The Scope and Implications of a Tracing Mechanism for Small Arms ...

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individual weapon, should as a minimum give sufficient information to
benefit subsequent tracing, e.g. to include the quantity, model,
calibre and country of manufacture.
3.2.4 Considerations
Transfers disclosed to record-keeping systems can be cross-referenced
with the Interpol IWETS database of lost or stolen firearms to identify when
illicit weapons reappear on the market and help identify potential
traffickers.
The legal arms trade needs a system of mandatory disclosure to help
prevent diversion. Mandatory disclosure will require statutory underpinning
to provide the necessary legislation, which allows for proactive monitoring
by the authorities. This could mirror existing legislation that requires
advance disclosure of financial transactions to national authorities to
counter money laundering. Transfer disclosures need to include sufficient
information to identify all relevant parties involved in the transaction.
Where a transfer subsequently leads to diversion and illicit trafficking, then
the people involved should be “flagged” on the system. Any subsequent
transaction involving one or more of the same parties can then be identified
as potentially suspicious. The capacity to proactively monitor mandatory
disclosures of intended transfers on the arms market, using computerized
record-keeping systems looking for these common denominators engaged
in illicit activity, enables the authorities to intervene early and either
prevent, disrupt, or arrest and prosecute the traffickers. (“Front companies”
are a regular feature of arms trafficking; set up for a one-off transaction by
perpetrators who quickly move on. Nevertheless, intelligence can be
collected to create profiles enabling the authorities, for example when
validating import/export licensing applications, to identify common
denominators or tell-tale hallmark precursor activity, which indicate a
potential “front company” and an impending illicit transaction).
3.3. GAPS IN EXISTING CONTROLS OVER THE LEGAL ARMS TRADE
The most serious gaps can be summarised as follows:
• Limited verification of the validity of End-User Certificates;