Interpol operation seized 2,800 illegal firearms across Europe and Asia

A major Interpol-coordinated operation, dubbed Operation Trigger X, has resulted in the seizure of 2,823 illegal weapons, including small arms, hand grenades, and ammunition, across Europe and Central Asia. Spanning from June 22 to July 5, this unprecedented joint effort involved authorities from multiple nations, leading to the arrest of 152 individuals suspected of firearms possession, trafficking, drug smuggling, migrant smuggling, and robbery.

The operation targeted illicit firearms trafficking channels, which often originate from conflict zones in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Custom officials made a significant discovery at the Bulgaria-Turkey border, seizing two heavy trucks filled with over 1,000 military-grade shotguns. Harald Arm, Interpol's Executive Director of Police Capabilities, emphasized the high-risk nature of these weapons being diverted from conflict zones into organized crime networks, where they are used to commit further criminal acts.

The operation yielded a variety of illicit items beyond the weapons, indicating connections to other criminal activities. In Bulgaria, 20 inflatable boats were seized, bound for a Western European country, suggesting a link to migrant smuggling efforts. Authorities also found 268 hand grenades, with Serbia as the primary hub for illegal grenade trafficking, having intercepted 68 grenades allegedly smuggled from Bosnia.

The largest single seizure was made in Serbia, where Serbian authorities dismantled a clandestine workshop converting gas and starter guns into fully functional firearms. The investigation also uncovered a migrant smuggling operation in Bulgaria, where illegal immigrants were discovered in possession of an automatic rifle and several rounds of ammunition. Other items seized included various illicit drugs, such as cocaine and marijuana, counterfeit cigarettes, and undeclared textiles and food products.