drug trafficking and arms trafficking. The groups most vulnerable to this scourge are adolescents, women and children. In this context, the objective of this research was to determine whether students aged 16 to 18 years at the secondary level, belonging to 4 educational units in the department of Oruro, know the psychosocial risk factors that promote human trafficking, as well as the strategies of coping to avoid being victims. Methodologically, the study adopted a field-level, descriptive design, quantitative approach. 358 students participated, selected through a stratified random sampling, to whom 3 measurement instruments were applied: CRTP, CFRP and ACS. The results were segmented by rural and urban areas. The conclusions indicate that students have knowledge about risk factors, but are not prepared to face them effectively. This situation highlights the need to implement prevention and education strategies that empower adolescents to avoid becoming victims of human trafficking.

Legal Foundations of State Policy on Self-Defense Weapons: In Quest of a Balance between Public and Private Interests

The debate on the right of citizens to carry short-barreled weapons, including firearms of limited destruction, has been going on for more than 30 years. The essence of these debates goes far beyond the limits of administrative law, since it is not limited only by the administrative law mechanism for implementing the procedure for acquiring, carrying and using weapons, acting as part of the public legal mechanism for ensuring personal security, security of the society and the State. The relevance of the issues of civilian arms trafficking is aggravated by the complication of the criminal situation during periods of social or economic upheavals that determine the choice of the trajectory of development of state policy for arms trafficking as an area of public law relations. The arguments of supporters and opponents of the use of firearms for self-defense are usually accompanied by arguments based on faith and beliefs rather than on facts and measurements. The purpose of the study is to summarize the legal and empirical resources characterizing administrative law foundations of state policy in relation to lethal and non-lethal self-defense weapons; to assess domestic legislative decisions and determine the directions for further administrative law development of state policy regarding arms trafficking, the expediency of using short-barreled weapons, including firearms of limited destruction, as selfdefense weapons. The interdisciplinary approach made it possible to combine the results of legal and other humanitarian studies. In particular, the achievements of branches of legal sciences of Russian law are brought together: administrative law, theory and history of law, criminology and criminal studies, sociology of law. In conclusion, the paper provides the results of a theoretical study with due regard to the historical, delictological and sociological context of the problem. The author substantiates the necessity of changing the legal foundations of state policy in the field of trafficking in self-defense weapons and gives appropriate proposals.

DarkMor: A framework for darknet traffic detection that integrates local and spatial features

DarkMor: A framework for darknet traffic detection that integrates local and spatial features

Perils of proximity: Banditry and the geography of cattle rustling in border regions of southwest Niger and northwest Nigeria

ABSTRACT In terms of its disruptive impact and intensity of violence, banditry is the gravest security threat that currently faces rural residents in border communities of southwest Niger and northwest Nigeria, driving the area’s worst humanitarian crisis in decades. Through empirical research, this study analyses the internationalisation of cattle rustling as a variant of banditry in these contiguous border regions. From the year 2019 to 2022, such incidents increased by 1028.57% and 957.143% in northwest Nigeria and southwest Niger, respectively. The primary drivers of cattle rustling in the regions include multiple conflicts, perceived injustice, failure of governance to address endemic poverty, and competition over natural resources. The principal enablers of cattle rustling are: border porosity, arms trafficking, human resources for recruitment, geography, embedded social relationships, informal transborder movements, and community complicity. The study offers direction for policy imperatives for combatting cattle rustling in southwest Niger and northwest Nigeria.

UNODC ACTIVITIES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ILLICIT ARMS TRAFFICKING

The article analyzes the activities of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the field of combating illegal arms trafficking, which is allocated as part of a separate program. The author analyzes the initiatives of UNODC in this area and specific actions taken to reduce the crime rate associated with illegal arms trafficking. The positive aspects of the UNODC initiative in the form of a Global Firearms Program are being considered, and a study of the results provided within the framework of the designated program is being conducted. The main international documents regulating the legal circulation of weapons are characterized. Special attention is paid to the interaction of the Department with states to prevent criminals from getting weapons, and a number of problems in this area are highlighted. The interaction of UNODC with international law enforcement organizations is analyzed and the effectiveness of this cooperation is evaluated, examples of joint operations and trends in the development of relations are considered. The Department’s active work is noted in terms of compiling and providing training courses for law enforcement agencies. In addition, the study identifies a number of problems and difficulties faced by UNODC in implementing its objectives and achieving goals related to reducing the adverse effects of such a phenomenon as illegal arms trafficking.

Pills, substances and brigandage: Exploring the drug factor in Nigeria’s banditry crisis

ABSTRACT This paper examines the role of drugs in the prevailing banditry crisis in Nigeria. It does so against the deteriorating trajectory of the banditry crisis in northern Nigeria in which the issue of drugs and substances has been implicated. Existing studies on the subject matter have variously considered the ramifying dimensions of the banditry question, especially its complex nexuses to other organised crimes, such as terrorism, arms trafficking, illicit mining and mercenary militancy. Evidently, the linkage between banditry and illicit drug proliferation and (ab)use has been scarcely explored, hence the need for the present discourse. Using a qualitative method that relies on desk research and key informant interviews, the paper posits that the (ab)use of drugs and toxic substances by bandits has been a critical catalyst for the banditry crisis in Nigeria.

ЗАРУБІЖНИЙ ДОСВІД ЗАПОБІГАННЯ ЗЛОЧИННОСТІ ІНОЗЕМЦІВ ТА ОСІБ БЕЗ ГРОМАДЯНСТВА

The article is dedicated to the study of foreign experience of crime prevention of foreigners and stateless persons with the formulation of scientifically based prospects for its implementation in Ukraine. The relevance of the selected issues is explained by the following circumstances: firstly, in the conditions of the ongoing war, a significant part of the population of Ukraine was forced to emigrate abroad and can potentially become either subjects or victims of criminal offenses; secondly, international cooperation in the most dangerous types of criminality is increasing, in particular: smuggling, illegal trafficking of weapons, drugs, human trafficking (including involvement in prostitution), theft of cultural and historical values, etc.; thirdly, the identities of criminals (criminal offenders) – foreigners and stateless persons – have not been fully studied, especially their criminogenic behaviour in the conditions of modern national and world realities. It is emphasized that crime prevention of foreigners and stateless persons in Ukraine is impossible without a study of the positive experience of law enforcement agencies functioning in foreign countries, which assign a priority role in their activities to the prevention of criminal offenses in a certain area. The conducted research on the study of the experience of developed foreign countries in the field of crime prevention of foreigners and stateless persons provides grounds for determining the following forms of its implementation to preventive activities in Ukraine: 1) use of the experience of the USA and European countries in the preparation of conceptual legal acts in the field of crime prevention of foreigners and stateless persons; 2) use by law enforcement structures (in particular, the police) and non-state structures of civil society of positive foreign practices of crime prevention by foreigners and stateless persons; 3) use of opportunities for international cooperation in the field of combating criminality of foreigners and stateless persons, as well as preventing the commission of criminal offenses against these categories of persons who are on the territory of Ukraine. Key words: war, martial law, criminal offense, identity of a criminal (criminal offender), victim of a criminal offense, victimhood, determinants, forced migration, foreigners, stateless persons, criminality, smuggling, illegal weapon trafficking, illegal drug trafficking, prevention measures, subjects of prevention, law enforcement agencies, foreign experience, international cooperation, criminal proceedings, investigation, procedural actions.