Arms Trafficking and Colombia

by Cragin, Kim R.; Hoffman, Bruce

• ISBN13: 9780833031440
• ISBN10: 0833031449
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-10-16
• Publisher: RAND Corporation

Summary

Identifies the sources and routes used by arm traffickers to buy, sell, transfer,and ship weapons and the implication of small-arms trafficking patterns for U.S. policy.

Table of Contents

Preface	iii
Figures	ix
Table	xi
Summary	xiii
Acknowledgments	xxiii
Acronyms	xxv
Introduction	1	(2)
Violence in Colombia	3	(14)
Colombia's Political Conflict	3	(7)
Colombia's Guerrilla Organizations: FARC and the ELN	4	(2)
Colombia's Paramilitary Organization: The AUC	6	(1)
Colombia's Citizens	7	(2)
Colombia's Internal Arms Race	9	(1)
Colombia's Physical Geography	10	(1)
Colombia's Geopolitical Characteristics	10	(6)
Characteristic 1: The Availability of Arms Stockpiles	11	(2)
Characteristic 2: Colombia's Demilitarized Zone (1998-2001)	13	(2)
Characteristic 3: Potential State Interference	15	(1)
Conclusion	16	(1)
Patterns of Small-Arms Trafficking Into Colombia	17	(26)
General Arms Trafficking Patterns	17	(4)
Central American Trafficking	21	(6)
Sources and Routes	21	(1)
Small-Arms Collection and Distribution	22	(5)
Summary	27	(1)
Arms Flowing from Neighboring Countries	27	(12)
Neighboring Countries' Sources	28	(4)
Neighboring Countries' Land Routes	32	(4)
Neighboring Countries' Sea and Air Routes	36	(3)
Larger Shipments of Arms	39	(1)
Conclusion	40	(3)
Patterns of Small-Arms Trafficking Inside Colombia	43	(8)
Sources Inside Colombia	43	(4)
Personal Weapons Sold to Private Citizens	44	(1)
Military Weapons Trafficked by Manufacturers and Security Forces	44	(3)
Trafficking Routes Inside Colombia	47	(2)
Conclusion	49	(2)
The Wider Context	51	(12)
The Changing Political Context	51	(2)
The Interaction Between Weapons Trafficking and Political Violence	53	(3)
Small Arms as Personal and Military Weapons	54	(1)
Small Arms as Ideal Smuggling Commodities	54	(1)
Small Arms as Power Symbols for Insurgent Groups	55	(1)
Small-Arms Trafficking Users, Sources, and Routes	56	(5)
Users	56	(2)
Sources	58	(2)
Routes	60	(1)
Small-Arms Trafficking as a Useful Analytical Tool	61	(2)
Policy Implications	63	(8)
Implications for Intelligence Analysis	63	(2)
Implications for U.S. Foreign Policy	65	(4)
Impact on State Authority	65	(2)
Effect on Regional Stability	67	(2)
Red Herrings and Other Distractions	69	(1)
Conclusion	69	(2)
Appendix Research Methodology	71	(2)
Bibliography	73