Organized Crime and Illicit Firearms in Europe

Abstract Criminal groups are widely recognized as the primary force behind the illicit firearms market in Europe. Firearms are used to protect and advance the interests of organized criminal groups (OCGs), particularly in the drug trade. Based on open-source data, this chapter provides an overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the nexus of organized crime and illicit firearms in Europe. It finds that there are large differences in the effects of the firearms and OCGs’ nexus, with most countries having experienced positive developments—a reduction of violence—since the 1990s. The chapter details the types of firearms and trafficking modus operandi used by OCGs. Previously stable for twenty years, due to weapons from the Balkans and former communist countries, there has been a shift in recent years to modified pistols and a rapid emergence of 3D-printed weapons. This shift is lowering the bar for accessing weapons, resulting in increased gang violence, most notably in Sweden.