Trafficking of Weapons of Mass Destruction

Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), such as chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, their delivery systems and related materials, pose a real threat to global security.

As always, there is a risk countries of proliferation concern somehow acquire these weapons, but these days, "non-state actors" or terrorist groups around the world are also seeking capabilities to mount attacks using weapons of mass destruction-type materials. A key threat for the world is the prospect of WMD material ending up in the hands of one of these groups.

Some examples of this increasing threat include:

• Radioactive material trafficking doubling from 2005 to 2007
• Al Qaeda plotting in 2003 to release lethal gas (hydrogen cyanide) in a New York subway
• A network run by Dr AQ Khan providing nuclear weapons technology to North Korea, Libya, and Iran from 1976 to 2003. Khan evaded detection by manufacturing and shipping across countries through dozens of false or 'shell' companies

On 28 April 2004, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1540 which "calls upon all States, in accordance with their national legal authorities and legislation and consistent with international law, to take cooperative action to prevent illicit trafficking in nuclear, chemical or biological weapons, their means of delivery and related materials". The Proliferation Security Initiative is one step in implementing this Resolution.