Illegal Weapons Trafficking Analysis

Contributed to an open-source intelligence research initiative examining illicit firearms trafficking patterns across Latin America, focusing on the structure and movement of small arms and light weapons (SALW) within transnational criminal networks.

The methodology combined structured OSINT data collection with geospatial and incident-based analysis. Public reporting, seizure records, and open datasets were aggregated into a standardised framework, then cross-referenced across multiple sources to ensure verification. Entries were enriched through geolocation techniques, source triangulation, and contextual analysis of imagery and incident metadata where available. The dataset was then analysed to identify recurring flow patterns, supply origins, and cross-border movement corridors.

The aim of the research was to map and better understand the supply chains and distribution mechanisms behind illicit weapons flows in the region, with a focus on identifying systemic routes rather than isolated incidents. This included tracing linkages between legal export channels, diversion points, and informal trafficking networks.

Findings highlighted persistent inflows of US-origin firearms into Latin America through both legal loopholes and illicit diversion, alongside increasing diversity in weapon provenance linked to globalised trafficking routes. The analysis also identified consistent cross-border movement patterns and the role of regional intermediaries in sustaining supply chains into high-violence areas.

Outputs supported broader investigative and policy-facing applications, including integration into visual datasets and analytical tools used by researchers and journalists to map trafficking networks and support reporting on the regional arms trade ecosystem.