US Acts to Combat Arms Trafficking
in Western Hemisphere
US Department of State
Outlines programs to strengthen partnerships and combat illegal activities
Fact Sheet
U.S. Acts to Combat Illicit Trafficking in Arms in the Western Hemisphere
“We’re acting boldly, we are acting swiftly, and we are
acting in concert to combat threats that are endangering the safety and security of citizens across the Americas.”
— President Barack Obama
President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton are committed to combating threats to the citizens
of the Americas. As narco-trafficking and associated crime and violence continue to rise throughout the region, the United
States has implemented programs to strengthen partnerships with the states of the Western Hemisphere to combat illicit trafficking
in arms.
Training
·In 2009, the United
States, Canada, and the Organization of American States (OAS) hosted the Western Hemisphere’s first customs and law
enforcement officials meeting in Vancouver to discuss practical approaches and best practices for combating illicit trafficking
in firearms.
·In 2009, the United
States hosted a workshop in Belize on combating arms smuggling in Central America. The workshop aimed to increase states’
capacity to more effectively address the illicit manufacturing and trafficking of firearms and adopt an operational action
plan among the seven Central American states. A South American workshop is expected to take place later in 2010.
Tailored Assistance
·The United States
has offered technical assistance to all states in the hemisphere, outlining available U.S. small arms and light weapons-related
assistance programs to combat illicit trafficking. Programs are being designed to address the specific needs of individual
states.
·As part of the
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, the United States is partnering with Caribbean states to develop programs that address
requests for technical assistance to help tackle trafficking in firearms throughout the region.
Marking and Tracing
·The United States
signed eTrace agreements with all seven Central American states and 14 of the 15 Caribbean states. eTrace is a web-based firearm
trace request submission system that provides for the electronic exchange of criminal gun data in a secure environment. Expanding
eTrace participation throughout the hemisphere is a priority for 2010, including the introduction of a Spanish version of
the eTrace software.
·The United States
provided the OAS a $1 million grant to supply marking equipment to states in the region in order to increase hemispheric capability
to trace firearms and identify illicit trafficking routes and suppliers.
Stockpile Management
·The United States
has assessed and offered stockpile management and destruction assistance to a number of states in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Through the destruction of aging and unsafe stockpiles, states are avoiding the potential disaster of an explosion, ensuring
an increased level of safety for their citizens. Examples include the following:
·As part of the
Merida Initiative in Central America, the United States has provided a grant for $1.3 million to the OAS for a program that
will offer stockpile management and destruction assistance to the seven Central American countries.
·The United States
has provided a $450,000 grant to the United Nations’ Regional Center for Peace, Disarmament, and Development in Latin
America and the Caribbean to build up the capacity of several Caribbean governments in firearms stockpile management and destruction.
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U.S.
Department of State, Bureau of Public Affairs, March 25, 2010; distributed by America.gov, Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State.
