Western military support for Ukraine has led to increased efforts by organized crime to smuggle weapons out of the war-torn country. According to the EU Observer:
EU home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson announced a hub in Moldova to battle organized crime, particularly arms smuggling from war-torn Ukraine, at a meeting of EU interior ministers in Prague on Monday (11 July). The EU Support Hub for Internal Security and Border Management will focus on preventing weapons, most of which are supplied by NATO members, from being smuggled out of Ukraine and ending up with criminal gangs.
The Defense Post reports that Commissioner Johansson expressed concerns that the Ukrainian situation will become similar to that of former Yugoslavia.
On July 10th, Tanzania-based The Citizen reported:
President Biden in May signed a $40 billion security-assistance package to supercharge the flow of missiles, rockets, artillery, and drones to Ukraine. But what remains unclear is Washington’s ability to keep track of the powerful weapons as they enter one of the largest trafficking hubs in Europe.
Analysts quoted by the Citizen express concerns that weapons from Ukraine will end up in conflicts outside Europe and central Asia. On June 7th, EurAsia Review explained:
A quick search through social media and the Telegram allows us to find multiple evidence of Western weapons crossing the Ukrainian border and reaching Europe. However, this is not their final destination.
According to the EurAsia Review, there are indications that advanced weapons from Ukraine have ended up in Syria, raising security concerns for Israel.
In August 2021, alternative Ukrainian news outlet Zaborona published a long report on arms trafficking out of Ukraine.
