Smoke on the horizon – trends in arms trafficking from the conflict in Ukraine

Arms trafficking is a loaded term. It conjures images of containers full of AK-47s, gangsters toting grenade launchers or fierce shootouts between rival gangs. And there is some truth to this in many parts of the world, from shiploads of assault rifles sent by Iran to the Houthis, Mexican cartels downing helicopters and the street violence of the drug market in the US.