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France holds 45 in arms trafficking arrests

France arrested 45 people on Monday in a large-scale operation against international arms traffickers, suspected of importing hundreds of military-grade weapons from the Balkans since 2009.

Published: 2 December 2013 13:47 CET
France holds 45 in arms trafficking arrests
France on Monday arrested 45 people suspected of trafficking weapons from the Balkans since 2009. Photo: Lionel Bonaventure

In a statement, police said some 300 officers had been involved in the vast sweep of arrests, which focused on hundreds of military-grade arms, pieces of ammunition and weapons parts trafficked from the Balkans and Slovakia since 2009.

The arrests were carried out across France and in various French overseas territories. Arrests were ongoing, police said, and 38 people had been placed under formal detention.

The investigation was launched after several military handguns and rifles were seized during an arrest in the Haute-Marne region in February 2012.

The investigation initially pointed to a Slovak arms trafficking ring and expanded to include another ring based in the Balkans.

An influx of military-style weapons, in particular Kalashnikov assault rifles, has been blamed for a wave of gang-related shootings in the southern city of Marseille in recent years.

More to follow.

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WEAPONS

Swiss weapons exports up 38 percent despite pandemic

Switzerland’s weapons exports have seen a 38 percent increase in 2020, according to official government figures.

Published: 20 October 2020 12:32 CEST
Swiss weapons exports up 38 percent despite pandemic
Swiss weapons exports are on track for their highest year on record. Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP

Switzerland exported CHF690 worth of weapons over the first nine months of 2020. That’s a 38 percent increase on the CHF500 million sold over the corresponding period in 2019. 

Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) published the figures on Tuesday. 

The biggest customers for Swiss weaponry were Denmark, Indonesia and Germany. 

In total, 76 countries bought Swiss weapons during the period. 

According to current figures, weapons exports are on track to be the highest in Swiss history – beating the record of CHF893 million set in 2011. 

‘Death business is flourishing’ 

The news has been heavily criticised by a number of non-government organisations critical of weapons being sold to countries at war or who may use them against their own citizens. 

The Organisation for Switzerland without an Army (GSOA) and Terre des Hommes have been critical of the figures, particularly as the industry has called for a decrease in regulation in recent years. 

GSOA wrote in a statement “the death business is flourishing”. 

Saudi Arabia – currently involved in a conflict in Yemen – appear on the list, along with Brazil. Weapons opponents are concerned the Swiss exports could be used in the country’s slums, Der Bund reports. 

 

 

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