Abstract
The article is devoted to the study of the criminological dimension of illicit arms trafficking in contemporary conditions, particularly in the context of the impact of martial law, socio-economic transformations, and technological development. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the essence of this phenomenon, its place in the structure of crime, as well as current trends, determinants, and mechanisms of illicit arms trafficking. The study aims to comprehensively reveal the criminological content of illicit arms trafficking, to identify its key characteristics and modern development trends, and to substantiate effective approaches to its prevention and counteraction. The research employs general scientific and special methods of cognition, including analysis and synthesis, comparison, generalization, systemic and structural-functional approaches, as well as statistical data analysis. The information base consists of scientific works by domestic and foreign scholars, analytical reports, and official statistical data. The results of the study indicate that illicit arms trafficking in contemporary conditions is acquiring the features of a complex multi-level system formed under the influence of military-security, socio-economic, legal, and criminal-organizational factors. It has been established that the key trends include the militarization of illicit trafficking, the intensification of weapons trafficking channels, the growing role of organized crime, and the technologization of criminal activity. It is substantiated that illicit arms trafficking functions as an adaptive system that combines traditional criminal practices with modern digital mechanisms. Within the study, the forms, methods, and mechanisms of illicit arms trafficking are systematized, and their interrelation with contemporary criminogenic processes is identified. A conceptual model of the system for preventing and counteracting illicit arms trafficking is proposed, which involves the integration of legal, institutional, preventive, international, and technological levels. The obtained results can be used to improve criminological policy, enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement activities, and develop comprehensive measures to counter illicit arms trafficking in the context of modern security challenges.
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