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December 2, 2008 10:41:05 PM CST


arms trafficking

arms trafficking news stories

6 Stories

US Ambassador Implicated in China Arms Deal

Envoy to Albania hid aging, illegal munitions bound for Afghanistan

(Newser) - The American ambassador to Albania personally endorsed a plan to disguise the origin of munitions bought by a Pentagon contractor, according to Congressional testimony. The New York Times traveled to Albania during an earlier investigation of a shady 22-year-old arms dealer operating out of Miami Beach. But the Albanian defense minister, with the ambassador's approval, had illegal Chinese ammunition removed from the site that the reporter was visiting. More »

More about:  Afghanistan corruption Albania Afghan Army arms trafficking ammunition procurement

 UN Troops Traded
 Guns for Gold 

Pakistani, Indian troops armed rebels in Congo, BBC finds

(Newser) - UN peacekeeping troops sold weapons to guerrilla fighters in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a BBC investigation claims, charging that the UN suppressed the story for political reasons. Pakistani and Indian troops, part of the UN's largest peacekeeping force of 17,000, are said to have traded munitions for gold. A UN investigation into the scandal was suppressed, a UN insider told the BBC, for fear of angering Pakistan. More »

More about:  Pakistan United Nations India Democratic Republic of Congo peacekeeping force arms trafficking rebel fighters

 Wal-Mart OKs Plan
 to Film Gun Buyers 

Execs accept 10-point deal to curb illegal sales

(Newser) - Wal-Mart approved a plan today to videotape gun-buyers and curb illegal firearm sales in other ways, the New York Daily News reports. The 10-point deal with the bipartisan group Mayors Against Illegal Guns, helmed by New York's Michael Bloomberg, includes inventory controls and a log to trace buyers who have previously bought weapons used in crimes. More »

More about:  Wal-Mart Michael Bloomberg gun mayor gun control gun sales ATF firearms arms trafficking

US Supplier Arms Afghan Forces With Ancient Ammo

22-year-old buys old Soviet-bloc munitions

(Newser) - The US military's main supplier for munitions to Afghanistan is an unvetted business run by a 22-year-old with no military experience and a string of domestic violence allegations, an investigation by the New York Times finds. And the tiny company's shady dealings with arms traffickers has left Afghan forces armed with obsolete, 40-year-old ammo. More »

More about:  Afghanistan US military corruption Afghan Army arms trafficking ammunition procurement

Thais Nab 'Merchant of Death'

Russian arms dealer may face US trial for supplying terror groups worldwide

(Newser) - The Russian arms dealer branded "the merchant of death" was apprehended in Thailand today after US intelligence linked him to Colombia rebels, the New York Times reports. Victor Bout is on international most-wanted lists for allegedly using his private air fleet to supply al Qaeda and the Taliban—plus war-torn African countries—with weapons. The US plans to seek his extradition. More »

More about:  Colombia FARC Rwanda weapons Liberia arms trafficking Sierra Leone arms

Italian Cops Bust Secret Iraqi Arms Deal

US kept in the dark as ministry ordered guns that might have outfitted militias

(Newser) - A secret transaction providing the Iraqi government with over $40 million worth of weapons was uncovered by Italian police investigating local Mafiosi, the Guardian reports. Without the knowledge of American military commanders, the Iraqi interior ministry had ordered 105,000 rifles from arms traffickers, ostensibly to supply police. Italian police halted the transaction and arrested four people. More »

More about:  Italy gun Iraq government Mafia weapon Shia militia arms deal arms trafficking

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