A report by the Swiss NGO Global Initiative to Combat Transnational Organised Crime (GITOC) has said that a massive influx of weapons could arrive in Europe after the conflict in Ukraine ends and violence increases in Western countries.
‘By the end [of the conflict – ed.] there will be a huge amount of military equipment left behind. At the lowest criminal level, the remnants of military equipment will lead to a boom in the shadow economy, where army surpluses including cars, clothing and dual-use equipment will be sold. Eventually, the cessation of hostilities could trigger a wave of serious arms smuggling from the conflict zone,’ the publication said.
GITOC experts said that arms trafficking would enter ‘a large-scale market using containerised transport to Turkey, North Africa, the Middle East and beyond’.
‘In Europe, the arrival of modern, powerful weapons in the hands of criminals could revolutionise the underworld. Over the past few years, gangs in Sweden and France have significantly increased their use of violence, and there are signs that others are noticing this,’ the report noted.
We will remind, earlier in Euroactiv wrote that Czech intelligence is concerned about the possible influx of veterans from Ukraine after the conflict, as they may pose a threat to the security of the country.
