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

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circulating information by fax and email to all NCBs (see below 14 ). These
are used where a particular methodology has been identified involving an
illicit manufacturer or trafficker and NCBs are requested to check whether
identical weapons from the identified source have been recovered within
their jurisdiction.
Interpol Orange Notice—Operation Abonar (UK 1997-99)—used to
trace a particular model of the MAC10 submachine gun illicitly
manufactured in the UK in the late 1990’s and trafficked throughout
Europe. The weapon incorporated a unique design for the breech bolt,
which provided the hallmark signature on which to focus the search. Using
the Orange Notice, police in Ireland, Netherlands and Cyprus were able to
link recovered weapons to the British police investigation.
IWETS is accessible to all NCBs, to exchange digital imagery together
with descriptive text to facilitate tracing requests for recovered firearms. The
RCMP, ATF and the Netherlands National Police Agency are currently
developing an upgrade to the system. Law enforcement officers submit a
tracing request to their NCB where staff transcribe the information sought
on to IWETS (as shown below 15 ) and then choose to which countries the
request should be sent to for their individual record-keeping systems to be
searched.