An Interpol-coordinated operation has dealt a significant blow to illicit firearms trafficking, seizing 2,823 small arms and light weapons, nearly 400 hand grenades and explosives, and over 40,000 rounds of ammunition across 17 countries in Europe and Central Asia. The two-week operation, dubbed Trigger X, ran from 22 June to 5 July and resulted in 152 arrests, including 15 individuals subject to Interpol notices and five internationally wanted fugitives.
The seizures highlight a troubling trend: weapons originally destined for or used in armed conflicts in eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Nagorno-Karabakh are increasingly finding their way into the hands of organised crime. A particularly striking case was the interception at the Bulgaria-Turkey border, where customs officers discovered two heavy goods vehicles carrying over 1,000 military-grade shotguns.
Conflict weapons diverted to criminal networks
Harald Arm, Interpol's Executive Director of Police Capabilities, stressed the gravity of the situation: "Operation Trigger X has revealed the high-level risk of weapons that are used in armed conflicts being diverted into organised crime channels, where they are used to commit other crimes." He added that the seizures "demonstrate the importance of coordinated international action to identify trafficking routes, dismantle criminal networks and prevent illicit firearms from reaching those who seek to use them for criminal purposes."
The operation recovered a wide array of weaponry, including 268 hand grenades. The largest single seizure occurred in Serbia, where 68 hand grenades were being trafficked from Bosnia. Serbian authorities also uncovered a clandestine workshop that was converting gas and starter guns into functional firearms. In Ukraine, two Soviet-made Type 25 grenade launchers were seized, underscoring the regional nature of the problem.
Beyond firearms, the operation also disrupted other criminal activities. In Bulgaria, authorities seized 20 inflatable dinghies that were being shipped to a western European country. According to Interpol, intelligence suggests the boats were intended for use in clandestine English Channel crossings by migrant smuggling networks. During the operation, one illegal migrant was intercepted while in possession of an automatic rifle and several rounds of ammunition.
The success of Operation Trigger X underscores the importance of international police cooperation in tackling cross-border crime. As conflicts in Europe's eastern neighbourhood and the Caucasus continue to generate a steady supply of surplus weapons, the risk of them being diverted into criminal hands remains high. The operation's results serve as a reminder that coordinated action can disrupt these trafficking routes and prevent deadly weapons from reaching those who would misuse them.
