International Day for the Prevention of and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime

  This  report  investigates how arms trafficking functions within and across these countries, each with its own ecosystem shaped by history, geography, conflict and criminal trends . As the war in Ukraine continues, concerns are mounting over potential arms spillovers. Yet this report underscores that illegal weapons flows in the region extend far beyond Ukraine, with roots in local cultures, politics and longstanding trafficking networks.  Türkiye emerges as a major source and transit hub for illicit weapons . With an estimated 36 million unlicensed firearms—90% of total civilian arms in the country—the scale is staggering. The report highlights how blank-firing pistols produced legally in Türkiye are trafficked via Bulgaria into the EU, where they are converted into lethal weapons. Transnational networks, terrorist groups and domestic criminals all contribute to Türkiye’s complex firearms market. Greece is primarily a transit country but also has strong domesti...

  Initially targeting African countries, Alabuga Start expanded to recruit women aged 18–22 from Latin America, South Asia, and former Soviet countries. Reports found that participants were not informed they would be working in weapons production before arriving at the site. Some believed they were joining a work-study programme. Testimonies described long hours, constant surveillance, and health issues caused by exposure to caustic chemicals. According to whistle-blowers at Alabuga Polytech, workers faced punitive management and harsh conditions. Analysis from the Eastern European States Observatories.