INTERPOL’S FIREARMS PROGRAMME ADDRESSING FIREARMS TRAFFICKING INTERPOL For official use only
WHAT IS FIREARMS TRAFFICKING? Elements defining firearms trafficking : • Illegal/not authorized movement of firearms • Not defined by the number of trafficked firearms • May occur nationally as well as internationally • Trafficking in firearms parts is still considered as firearms trafficking • Feeds illegal firearms possession INTERPOL For official use only
UNLESS TRAFFICKING IS ADDRESSED IT CAN RARELY BE SOLVED • Many countries don’t think they have a trafficking/gun problem, and even in the cases where they do, many don’t know how to combat it • We need to refocus our ideas of firearms investigations: the primary goal of a firearms investigation is to identify and prosecute the trafficker (the source of your gun problem) • Until proven otherwise, a crime gun is part of a larger scheme, and not just an isolated piece of evidence • Coordination among investigators and forensic science counterparts should follow a Protocol for all crime guns recovered in their jurisdiction in order to generate and maximize the investigative leads • Investigators/NCBs should populate and query available firearms databases INTERPOL For official use only
WHY IS IT DIFFICULT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE? • Historically, firearms trafficking was not perceived as an issue • National legislations • Lack of will or resources to address firearms trafficking • Origin of illicit firearms INTERPOL For official use only
FIREARMS PROGRAMME’S CAPABILITIES The INTERPOL illicit Arms Records and tracing The INTERPOL Ballistic Information Network (IBIN) Management System (iARMS) PREVENTING TERRORISM LINKING BALLISTICS EVIDENCE THROUGH COMBATING INTERNATIONALLY TRANSNATIONAL FIREARMS TRAFFICKING ü The combined analysis of IBIN and iARMS data is ü Allows for traceability, for the likely to significantly increase the ability of law identification of the last legal enforcement agencies to prevent and combat owner of the firearm as well as the firearm-related crimes, particularly through the point in time when the firearm identification of firearms traffickers and other slipped into the illegal market ! criminals ! INTERPOL For official use only
Firearms Recovery Protocol 1. Law Enforcement work Step 1: National firearms registry search and lost/stolen database search Step 2: iARMS Search/Trace (international search of lost, stolen, and trafficked/ smuggled firearms) Step 3: Evidence Recovery and Suspect Interview 2. Forensic Laboratory work Step 4-5: Latent fingerprint examination of firearm (in close coordination with DNA experts) Step 4-5: DNA examination of firearm (in close coordination with fingerprint experts) Step 6: National and/or International IBIN ballistic comparison of cartridge casings / bullets 3. Coordination Step 7: Gather the data collected from Steps 1 to 6 to develop investigative leads Step 8: Provide the investigators with the immediately known intelligence Step 9: Analyse the intelligence generated for indicators of firearms trafficking INTERPOL Firearms Programme’s powerful tools / databases INTERPOL For official use only
IBIN SEARCH PROTOCOL The INTERPOL Ballistic Information Network should always be considered for recoveries of crime guns and cartridge casings, and test-fired cartridge casings for: • All recoveries within 80 kilometers of international border; • All recoveries by customs or border officials; • All recoveries made on a suspected trafficker of any type of contraband (drugs, documents, guns, etc.); • All recoveries of three or more firearms; • All recoveries related to terrorist activities; and • All recoveries made from a person with a residence in another country. INTERPOL For official use only
For further information, please contact The INTERPOL Firearms Programme j.hageman@interpol.int I24/7 communication network f.chande@interpol.int (for iARMS ) mj.cantinelli@interpol.int (for IBIN ) INTERPOL For official use only
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