Organized crime and illicit firearms in Europe

• In Event: Illicit Firearms and Organized Crime

Abstract

Criminal groups are widely recognized as the primary force behind the illicit firearms market in Europe. Firearms are used to protect and advance OCGs interests, particularly in the drug trade. Based on open-source data, this study provides an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the nexus of organized crime and illicit firearms in Europe. It finds that there are large differences in the effects of the firearm and OCGs’ nexus, with most countries having experienced positive developments – a reduction of violence – since the 1990s. The study details the types of firearms and trafficking modus operandi used by OCGs. Previously stable for twenty years due to weapons from the Balkans and former communist countries, there has been a shift in recent years to modified pistols and a rapid emergence of 3D-printed weapons. This shift is lowering the bar for accessing weapons, resulting in increased gang violence, most notably in Sweden.

Author

• Lina Grip, Swedish Prison and Probation Service