Introduction
Arms smuggling is fast becoming more international as more and more countries are engaging in it either as suppliers of firearms to countries considered to be unstable or as consumers and clients in the trade. Most of the firearms provided are of varied capabilities and all have just one intention, to harm. The internalization of trade all over the world means that the arms dealer are getting access to bigger markets with many countries or organizations involved.
As this goes on, so does the increase number of middle men involved? These arms dealers have the ability to organize transactions in which hefty rewards are guaranteed in the form of huge commissions from such sales. Middlemen also organize a number of other supplementary services such as logistics and sometimes even financing of the arms. These arms dealers are most of the time not covered by international laws or are not limited by national rules and regulations and this makes the trade very illicit. Illicit arms are cited as one of the reasons that many wars are still ongoing on most parts of the world. The same brokers are responsible in mediating deals and ways of transferring to the countries that are referred to as not stable or even to terrorist organizations and gangs deemed to be dangerous to the society. It is unfortunate that many countries lack relevant laws and regulations that govern and prevent the illegal sales of arms. Arms middlemen are also known to commit other crimes such as bribery and even murder in order to ensure that their deadly arsenal reaches its intended destination.
There are also instances where governments also take part in arms dealing. Although it may look legitimate since proper frameworks are laid down, the most unfortunate case is that it ends up being less transparent as more parties get engaged. The lack of clear set laws and further implementation of the laws is another subject as arms dealers are able to identify the grey areas and other loop holes in these laws and are able to take advantage of them. International arms dealers are able to hide under the lack of laws in certain countries and are able to thrive in their illegal trade. An example of how this has been the case is how a famous Japanese arms dealer was arrested in Manila on account of smuggling over one hundred pistols to Taiwan but he escaped with only a small fine because the harsh Japanese laws that curtail arms trading can only apply to Japanese citizens who are current residents in Japan and not any where else.
Continued studies and research on arms smuggling has shown that the trade is a serious threat to national security of most countries and also raises the possibility of terrorist attack and rise of ideals centered on terrorism. The United Nation and other International bodies have been at task to explain what hey are doing to stop the trade as it emerged brokering of arms has been rampant in developing countries especially those in Africa. The illegal trade in Arms is said to have fueled the Rwandan Genocide that was witnessed in the last decade. Arms smuggling is also attributed to the continued conflicts that have been witnessed in the continent, from Somalia to Angola. Rebel groups such as the Angola Rebel movement, National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) have used arms and military equipment procured from illegal arms dealers. The end result of arms smuggling are the same irrespective of the continent or country it is being perpetrated from. We are now seeing terrorist groups such as AL Qaeda entering the fray and this only heightens the possibility of terrorist attacks.
Whereas most supply and procurement of arms is legal in terms of being processed by government and legal entities, lack of effectual control has resulted in the sporadic conflicts that we continue to see today. It is important to note that the illegal arms supply is closely linked to the illicit exploitation of natural resources, fraud and other misconducts. This has accelerated the rapid deceleration of development in those countries where the trade is ongoing. Human rights are also under constant pressure in countries where the trade is being perpetrated as deaths resulting from the conflicts are always escalating. Although the United Nation has attempted to limit the spread of illegal arms through legislations like resolution 1196 that was ratified in September 1998 which criminalizes the violation of arms embargoes, monitoring such activities is difficult and complex. Such exercises require the full collaboration of countries and security agencies in all countries involved.
In most countries, Statistics reveals that an estimate of $2.5 billion is collected in form of bribes within one year and some if this goes in the aiding of arms smuggling. When this is estimated against the country’s macroeconomic earnings, it represents a quarter of the country’s incomes. Other major collections are from trading in illicit activities like drug trafficking and kidnappings. This accounts for an estimate of 50% of the gross domestic product. Considering the fact that it forms a bigger percentage of the source of income, it then becomes extremely impossible to rid the social injustice and build a healthy nation where services can be obtained easily and for free.
Corruption in among the political elite is of high level such that it is near impossibility to make contact with such person in the system. Since they control internal and external affairs of the nation, the government cannot operate without this class of politicians. It also becomes extremely impossible for developed nations to enter into trade agreements with a poor system. The long run effect is therefore a minimum per capita and a deficient economy. Unless those in control of various departments are emancipated from the culture of injustices, then the whole nation will remain stuck in the circle of poverty. It is also evident from the
Similarity between Illicit Arms businesses and other form of International Businesses
Arms dealers are now applying international business concepts to the illegal trade of arms. Like any other international business, illicit arms trade seeks to follow the objective of profit maximization, where arms are exported to where demand is most prevalent. Illegal arms can only be traced in locations where the demand for arms is driven by wars and conflicts. Another second factor to note is that like any other international business, arms trading also have established facilities responsible for assembly, advertising and circulation which lead to the expansion of transnational criminal systems. Another comparison between other forms of international trade and arms trading is that both exploit weaknesses in institutions and markets worldwide. In the same way as legitimate businesses, the arms trades thrive on failures by state authorities to detect, and enforce rules and state legislations. Last but not least is that the trade in illegal arms seeks to track both internal and external growth paths. This can be evidenced by the various alliances formed between organizations and arms cartels worldwide. Individuals and groups would rather seek partnerships and alliances as opposed to mergers and acquisitions and just as legitimate businesses have spawned other extra support services such as banking and legal businesses, an arm trading has also brought about the rise in support services such as contract killings and money laundry. Both types of businesses have been able to respond to the changing economic environment as countries open up and opportunities appear. Emerging economies such as China and India are enabling arms dealers to expand their areas of operations as well as distribution channels. The concept of globalization has also brought about use of advanced communication and transportation technologies in order to threaten world peace.
Effects of Arms smuggling
The proliferation of arms has changed the lives of citizens in which the smuggling is being done. Rapid rise in wars and other vices have culminated to make the lives of the citizens to become unbearable. For instance many third world countries are used as a conduit in the transportation of arms from the manufacturer to terrorist groups and rebel armies. The countries in which the arms pass through have been recorded top have higher crime rates despite them not being the point of destination for the arms. The condition in many countries has been changes and this can only be attributed to the rise in arms smuggling. The most affected citizens have been found to be mothers and children as they are sometimes used to transport the illegal arms from villages and towns as has been evidenced in recent conflicts. Arms smuggling is said to be the main reason of civilian casualties. The impacts of arms have been found to affect both the social and economic welfare of the conflict nations in which the trade is ongoing. The accessibility of the arms to everybody in any country heightens the risk of war. It has been found that the number of arms has surpassed the number of soldiers and the extra arms can be found in the hands of citizens. Such unregulated practices often lead to rise in crime and loss of lives. Arms smuggling has also been attributed to stunting of other legal economic activities which would have otherwise led to more positive economic gains. The trade in arms instead assists in driving the varied economic disabling activities. Nations that highly depend on war activities have deteriorating economies as the activities related to war divert all economic and human resources away from investments that would have otherwise boosted the economy. Such investments lie in the field of education, health care, agriculture among others. Wars destroy infrastructure that would have been used to transport goods and services across the country. Instead economies attributed to other illegal activities. Apart from the economic cost, the smuggling of arms has a great human cost as children and mothers are the ones who suffer most in conflicts perpetrated by illegal arms. A report by UNICEF reported that between two to three million children have been killed in armed conflicts where illegal arms have been used. Other human effects are the deprivation of food, the spread of airborne and waterborne diseases. All these effects are caused as a result of result of wars and armed conflicts.
Halting the smuggling of arms
Countries and international bodies have been at pains to address this issue as it threatens to erode world peace. Measures taken by them have so far proved to be ineffective in stopping illegal arms trade. The ease at which local armies and rebel groups are able to acquire arms is a testament to how regulations have not been able to impede the trade in illegal arms. It is unfortunate that it is in the poorest countries that arms’ smuggling continues to thrive. Saturation of small arms continues to be issues of national security as all interested parties seek to profit from this illegal trade. “Legal transfers” without any clear regulations have been perpetrated by many western governments as the confidentiality clauses surrounding such deals restrict the media and other human rights bodies from truly assessing the destinations of where the arms are being taken. The line between arms for military purposes and that for criminal purposes is not clearly defined under international treaties and regulations and this makes it hard for enforcers to catch the arms smugglers. It is this factor together with the lack of properly drafted national laws that make the whole process, a complex affair. Arms smugglers have been found to be people who use caution in their dealings with other people. This is due to the fact that they evade a number of national and international enforcement agencies that are always trying to stop their trade in illegal arms. It is of noteworthy concern that all the countries that sit at the United Nation security council are themselves big arms exporters to other countries and this is why it has become increasingly important for every nation and citizen to aid in the war against arms smuggling. Discussion s regarding the need to avert arms sales have been conducted under several forums and by different international and regional bodies. The United Nation has also gone far in the establishment of commissions such as the disarmament commission whose main responsibility is to check on activities of private international arms dealers.
So how do we stop the illegal trade in arms? This question can best be posed to policy makers and law enforcers in each country18. Policy makers have to first address the issues regarding sealing of loopholes in their current laws. It has been found that arms dealers have been able to exploit the existing loopholes in national laws. Such loopholes are manifested in smuggling arms using intermediate countries. An example of this has been documented where British arms smuggling companies or individuals have continued trading in arms without the need of export licenses in the areas in which they operate. The arms are later shipped to third world countries and in some instances in countries where embargoes have been placed by the International community. Another way that arms smugglers are able to evade capture from law enforcers is through producing the arms in other nations. Manufacturers have found various ways of manufacturing arms in other countries and hence are able to ship them without any control to nations that are in conflict. Through this means, the arms manufacturers in collaboration with the smugglers do not need export licenses as the production of the arms is already licensed. Arms smugglers have also taken advantage of the non stringent end user systems as countries with poor governance often find themselves with extra in arms which is usually channeled to criminal elements. All these avenues have to be addressed by stronger legislations which can only be enacted by policy makers and law makers. Also the law enforcers should be at the fore front in ensuring that all laws are followed and all criminal elements are pursued and captured in order to reduce chances of the trade to continue. A number of measures by the United Nation have been proposed to fight this ugly menace. Such measures include the pursuance of new measures against those countries found to aid war which will in turn aid in stopping the menace. The United Nation should also ratify its policy to reflect the emergence of new players such as terrorist groups and others rebel groups and security measures such as freezing the accounts of people found to be smuggling arms to other countries. With collaboration from other regional bodies, the United Nations should be in a position n to track offenders and bring them to face international justice. Companies with overseas manufacturing industries should declare their stockpile to the national government and also to the government in which the factory may be based. The united Nation must increase its actions towards trying to influence arms producing countries in the west such as America and Britain against exporting to countries that are at war. The American government has continued in its refusal to accept joining the International Criminal Courts. This makes it very difficult to prosecute American companies and individuals found to have breached laws pertaining to smuggling of arms. America is the biggest exporter of arms to countries and its continued resistance has drawn mixed reactions from other countries that are members and yet are also arms exporters. The other arms exporters do not consider it fair that the law doe not apply equally to them. Another issue that should be dealt with is the lack of transparency in the export of arms from legitimate countries. Data regarding the export of arms is rarely published and such details are constrained to the military fraternity. The United Nation has reported that only seven countries out of all the countries in the world have mechanisms that ensure that data regarding export and import of arms is made public. Such is the secrecy surrounding the arms trade that it makes it very easy for arms smugglers to take advantage and export to countries that have been sanctioned. The International organizations should come up with better ways in which to address issues such as the prevention of illegal arms assembly. This includes measures in curtailing the systems that support it such as money laundry.
Money laundry enables the money acquired from such practices to go undetected and hence very difficult to prove that there was any trade at all. The banks found to be supporting arms smugglers should be shut down; this also includes enhancing patrols and monitoring mechanisms along borders and scrutinizing transport vehicles such as air crafts and ships. All this should be done to reduce the logistics of the arms to places found to be in conflict. Last but not least is the actual prosecution of offenders caught in the act. Many arms smugglers have been let loose due without being prosecuted and this portrays a bad image to the world as it becomes apparent that one can engage in illegal arms trade without any major risk of confinement. Most cases of offender have ended up with them being handed fines that they can simply pay without any problems. International countries should come together and form a fund where monies used to buy arms is acquired from. This will make it necessary for governments to declare their intended use of the arms and will also reduce chances of arms ending up in the wrong hands.
Conclusion
The research paper has offered a critical argument on global practice of arms smuggling and corruption. The practice is so intense and qualifies it as a way of life in countries such as Somalia and Afghanistan. Political elite and major arms manufactures are the major category of people propounding dishonesty in the system and have become stumbling blocks to peace and stability in conflicting countries. United Nations agencies attribute insecurity in the world to arms smuggling and corruption. Since government officials in those countries where the practice is taking place cannot obtain monies easily, they resort to other means of meeting their needs. Some of the means include drug trafficking, smuggling people and weapons out of the country and other illicit business. It is upon the administration to re-energize and empower anticorruption institution so that they can ensure accountability. From this research, it is also evident that Japan is more concerned with ethics reflecting on time and circumstance factor but not the end results. Ethics compels individuals to conceal their emotional feelings and restrain form negative transference so that the business deal can flow smoothly. Western countries are more or less the same with regard to business ethics.
Bibliography
Alpers, Philip (2003) Small Arms in the Pacific (Geneva: Small Arms Survey) [Occasional paper no. 8]
Arsovska Jana (2008) illicit arms trafficking and the limits of rational choice theory: the case of the Balkans Trends in Organized Crime, 11(4), 352- 78
Caldwell Dan (2006) Seeking security in an insecure world, Rowman & Littlefield, California, 9(12) 102-110
Capie David (2008) Small arms production and transfers in Southeast Asia, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Washington, 1 (3) 69-74
Ciment James (2008) Organized Crime: From Trafficking to Terrorism, ABC- CLIO, New York, 9( 4) 45-48
Cook, Philip, Cukier, W and Krause, K (2009) The Illicit firearms trade in North America Criminology and Criminal Justice, 9, 265-286
Hirst, Chrissie Bernardo Mariani (2001) Organised Crime, corruption and illicit arms trafficking in an enlarged EU (London: Saferworld) [available electronically]
Indra De Soysa Thomas Jackson, and Christin Ormhaug (2009), Does Globalization Profit the Small Arms Bazaar International Interactions, 35, 86-105
Jan Ernst (2002) Playing with fire: weapons proliferation, political violence, and human rights in Kenya, Oxford Publishers, London, 2 (3) 12-15
Garcia, Denise (2009) Determining ease of access to arms methodology and coding Crime, Law & Social Change, 55, 451-461
Greene, Owen (2000) Examining international responses to illicit arms trafficking Crime, Law & Social Change, 33, 151-190
Lumpe, Lorna (1999) Curbing the proliferation of small arms and light weapons Security Dialogue, 30, 151-164
Markowski, Stefa , Stephanie Koorey, Peter Hall, and Jurgen Brauer (2008) Channels of small-arms proliferation: policy implications for Asia-Pacific The Economics of Peace and Security Journal, 3 (1), 78-85
McCusker, Rob (2006) Transnational Crime in the Pacific Islands: real or apparent danger? (Canberra: AIC) [Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, no. 308]
Pierre Andrew (1997) Cascade of arms: managing conventional weapons proliferation, Institution Press, Sydney, 3 (2) 23-25
Pythian, Mark (2000) The illicit arms trade: Cold War and Post-Cold War Crime, Law & Social Change, 33, 1-52 International Peace Institute (2009) Small Arms and Light Weapons, IPI Blue Paper no. 5 (IPI, New York)
Ruggiero, Vincenzo (1997) Criminals and service providers; cross-national dirty economies Crime, Law & Social Change, 28, 27-38
Stohl Rachel (2009) The International Arms Trade, Polity, Washington, 3 (2), 54- 56
Unsinger Peter (2009) The International legal and illegal trafficking of arms, Thomas, Bombay, 7(6) 74-78
Urn Renald (2007) Enhancing urban safety and security: global report on human settlements 2007, CRC Publishers, New York, 7(14) 90-92