Question

Explain why some countries end up being in the business of illegal arms trades. What would need to be done to stop these illegal arms trades?

Answer 1

Illegal Arms’ Trade also referred to as Arms Trafficking or Gun Running, involves smuggling of contraband weapons and/or munitions. A number of issues of significance pertaining to the illegal arms trade are :

1. Globalisation: It has facilitated the illegal arms trade by enabling informal and/or illegal transactions. The networks have had tremendous impact on the ability of the terrorist groups to organise, indoctrinate, unleash propaganda and act with impunity against states. The terrorist organisations are able to plan, move finances and execute operations from far off locations using networks.
2. Gun Lobby: This is a major factor which dissuades the Governments of source countries from adopting tougher legislations on limiting the quantum of arms that can be produced and transferred to non-state actors.
3. Link between Illegal Weapons, Drugs and Wildlife Trade: An unmistakable link exists between the illegal arms trade, drug trafficking and wildlife smuggling. The illegally traded weapons and munitions are extensively used by terrorist organisations, drug cartels and wildlife smugglers. The illegally procured weapons and munitions provide much needed protection to the drug and wildlife cartels which, in turn, fuel the demand for more weapons and munitions.
   
4. Support by Governments: Governments of certain major arms producing countries also overtly/covertly supply weapons and munitions to non-state actors.

Action Taken

Significant measures to stop the illegal arms trade have already been taken by the United Nations and certain countries. Some of the noteworthy treaties / protocols are:-

• The ‘Arms Trade Treaty’ that regulates the international trade in conventional weapons, entered into force on 24 Dec 2014.

• ‘Firearms Protocol’, the United Nations Protocol against illegal manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, their parts and ammunitio

Suggested Way Forward

As the illegal arms trade is still continuing in a big way, certain additional measures are recommended as under:-

• Collection of accurate information, processing and in-depth analysis would assist in deeper understanding of various nuances relating to illegal arms trade and formulation of plans to deal with the menace.

• The illegal arms trade, drug and wildlife trafficking have to be dealt with as a single issue and no ..