Ukraine Flooded With International Arms Aid: Secretary General Of Interpol Warns Flood Of Illegal Weapons, Can Be Used By Criminal Groups

JAKARTA - Interpol warns that the risk of the black market being flooded with illegal weapons when the war in Ukraine ends, could be exploited by criminal groups, as the West supplies more weapons to Ukraine against Russia.

"We have seen that in the Balkans region, in Africa, of course, organized crime groups are trying to take advantage of this chaotic situation, the availability of weapons and even the weapons used by the military," Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock quoted Sputnik News of AAPA France June 3.

Since Russia began special military operations in Ukraine on February 24, the United States and its allies have flooded Ukraine with billions of dollars worth of weapons.

However, arms supplies funneled to Ukraine are likely to end up in the global hidden economy and in the hands of criminals, the Interpol chief said. According to Jürgen Stock, once the active phase of operations in Ukraine ends, a steady supply of weapons and heavy weapons will flood the international market.

At that point, he stressed, Interpol member countries, especially those currently supplying weapons, need to cooperate in weapons tracking.

"Once weapons are silent (in Ukraine), illegal weapons will come. We know this from many other theaters of conflict. Criminals even now, as we speak, focus on them," he explained.

Jürgen Stock warned countries not to think they could face the imminent challenges individually.

"Criminal groups are trying to take advantage of this chaotic situation and the availability of weapons, even those used by the military and including heavy weapons. These will be available in the criminal market and will create challenges. No country or region can deal with them separately because these groups operate in global level," he said.

"A case in point is Afghanistan, which was abandoned by the US 'chaoticly' in 2021, after 20 years of war, leaving a large amount of advanced military equipment falling into the hands of the Taliban," the Interpol chief added.

He added that now is the time to be vigilant, as the entry of weapons in Europe and beyond is imminent, expecting these weapons to be traded not only to neighboring countries but to other continents.

Washington and its Western allies have been sending shipments of high-end military weapons to Ukraine since the Russian operation began. Most recently, the Pentagon on June 1 outlined the contents of the US$700 million pledged by US President Joe Biden.

The military package includes four M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), Mi-17 helicopters once aimed at Afghanistan, radar, anti-tank guns, heavy artillery shells and other items. The US-delivered HIMARS will use munitions with a range of 80 km instead of the 300 km provided by the system's long-range munitions.