Arms diversions and trafficking in Latin America

Armed violence became a real social issue in Latin America, in the heart of which firearms play a fundamental, deadly role. Many countries within the region suffer from a high rate of armed violence, as high or even higher, as countries affected by a war yet. Although their abundance is relative in regard to the number of firearms in the world, these weapons circulate and play with borders through multiple diversions. The most common diversions in Latin America come from the civilian firearms market and from the military and police stocks. 

Crédit photo: Saisie record par la police fédérale mexicaine et l’agence américaine anti-drogue d’armes diverses et de 205 millions USD en liquide, appartenant à un narcotrafiquant mexicain. (Source : DEA, Mexico city, 2007)