LYON, FRANCE: An international law enforcement operation coordinated by INTERPOL has resulted in the seizure of more than 2,800 illegal firearms, nearly 400 hand grenades and explosives, and over 40,000 rounds of ammunition across Europe and Central Asia.

The operation, known as Operation Trigger X, involved authorities from 17 countries and targeted suspected firearms trafficking networks. Police also reported 152 arrests connected to illegal weapons possession, trafficking and other offences.

The findings highlight concerns that weapons originating from former and ongoing conflict zones may enter criminal markets and subsequently be used in organised crime, violent offences and cross-border criminal activities.

International Operation Targets Illegal Weapons Trafficking

Operation Trigger X was conducted between June 22 and July 5, 2026. INTERPOL coordinated the operation with participating national authorities and other international law enforcement partners.

The participating countries were Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Poland, Serbia, Sweden, Tajikistan, Türkiye and Ukraine.

Investigators focused on identifying illicit firearms shipments, intercepting suspicious cargo and tracing weapons that could be connected to criminal networks.

The operation also examined potential links between firearms trafficking and other illegal activities, including drug trafficking, migrant smuggling and robbery.

Authorities said the findings indicated that weapons linked to former or ongoing conflicts, including those in Eastern Europe, the Balkans and Nagorno-Karabakh, remain a concern for international security.

More Than 2,800 Firearms Recovered

The operation resulted in the seizure of 2,823 small arms and light weapons, according to INTERPOL.

Authorities also recovered more than 40,000 pieces of ammunition and nearly 400 hand grenades and explosives.

These seizures are significant because illegally circulated firearms can be used in robberies, assaults, organised criminal disputes and other violent offences.

Investigators are examining the origin and intended destinations of the recovered weapons to establish how they entered trafficking routes and whether they can be connected to wider criminal networks.

The figures represent the reported operational results across the participating countries. They do not establish that every seized weapon was intended for use in a violent crime.

Major Weapons Seizure at Bulgaria–Türkiye Border

One of the operation’s major discoveries occurred at the Lesovo border crossing between Bulgaria and Türkiye.

Bulgarian customs officials intercepted two heavy goods vehicles carrying more than 1,000 military-grade shotguns.

In a separate seizure at the Kapitan Andreevo border crossing, authorities recovered 73 counterfeit handguns concealed in a truck transporting car parts towards Western Europe.

Investigators reported that some of the counterfeit weapons were hidden beneath the driver’s mattress.

Counterfeit firearms can complicate law enforcement investigations because false markings and concealed origins make it harder to establish their manufacturing history and trace their movement through criminal networks.

The seizures demonstrate how commercial transport routes can potentially be exploited to move illicit weapons across national borders.

Hand Grenades and Converted Firearms Discovered

The operation also uncovered suspected grenade trafficking and illegal firearm-conversion activities.

Authorities seized 268 hand grenades during the operation. Serbia reported a major seizure involving 68 grenades allegedly trafficked from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Serbian authorities also discovered a clandestine workshop where investigators suspected that gas and starter guns were being converted into functional firearms.

The search reportedly led to one arrest and the seizure of dozens of pistols, firearm components and 280 rounds of 9mm ammunition.

Such conversion activities can create additional challenges for law enforcement because weapons that were not originally designed as conventional firearms may be altered for unlawful use.

Investigators must establish the circumstances surrounding each seizure and determine whether the recovered weapons were connected to organised trafficking operations.

Operation Also Exposes Suspected Migrant-Smuggling Links

Operation Trigger X uncovered items that investigators believed could be associated with migrant-smuggling networks.

Bulgarian officials seized 20 inflatable boats that had reportedly been labelled as inflatable mattresses and were destined for a Western European country.

Intelligence suggested that the shipment could be linked to criminal networks involved in migrant smuggling and intended for clandestine crossings of the English Channel.

Authorities also intercepted migrants in North Macedonia and Serbia during the wider operation.

In Serbia, one individual detained near the Hungarian border was reportedly carrying an automatic rifle and ammunition.

These findings demonstrate that organised criminal networks may be involved in several types of illicit activity. However, each suspected connection requires further investigation before individual criminal responsibility can be established.

152 People Arrested During the Operation

INTERPOL reported that participating authorities arrested 152 people in connection with firearms possession, trafficking and other suspected offences.

The operation also resulted in the interception of 15 individuals who were subject to INTERPOL notices. Five were internationally wanted fugitives subject to Red Notices.

One individual detained in Georgia was reportedly wanted by Türkiye on suspicion of murder.

An INTERPOL Red Notice is a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender or similar legal action. It is not, by itself, an international arrest warrant or a determination of guilt.

The arrests and interceptions form part of the wider effort to identify suspected offenders, trace illicit weapons and disrupt criminal networks operating across borders.

Why Illegal Firearms Trafficking Is a Global Concern

Illegal weapons trafficking can undermine public safety by making firearms and ammunition available outside regulated systems.

Weapons originating in conflict zones may circulate through intermediaries, concealed shipments and criminal markets before reaching their eventual destinations.

Once diverted into illegal networks, these weapons can be used by organised crime groups or individuals involved in violent offences.

International cooperation is therefore important for identifying trafficking routes, sharing intelligence, tracing weapons and investigating the financial networks that support illegal shipments.

Operation Trigger X brought together national authorities and international partners to address these challenges through coordinated enforcement.

Investigation and Next Steps

Although the operation has produced substantial seizures and arrests, investigations remain ongoing.

Authorities will need to examine recovered weapons, ammunition, documents and other evidence to establish their origins and identify individuals responsible for their movement.

Further investigative work may also help clarify whether specific shipments were connected to criminal organisations, conflict-related stockpiles or other illicit supply chains.

The ultimate impact of the operation will depend partly on whether investigators can use the evidence to support prosecutions and prevent the same trafficking routes from being used again.

Conclusion

INTERPOL’s Operation Trigger X has delivered a major international enforcement result, with 2,823 firearms, nearly 400 hand grenades and explosives, and more than 40,000 rounds of ammunition seized across 17 countries.

Authorities also reported 152 arrests and intercepted several individuals wanted internationally.

The operation highlights the continuing risks associated with illegal firearms trafficking and the possible diversion of weapons from conflict-related sources into organised criminal networks.

Continued cooperation among law enforcement agencies will be essential to tracing illicit weapons, prosecuting offenders where evidence supports charges and preventing firearms from reaching criminal markets.