EU-LAS Project

Timeframe: October 2024 – September 2027

Donor: European Union

Project Partners: Small Arms Survey (SAS), World Customs Organization (WCO) and INTERPOL

The situation

Illicit arms trafficking is both a cause and effect of armed conflict in the countries of the League of Arab States (LAS). Reducing and eradicating illicit small arms in the Arab region remains crucial to reducing all forms of violence and promoting sustainable development and prosperity in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Hence, the EU-LAS project phase 3 stems from discussions on the Strategic Dialogue Working Group on Weapons of Mass Destruction, Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), and Arms Control. It builds on earlier efforts from phase 1 (2019-2021) and phase 2 (2021-2024) of the project, to assist LAS member states to reduce the risks that arise from illicit SALW and ammunition flows in the region.

 Project aims

Now in its third phase, the EU-LAS Project, which is funded by the European Union and implemented jointly by the Small Arms Survey, the World Customs Organization and INTERPOL aims to curb the threat of small arms and light weapons proliferation in the LAS region, by means of a three-pronged strategy:

1. Strengthen the capacities of customs and other border agencies to detect, intercept and report on matters of illicit firearms trafficking in the LAS region (World Customs Organization);
2. Strengthen the capacities of law enforcement agencies to effectively investigate and co-operate on matters of illicit proliferation and trafficking in the LAS region (INTERPOL);
3. Strengthen the capacities of security and military agencies to design and implement safe and secure stockpile management systems for small arms and light weapons and their ammunition in the LAS region (Small Arms Survey).

Project activities

INTERPOL will specifically focus on objective number two, which seeks to increase law enforcement agencies’ workflows to collect, process, and share information on illicit firearms. This will enhance LAS member countries’ capacities to investigate illicit firearms trafficking and improve inter-agency and international police cooperation on organized crime.

For this outcome to be realized, INTERPOL will support countries on the following:

• Establish National Firearms Taskforces to help countries develop information on firearms trafficking threats and vulnerabilities through on-the-job mentorship support.
• Build national capacity on firearms trafficking investigations and the use of INTERPOL instruments for international cooperation on firearm-related matters, through the delivery of advanced trainings by INTERPOL experts and national training sessions conducted by certified national trainers under INTERPOL auspices.
• Provide operational support through country deployments to strengthen national firearms recovery protocols in line with the best practices outlines in INTERPOL’s Firearm Recovery Protocol.

Beneficiary countries

Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine (State of), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.