The war and the ensuing internal chaos have made the illegal arms trade a thriving industry these days.
Throughout Lebanon, the phenomenon of masked people stopping vehicles for the purpose of robbery is widespread, therefore Lebanese are looking for personal weapons to protect themselves. Some of the weapons that reach the market originate from displaced persons who sell their personal weapons as part of their coping with their economic hardship.
The large supply of weapons resulted in a drop in prices. For example, the price of a Kalashnikov rifle dropped from $1000 to about $650. The prices of handguns dropped by 40% while the price of shotguns dropped by about 50%.
In recent years, Lebanon has been flooded with personal weapons smuggled into the country from Syria and the trade in which has flourished in Hezbollah strongholds in Dahiyeh and the Bekaa. Today, with the large movement of displaced people, trade is flourishing in northern Lebanon and Mount Lebanon.
