October 22, 2025Open Access

Illegal trafficking of weapons and ammunition as a threat to international security: an analysis of international legal instruments for counteraction from the late 19th to the early 20th century

Key Points

The study highlights that international legal mechanisms have developed significantly from the 19th century to today, addressing the threat of illegal weapon trade.
A significant portion of the global firearms trade is illegal, posing threats interconnected with transnational crime and terrorism, indicating a need for strengthened regulations.
Historical-legal and comparative-legal methodologies were utilized, enabling a detailed examination of international instruments regulating armaments and their impact.
The findings suggest a historical timeline initiating international legal responses to trafficking in weapons and ammunition as early as the 19th century.

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive historical and legal analysis of the formation and development of international legal mechanisms to combat the illicit trafficking of weapons and ammunition. The study covers the evolution of international norms from the early declarations of the 19th century to contemporary conventions and protocols. The relevance of the topic is due to the fact that the illicit trade in weapons poses one of the most significant threats to public safety, closely linked to transnational crime, terrorism, and other serious crimes. The author examines the problem in the context of its transnational nature, noting that a significant portion of the global trade in firearms is illegal. The work thoroughly analyzes the main international legal instruments regulating the trade in weapons, including protocols that govern the use of various types of armaments. The author analyzes the specifics of the transnational nature of crimes in this area, emphasizing that a significant part of the global turnover of firearms is conducted illegally. The methodological basis of the research includes historical-legal, comparative-legal, and systemic analysis, allowing for a comprehensive examination of the issues and proposing ways to improve international legal regulation in this area. The scientific novelty of the research lies in a comprehensive approach to analyzing international norms and identifying effective control mechanisms. The practical significance of the work is defined by the possibility of using the obtained results to enhance existing legal mechanisms and foster international cooperation in countering illicit arms trafficking. The author concludes that the inception of the development of international law concerning the combat against the illicit trafficking of weapons, ammunition, and explosives dates back not to the second half of the 20th century, but to the first half of the 19th century. The author also finds it appropriate to propose a periodization: 1) from 1868 to 1950, when the issue began to emerge on the agenda, and the trade (use) of ammunition was regulated by specific international treaties; 2) from 1950 to the present day, when issues of the use and trade of various kinds of weapons began to be regulated in detail at the international level, with the establishment of bans and restrictions on various types of weapons, explosives, and ammunition.

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