Kyrgyz authorities have arrested a suspected arms trafficker tied to a criminal network smuggling weapons from the United States to Russia, according to a statement from the State Committee for National Security on January 30. This was reported by the Kyiv Independent.
The trafficking network reportedly began operating in April 2022, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The suspect was caught while receiving a package containing firearm parts, law enforcement officials said.
Investigators revealed that the smuggling ring included Kyrgyz, Russian, and American citizens and was responsible for trafficking over 300 firearms, including Glock pistols and AR-15 rifles. The weapons were allegedly moved from the U.S. to Russia via Kyrgyzstan.
According to Kyrgyzstan’s security agency, the network has now been “uncovered and dismantled”, with authorities confirming that the operation involved firearms, ammunition, and military gear being illegally funneled into Russia.
