Illicit Firearms Markets Accessible Through the Dark Web

• In Event: Illicit Firearms and Organized Crime

Abstract

This chapter explores the illicit firearms market on the dark web. It begins with an overview of firearms categorization, emphasizing the importance of components like barrels and triggers in firearms identification. The chapter also reviews the literature on illicit firearms acquisition, noting the shift towards online channels during the Covid-19 pandemic. The dark web’s anonymity and its inherent challenges to regulate regulation are highlighted as factors that enable international firearms trafficking. The chapter presents a study that indexes firearms markets on the dark web, revealing a variety of products, including handguns, long guns, and ammunition. The findings suggest that the dark web firearms market is small and stagnant, with prices and availability remaining relatively unchanged over time. The dark web is presented as a niche platform for illicit firearms transactions, with parcel mail being a common method of delivery. The chapter concludes with policy implications, suggesting that the dark web may not be the primary focus for enforcement agencies, and emphasizes the need for more parcel inspections to intercept illegal shipments.

Author

• David Décary-Hétu, Université de Montréal