From the Balkans with Guns
Al Jazeera
February 15, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Weapons from the Balkans are fueling a surge in violence across Western Europe, particularly in Sweden, where gun homicides have reached record levels. The connection between these arms and deadly incidents is traced back to the shadowy networks of the former Yugoslavia. A recent example includes a lone gunman in Montenegro who killed 13 people, while Swedish authorities link increasing gang violence to illicit weapons originating from the Western Balkans.
People & Power, an investigative team, follows the trail of these weapons from their source on the factory floors of the Balkans to the black-market traders who distribute them. These arms are making their way across Europe, contributing to some of the continent’s deadliest crimes. The report highlights how a vast criminal network is exploiting the region’s history of conflict and instability to profit from the illegal arms trade.
The human cost of this epidemic is staggering. From gang wars in Sweden to other violent crimes across Europe, the trail of destruction left by these weapons reveals the failure of authorities to contain the flow of illicit arms. The report provides rare access and firsthand testimony, shedding light on the scale of the problem and the challenges faced by law enforcement in addressing it.
This issue matters because it underscores the broader challenge of organized crime crossing borders. The Balkan arms trade is not just a regional problem but a transcontinental threat, highlighting the vulnerabilities in Europe’s security framework. As violence escalates, the inability
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Originally published on Al Jazeera on 2/15/2026