(3)Libya becomes an international weapons bazaar
Al Jazeera reports on the emergence of Libya as a major source of weapons for jihadists in North and West Africa, and the Levant after the Western-led effort to topple longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Libyan rebels and the West failed to secure Qaddafi's massive weapons depots after Qaddafi's fall. Libyan weapons, from assault rifles to antiaircraft missiles, have appeared in the hands of jihadists on the battlefields of Algeria, Mali, Egypt, Syria, and the Palestinian Territories.
READER COMMENTS: "Libya becomes an international weapons bazaar"
Posted by gb at March 25, 2013 6:44 PM ET:
How long before these weapons are being smuggled across the Mexican border to the hands of terrorists?
Posted by Moose at March 27, 2013 8:18 AM ET:
@gb
Here's an example of the AQIM-South American drug cartel connection: in November 2009 a drug cartel flew a Boeing 727 to Mali (to the desert outside Gao) loaded with 10 tons of cocaine destined for Europe. Instead of flying the plane back, they just set it on fire after offloading the coke. According to three arrested members of AQIM, the group charges $4,200/kilo for protecting the drug shipments. Apparently, most of these flights are originating from Venezuela. You can read about here:
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/2010/0115/Air-Al-Qaeda-Are-Latin-America-s-drug-cartels-giving-Al-Qaeda-a-lift
Posted by John Dennis at April 11, 2013 9:00 PM ET:
Let's see the UN's much vaunted Arms Trade Treaty do something about this.