EUBAM gathers/mobilises the Arms Working Group to discuss the trends of illicit arms trafficking

On 19 August, EUBAM together with Europol, OSCE, Frontex, UNODC, and law enforcement agencies from Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova convened the fifth meeting of the Arms Working Group on fighting weapons, ammunition and explosives trafficking from Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova.

The online meeting focused on the assessment of threats related to arms trafficking in Europe, with particular emphasis on the availability of weapons, a consequence of Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Experts from international institutions and law enforcement agencies from the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine presented the latest cases and trends in the detection of illegal weapons at border crossing posts and in the border area.

“The main objective of establishing this Group has been a consolidation of the knowledge, experiences, and efforts of Moldovan and Ukrainian law enforcement agencies as well as international actors to strengthen joint countermeasures against the trafficking of weapons, ammunition, explosives and CBRN materials. I’m deeply convinced that such meetings are a useful platform for discussing the current threats in the field of cross-border cooperation, as well as for implementing countermeasures to mitigate or eliminate defined hazards,” stresses Slawomir Pichor, Head of EUBAM.

The purpose of the joint cross-border working group is to assist Moldovan and Ukrainian authorities in effectively countering illicit weapons trafficking and related serious and organised crime in the region and to foster international cooperation.