After three years of implementing capacity building activities across Central and South America as well as West and Central Africa the DISRUPT project held its closing meeting on 20 March in Brussels. The meeting was attended by representatives of the European Commission, GIFP actions, and relevant stakeholders.
The DISRUPT project emerged by incorporating the learning, knowledge and experiences gained from two components of the 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. This collaboration between INTERPOL and UNODC allowed DISRUPT to address both the practical aspects of policing and firearms tracing while implementing effective and sustainable capacity building to strengthen judicial capabilities.
UNODC emphasised the importance of linking law enforcement efforts with an integrated criminal justice response to disrupt illicit firearms flows, focusing on prosecution and investigations. INTERPOL added that the complementarity between police and prosecutors was key to the success of the project as it provided a platform for disseminating the use of available INTERPOL tools and databases as a means of facilitating the identification of modus operandi of criminal networks and illicit flows.
Both project partners presented the achievements of DISRUPT:
UNODC highlighted the assistance provided to countries including the DRC, Ghana, Brazil, Costa Rica and Ecuador, in analysing gaps in their legislative frameworks and the support provided in addressing them resulting in more robust legislation. In collaboration with EMPACT, through DISRUPT, UNODC supported operation Armstrong Latin America in late 2023. Throughout the years of implementing DISRUPT, UNODC supported 62 firearms cases in 28 countries including through assistance in setting up joint investigation teams focused on transnational firearms trafficking.
INTERPOL focused on the results of Operations Trigger VIII Africa and IX Latin America implanted through DISRUPT. These operational activities led to important seizures of illicit firearms and ammunition, but more importantly to the dismantling of criminal networks involved not only in firearms but also illicit gold mining, terrorism financing, drugs and wildlife trafficking.
Through the closing meeting DISRUPT celebrated the achievements of the project which also serve to identify a way forward to continue supporting the fight against illicit firearms flows in West and Central Africa and Latin America. The DISRUPT project is an example that collaborative efforts of the UNODC, INTERPOL and the support of the EU are critical to enhanced success in disrupting illicit flows of firearms.
