Illicit Firearms, Organized Crime, and Illegal Economies in South-east Asia

Abstract South-east Asia is host to a broad range of illicit economies as well as a dynamic and varied stockpile of illicit firearms. Yet little research has been carried out examining how illicit firearms enable organized crime and associated illicit economies. This chapter examines a set of recent firearms seizures and trafficking incidents as well as existing literature on illicit economies in South-east Asia to illuminate this interplay. It provides ‘snapshots’ of illicit firearms in the region’s ten states based on the case data. It also provides a brief scoping of the basic elements—the who, what, when, where, and how—of illicit firearms in South-east Asia, with a specific focus on organized crime. These basic elements help frame a deeper analysis of the interplay of illicit firearms, organized crime, and illicit economies in the region.