Ukraine missiles found in car's boot as Western weapons are smuggled to Balkans

Ukraine missiles found in car's boot as Western weapons are smuggled to Balkans

Illegal weapons from Ukraine's war zone have reached the markets on the Balkans. Police found Javelin type anti-tank missile systems in the boot of a car with an Albanian license plate and, according to a released video, the people standing by talked in Ukrainian. Kiyv officials admit that some part of the Western arms shipments has ended up on the black market. The US only has limited means of tracking the substantial supply of weaponry sent across the border into Ukraine, CNN wrote back in April based on US secret service intelligence.

English NAGYVILÁG POLITIKA 2022. JÚLIUS 15. 13:04

Are Ukrainians smuggling NATO weapons to the Balkans?

The Volkswagen’s boot, as seen in the video that is spreading online, is opened by unknown people. The car has an Albanian licence plate, and there are containers under a camouflage canvas in its boot. Inside the containers there are Swedish-British NLAW MANPAD and the US Javelin anti-tank missiles.

Such weapons are capable of destroying armoured ground targets, fortified cover and low-flying aerial targets. The men’s faces standing by the car cannot be seen, but they can be heard talking in Ukrainian.

Albanian police have not released any details regarding the case so far. If, however, the footage proves to be genuine, it means that criminals are ahead of the military by three years. The Albanian government concluded a contract in May for the purchase of Javelin missiles, which the Albanian army may receive in 2025, according to Serbia’s public media.

Photo: Pixabay

Although there’s no decisive information on when and where the viral video was recorded, the European Union has warned that there is a real danger of weapons from the Ukrainian front line falling into the hands of criminal groups across the whole continent. On the dark web, the illegal part of the internet, Javelin missiles have been on sale since early June, for 30 thousand dollars. In comparison, its market price is about 175 thousand dollars.

Photo: Rts screenshot

Western weapons may fall into the hands of criminals

The interior ministers of EU member states are creating a Support Hub in Moldova, with the special task of preventing weapons from Ukraine from entering the EU, Serbian radio and television RTS reports.

Photo: Screenshot

„We had a similar experience during the wars in Yugoslavia, as the weapons that have been smuggled out of there by criminal groups are still posing a problem, resulting in an escalation of violence between the criminal networks in the EU,” Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said.

The head of Ukraine’s economic security service has also confirmed that there is a risk that some of the Ukrainian army’s weapons will end up on the black market, Serbia’s RTV reports. Vadim Melniuk said that his agency had already detected some cases of illegal sales of humanitarian aid and arms sent to the country.

“Military equipment was also sold. We have already detected some similar cases,” the Ukrainian official said. There are currently around ten similar cases under investigation, he added, noting that other security services in Kyiv are also working on such cases.

Interpol has also issued a warning

The possibility that some of the weapons destined for Ukraine could fall into the wrong hands has already been raised by Interpol. The organisation has warned its member countries to set up an arms tracking system to prevent weapons from falling into the wrong hands.

„Criminals are trying to take advantage of the chaotic situation and the easy access to weapons, including heavy weaponry. These will be available on the black market and will be a serious challenge. We have to be careful and expect that these weapons will be sold not only in neighbouring countries, but also on other continents,” the Interpol chief warned.

Photo: Pixabay

Meanwhile, arms shipments are pouring into Ukraine, mainly from overseas. The Kiel Institute for the World Economy calculates that the US has spent around 42 billion euros on the war in Ukraine so far, making it by far the largest foreign financier. 72 per cent of the total arms shipment was provided by the Biden administration.

This is particularly interesting in the light of the fact that CNN, citing US intelligence, reported back in April that Washington could only track the weapons sent to Ukraine for a short period of time, and that they would later be out of sight.

On the economic research institute’s list, following the US, the United Kingdom ranks second with 7 per cent of the total value of weapons. Poland is third with 5 per cent, followed by Germany, Canada and Norway.

The problem is exacerbated by the fact that Ukraine has been a global hub for illegal arms in recent decades. According to a report conducted a few years ago by the international organisation Small Arms Survey, some 300,000 weapons disappeared from the arsenals of Ukraine’s police and military between 2013 and 2015, and the authorities have managed to recover only around 13 per cent.

English NAGYVILÁG POLITIKA

Címkék:

albania, interpol, tank, ukraine