Illicit Arms Trade

The international trade in illicit arms fuels conflict, enriches conflict actors, and threatens peace and stability in the world’s most fragile states. Valued at more than $7 billion USD a year, this trade is operated by opaque global networks.

C4ADS uses publicly available information and a broad range of tools to expose the networks behind this trade and facilitate international action to combat them. We start by identifying the actors behind the illicit acquisition and transfer of small arms and light weapons via land, air, and sea. We then use our analysis to equip domestic and international enforcement organizations to better enforce arms embargoes, interdict arms shipments, and reduce the flow of arms into conflict zones.