Multi-channel supply chain for illicit small arms

To generate effective policy to reduce the proliferation of illicit small arms in developing countries, governments must understand how the weapons are distributed and illegal stockpiles formed. This paper describes the structural characteristics of small arms supply chains and models mechanisms delivering the weapons to illicit users. The paper draws on the experience of countries in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Melanesian states. By pointing to the structural complexity of small arms supply chains, it highlights challenges that multiple channels of supply pose for governments seeking to curb the flow of small arms into illicit stocks.