Interpol Operation Trigger X seizes thousands of weapons and 40,000 rounds of ammunition

Interpol-coordinated Operation Trigger X has resulted in the seizure of 2,823 small arms, nearly 400 grenades and explosives, and over 40,000 rounds of ammunition across 17 countries in Europe and Central Asia.

The operation led to 152 arrests for offenses including illegal weapons possession, drug trafficking, robbery, and migrant smuggling. Investigators identified several individuals subject to Interpol notices, including five fugitives with Red Notices.

A significant portion of the seized weaponry is linked to current or former conflict zones, specifically the Balkans, Eastern Europe, and Nagorno-Karabakh. Notable seizures included Soviet-era weapons in Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, as well as two Soviet-style Type 25 grenade launchers in Ukraine. In Bulgaria, authorities confiscated two trucks containing over 1,000 military-grade weapons and 20 inflatable boats disguised as mattresses, which were reportedly intended for illegal migrant crossings in the English Channel.

Ongoing investigations aim to map the connections between various illegal markets and the transnational criminal networks responsible for moving these armaments.