Arms trafficking

Uncommon card · No. 157654

Weapons trafficking or gunrunning is the illicit trade of contraband small arms, explosives, and ammunition, which constitutes part of a broad range of illegal activities often associated with transnational criminal organizations. The illegal trade of small arms, unlike other organized crime commodities, is more closely associated with exercising power in communities instead of achieving economic gain. Scholars estimate illegal arms transactions amount to over US$1 billion annually. To keep track of imports and exports of several of the most dangerous armament categories, in 1991 the United Nations created a Register for Conventional Arms. However, participation is not compulsory, and the Register lacks comprehensive data in regions outside of Europe. Africa is a region with an extensive illicit arms activity due to a prevalence of corrupt officials and loosely enforced trade regulations. In a resolution to complement the Register with legally binding obligations, a Firearms Protocol was...

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