Weapons diversion

This can include equipment originally intended for use by the armed forces of one country being sold to a different country,[1][2] but the most common cause of weapons diversion involves the capture of weapons during warfare.

[3] Weapons diversion can contribute to arms trafficking and other forms of organized crime.

[4] Across 321 cases involving 183 weapons and 3,600 rounds of ammunition, Conflict Armament Research found that 30% of all weapons diversions were due to battlefield capture.

[3] The prevention of weapons diversion was a significant part of the 2014 Arms Trade Treaty.

[5] As part of the treaty, signatories are required to implement mitigation measures in arms sales and assess the likelihood of diversion.