Proving Weapons Smuggling: Opportunities for Applying Specific Weaponry Expertise
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32353/khrife.1.2026.13Keywords:
pre-trial investigation; smuggling; forensic examination; tactical support; ordering forensic examination; environmental damageAbstract
The Article Purpose is to delineate possibilities for applying specific expertise in the field of weaponry studies when proving weapons smuggling, and to assess specific expertise relevance for identifying elements of a crime and for ensuring efficiency in criminal proceedings. The following methods have contributed to the achievement of the set goal: general scientific methods of analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, as well as philosophical and specialised methods — dialectical, systemic-structural, comparative-legal and generalisation. It has been substantiated that specific expertise in the field of forensic weaponry science is a key component of forensic technical support in weapons trafficking investigations. Specific expertise application extends far beyond the provision of expert advice and encompasses preliminary forensic examinations, participation of specialists in investigative (search) actions, and conduct of forensic examinations. A systematic overview of scientific approaches and case law practice has revealed that primary means of applying specific expertise in cases of the above-mentioned category is forensic examination of weapons, traces and circumstances of their use, which enables a scientifically substantiated determination of the type of weapon, its technical characteristics, suitability for use and other features necessary for the criminal law qualification of an act. It has been emphasised that in cases involving weapons smuggling, weaponry experts, ballistics experts, and specialists from the expert units of the Security Service of Ukraine and the expert service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine play a pivotal role. Their research findings help identify items, establish links between episodes of criminal activity, verify weapons against records, and formulate investigative scenarios. It has been argued that enhancing the efficiency of a proof procedure in cases of weapons smuggling requires proper interaction between law enforcement agencies and forensic institutions, obligatory consideration of preliminary examination results, and providing a forensic expert with a full set of necessary tools and materials, including the report on crime scene inspection.
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