The DISRUPT project emerged by incorporating the learning, knowledge and experiences gained from two components of the EU Global Illicit Flows Programme (GIFP), namely the Illicit Arms Records and tracing Management System (iARMS) and the Countering Firearms Trafficking projects, both part of the INTERPOL and UNODC Firearms Programmes respectively. Since 2017, INTERPOL and UNODC have collaborated more in depth in activities that link operational law enforcement work on firearms to broader criminal justice responses with very concrete results in joint operations such as Trigger III, Trigger IV, Kafo I and Kafo II.
The DISRUPT project, which started in March 2021, takes advantage of this collaboration by linking law enforcement efforts with broader criminal justice responses in Central and South America as well as in West and Central Africa to disrupt illicit trafficking flows and prevent organised criminal groups and terrorists from acquiring illicit firearms. The Project aims at enhancing targeted countries’ law enforcement and criminal justice systems response capabilities to combat trafficking and illicit proliferation of firearms through a holistic response.
The integrated response of DISRUPT aims to provide:
(1) an adequate legal framework on both firearms control and criminal justice enforcement measures and mechanisms;
(2) law enforcement operating procedures to ensure detection and seizure of illicit firearms and their systematic tracing;
(3) enhanced awareness on and capacity to ensure the necessary follow up investigations of illicit trafficking offences and especially when occurring in the context of other serious crimes like terrorism and organised crime;
(4) an increased detection and investigation of firearms trafficking activity through intelligence-led law enforcement operations; and
(5) an effective flow of intelligence and information at national and international level. Firearms trafficking investigations must transcend national borders and involve countries along the entire chain.
The project is implemented by UNODC in partnership with INTERPOL.
