Arms trade riddled with corruption: iLIVE

A potential new arms deal worth R100-billion is in the pipeline ("Hush-hush arms deal", July 18).The previous arms deal is mired in controversy and a commission is investigating that deal.

In recent years, annual sales of arms worldwide have risen to around $150-billion.

Though international attention is focused on the need to control weapons of mass destruction, the trade in conventional weapons continues to operate in a legal and moral vacuum. The international arms trade is considered to be one of the three most corrupt businesses in the world. Leading arms firms in virtually every major arms-producing country have been implicated, including reputable firms.

In the international arms trade, roughly $2-billion is paid in bribes every year.

Part of the arms trade is as elusive and rotten as the drugs trade.