Women participate in arms trafficking in varied roles, often driven by economic necessity or familial ties, and are sometimes specifically recruited by criminal groups because they are less likely to raise suspicion

. Research indicates their roles can range from low-risk activities to leadership positions within trafficking networks. 

Roles of Women in Arms Trafficking

According to a report by the Small Arms Survey, women’s identified roles in arms trafficking include: 

• Procurers or buyers: This often includes acting as “straw purchasers” in countries like the United States, buying firearms legally and then illegally reselling them to others.
• Sellers: Directly involved in the illicit sale of firearms and sometimes associated drugs.
• Couriers/Transporters: Women are often used as couriers because they face lower suspicion from law enforcement; they may hide weapons under clothing or within everyday items.
• Information gatherers and messengers/intermediaries: Facilitating communication and intelligence gathering within criminal networks.
• Mediators/Brokers: Arranging deals between different parties involved in the illicit trade.
• Other functions: Assisting by hiding arms, criminals, or proceeds from the trade. 

Driving Factors

Motivations for women’s involvement often stem from the following: 

• Economic necessity or profit: Poverty and limited livelihood options are significant drivers, particularly in regions like North-West Nigeria, where criminal groups exploit these vulnerabilities by offering money or valuable goods.
• Familial ties: Involvement is often linked to intimate partners or other family members already in criminal enterprises.
• Lack of public policy and services: Inadequate government services and protection can also contribute to vulnerability to recruitment. 

Broader Context

The illicit trade of small arms and light weapons (SALW) has significant, gender-differentiated impacts. 

• Gender-based violence (GBV): The proliferation of small arms correlates with an increase in GBV and a higher incidence of femicide; over two-thirds of intimate partner homicides of women in the U.S. are committed with guns.
• Arms Control: The international community has increasingly recognized the link between arms trade and GBV. The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) explicitly requires States Parties to consider the risk of weapons being used to commit or facilitate serious acts of GBV when making export decisions. 

Research into the specific roles of women in arms trafficking is a relatively new field, as prior studies have tended to focus on men as the primary perpetrators and victims of armed violence. 

Research shows that women’s roles in arms trafficking are varied and driven by factors like economic necessity, familial ties, and social integration with criminal groups

. Women are also increasingly targeted for recruitment as couriers because they are less likely to raise suspicion from law enforcement. 

Roles of Women in Arms Trafficking

According to a report by the Small Arms Survey, women’s roles can range from low-risk support functions to high-risk leadership positions. These roles include: 

• Procurers or buyers, including as “straw purchasers” in countries like the United States.
• Sellers of firearms.
• Couriers/transporters, often hiding weapons in creative ways to bypass security checks.
• Information gatherers and messengers.
• Mediators/brokers in illicit deals.
• Other functions, such as assisting by hiding arms or criminals. 

Driving Factors

The primary motivations for women to become involved in arms trafficking often stem from:

• Economic necessity and poverty, especially in regions where women have limited livelihood options.
• Familial ties, including relationships with intimate partners or relatives involved in criminal networks.
• Social integration and association with existing criminal groups.
• Grievances over a lack of public services and policy. 

Related Gendered Impacts and Policy

The proliferation of small arms has significant, gender-differentiated impacts, with strong correlations observed between the availability of firearms and increased rates of gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide. 

• Over two-thirds of all intimate partner homicides of women in the U.S. are committed with guns.
• The Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) is a key international agreement that explicitly requires states to consider the risk of weapons being used to commit or facilitate serious acts of GBV when authorizing arms transfers. 

Law enforcement agencies, such as the DEA and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), actively investigate and prosecute women involved in arms trafficking conspiracies.