The European Union has called for coordinated efforts to deploy AI-enhanced X-ray scanners at airports and parcel sorting centres to detect illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW), warning that traditional law enforcement interdiction is being outpaced by online commerce, 3D-printed weapons, and privately manufactured firearms. In a statement delivered on 4 June 2026 at the UN Open-Ended Technical Expert Group (OETEG) meeting in New York, Michał Karczmarz, Chair of the COARM Working Party at the European External Action Service (EEAS), presented a working paper on automated detection technologies and urged Member States to contribute to training data and certification standards.
The EU statement, submitted to the record and requested for inclusion in the Chair's summary, highlights the rapid evolution of illicit firearms trafficking driven by the explosion of online commerce, the proliferation of privately manufactured firearms, and the evolution of 3D-printed weapons. It notes that high-volume logistics hubs – particularly postal sorting centres and border crossings – are critical chokepoints where manual inspection is no longer feasible, and where automation and machine-learning solutions are now necessary.
Commercial artificial intelligence (AI) computer vision-enhanced X-ray scanners, known as Automated Prohibited Items Detection Systems (APIDS), are reaching high levels of technological readiness and are being deployed in aviation baggage and parcel screening. The EU statement points out that these systems are subject to certification by aviation safety authorities, but very few have been certified to date. The applicability of approved systems and standards for other border control and fast-parcel post settings also needs exploration.
While AI-enhanced APIDS continue to advance, the EU acknowledges that their full potential remains constrained by the scarcity of diverse, high-quality training data for firearm parts, components and accessories that are subject to trafficking. In particular, the non-traditional shapes, designs and material properties of 3D-printed weapons and kits continue to evolve and may not be fully represented in training data.
The EU working paper draws on research published this year under the project Automated Arms and Ammunition Mapping 2, an initiative of the EU's Global Threats programme. The research examines automated detection of firearms and their parts and components in AI-enhanced X-ray scanner systems in airports and fast parcel post sorting centres. The underlying technology is already being deployed in airports in Europe, but the research highlights challenges and limitations.
Policy orientations and trade-offs
initiatives to coordinate, share and build a diversity of high-quality training data; close alignment of research and testing institutes, industry and commercial providers with regional SALW control policy roadmaps and national firearms focal points; and involvement of national and regional SALW trafficking experts in the development of commercial APIDS detection capabilities and certification. The sharing of anonymized, real-world seizure data among Member States and international bodies such as INTERPOL, UNODC and the World Customs Organization is also deemed critical.
The trade-offs inherent in this approach involve balancing enhanced detection capabilities against the costs and administrative burden of developing and certifying new systems, as well as potential privacy concerns related to AI-enhanced scanning of parcels and baggage. The EU statement does not address data protection or civil liberties implications directly.
Impact on stakeholders
- EU Member States: They have an interest in contributing to training data and certification standards, but may face additional costs and coordination requirements. The call for sharing anonymized seizure data could improve interdiction but requires national law enforcement to invest in data collection and sharing mechanisms. - Commercial APIDS providers: The EU's push for coordinated training data and certification standards could create a more predictable market and accelerate deployment, but may also impose new requirements for system certification and data sharing. - Law enforcement and border control agencies: They stand to benefit from more effective detection tools, but will need to adapt to new technologies and potentially invest in upgraded equipment and training. - Civil society and privacy advocates: The deployment of AI-enhanced X-ray scanners at postal centres and borders raises potential privacy and data protection concerns, though the EU statement does not address these.
Expected institutional follow-up
The EU working paper has been submitted to the OETEG record, and the EU requests its reflection in the Chair's summary. The statement is part of ongoing EU engagement in UN processes on SALW control, and may inform future EU funding priorities under the Global Threats programme and coordination with INTERPOL, UNODC and the World Customs Organization.
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