OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION IN THE STRUCTURE OF

University UKRAINE Abstract. The topical problems of the methodics of investigation of smuggling of firearms and ammunition, in particular the process of smuggling such criminal offenses in the structure of criminalistic characteristics, are identified, promising areas of scientific research in this field of knowledge are identified and outlined. It is noted that the generalization of the practice of investigation indicates that the investigative and operational-search bodies face serious difficulties in detecting and investigating this category of criminal offenses. It is substantiated that such circumstances necessitate the development of methodological bases, theoretical and practical recommendations that could increase the effectiveness of law enforcement agencies to detect and detect such crimes. Perspective directions of criminalistic researches of a technique of investigation of smuggling

. with a certain degree of conventionality can be divided into two types: a) specially designed for the hidden movement of contraband, for example, magnetic containers attached to vehicles in hard to reach places; created additional voids, tanks, not provided by the factory design in vehicles (cars, planes, trains); b) specially equipped, adapted for smuggling structural tanks, cavities and other items that were previously disassembled, dismantled or re-equipped (eg, cylinder cavities, air filters, tubular structures).
Analysis of the practice of detecting smuggling in vehicles shows that all sorts of existing and equipped devices are used, cavities in which smuggled items can be hidden. The most common hiding places for contraband items in vehicles are undercarriage and spare wheel tires, specially converted or manufactured fuel and water tanks, tool boxes with double walls and bottoms, space behind the front panel and decorative cab trim, cavities between the cabins , caches, specially equipped in the beams, side members and chassis of the car, etc.
On the railway transport, inter-ceiling spaces, toilets, rubbish bins, heating stoves of carriages, pits for bed linen, hiding places in service compartments, accumulator boxes, lighting plafonds, various niches, seats and backs of sofas, voids in tables, in handrails are most often used for hiding, pre-discharged fire extinguishers, etc. In Poland, for example, a Catalog of Smuggling Hides Used by Sailors on Merchant Ships has been published, describing 500 such places. We believe that in Ukraine it would also be appropriate to prepare similar catalogs of reference nature by type of vehicle, analyzing and using domestic and international experience. The movement of firearms and ammunition through the use of various methods of "physical concealment" is becoming widespread. In this case, "physical concealment" means the creation of conditions under which the visual detection of contraband during customs control is difficult, ie we are talking about other means or methods of physical concealment that complicate the visual detection of objects.
Depending on the objects of customs control, the "other methods of concealment" include the following methods of "physical concealment" of smuggling: a) directly on the smuggler's body; b) in the human body (in the internal cavities and by swallowing); c) directly in clothes, shoes and personal belongings; d) in personal luggage and hand luggage; e) in legal goods and cargoes; f) in vehicles; g) in international postal items (IIP).
The method of concealment is determined by the type of weapon (ammunition), its number, size, weight, as well as the ability to move in disassembled form. When searching for weapons and ammunition, special attention should be paid to: boxes, cases, various packages; glass and porcelain tableware (jars, bottles); plastic thermoses; soft children's and plastic toys; Musical Instruments; food and confectionery; bulk products (cereals, sugar); boxes and packages with washing powder; toilet and laundry soap, etc.
Since firearms, ammunition by their physical nature and structural basis are made of durable metallic materials, have a significant weight, a certain size, characteristic configuration, this leads to their search and detection on the lines of control of hand luggage, baggage with the help of X-ray equipment. Detection of explosive devices in this way is possible in the presence of their components -the time mechanism, current source, a specific type of detonators, thin connecting wires, as well as orange color, as a characteristic feature of organic matter. Firearms and ammunition may be hidden from customs control in the personal luggage and hand luggage of the smuggler, which are with him or follow separately. It can be a double bottom of a suitcase, a backpack, a briefcase (case), bags, voids in their handles, in rubber wheels of a baby carriage, a framework of a backpack, etc.
Of particular interest is the method of moving the smuggled weapons by duplicating the hand luggage of the smuggler, which is as follows. The smuggler prepares two similar hand luggage (suitcases, travel bags, briefcases). The first hand luggage ("clean", ie without a weapon) the criminal specially leaves in a luggage compartment, and with the second in which the cache is made and the weapon is hidden, it goes on customs control. In the event that the customs officer requires the opening of hand luggage for inspection, the smuggler refuses it and declares that he has identical luggage, and this is someone else's that he took by mistake. After that, in the luggage compartment "is" his own luggage, which he recognizes and presents for control.
In customs practice, it is not uncommon for criminals to conceal by camouflaging contraband items (giving one item the appearance of another). Camouflage is a method of disguise that is used for smuggling and consists in changing the appearance of objects, their appearance: shape, condition, packaging, labels, labels and more. This can be disassembly of objects and separate movement of its components, giving one object (goods) the appearance of others, and so on. For example, a weapon specially adapted for firing can be camouflaged for any household items: a pen, a lighter, a box of cigarettes. In such cases, camouflage is a design of the weapon, which structurally changes its external characteristics, which allows you to refer the weapon to household items. As a rule, such devices are made in the factory by order of special services of foreign countries, so they are very difficult to distinguish in appearance from the usual similar items.
A study of customs practice has shown that the most common ways to move firearms are as follows: a) by transportation by train, sea and air, among the cargo is carefully hidden weapons, they can be hidden in a specially equipped hiding place or in hard to reach places of the vehicle; b) by postal items, the most popular today are the following postal carriers: "Ukrposhta", "Nova Poshta", "In Time", "Delivery", etc.; c) moving personally in hand luggage, suitcase, under clothes, in hidden objects, boxes, etc.; d) via the Internet, etc.
The preparatory actions of the offender begin from the moment he has a criminal plan and the decision to commit smuggling. They combine: selection and study of contraband items; study of the situation in which the offender is to act (collection of information about the place of crossing the border, data on persons carrying out customs control); creating conditions for smuggling (finding customers, determining ways to move items, giving them a different look, forging documents or involving people in order to ensure the unimpeded movement of smuggled items, etc.); choice of method of smuggling, consultation with "specialists"; development of an action plan for smuggling; preparation of means of committing a crime (manufacture, adaptation of caches, forgery of customs and other documents, falsification of containers, packaging); formation and organization of a criminal group (selection and verification of group members, training and their technical support); establishing contact with law enforcement officers to cover up smuggling activities and use their assistance in committing a crime; choosing a way to hide smuggling.
Methods of preparation for the movement of firearms and ammunition are the most common: a) the choice of transport, which will move weapons; b) search for real or forgery of documents (which disguise firearms, hide the identity of the sender (carrier), etc.); c) preparation of camouflage means (models, drawers, boxes, etc.); d) the choice of the place of concealment of weapons in transport; e) study of the route of traffic; f) test shipment of a small part of the weapon; g) study of cargo inspection measures; g) search for persons (usually the elderly or disabled, persons . who are released from criminal liability) who will agree to transport cargo (firearms) for a fee, etc.
These components are the result of an analysis of smuggling activities in preparation for this type of crime. At the same time, this does not necessarily mean the presence of these components in each specific act of preparation. However, they are of great criminalistic importance, because, as carriers of information about the traces of the crime and other important circumstances of the case, often facilitate the timely detection and detection of smuggling. It should be borne in mind that the detection of smuggling is possible at the stage of preparation, for example, during the purchase of goods (other items) for their further illegal movement across the customs border of Ukraine, making a vehicle hiding place, creating an organized group for smuggling, etc.
The method of concealing the smuggling of firearms and ammunition is implemented when the crime has already been committed, registered and is being investigated. This radically changes the system of factors that determine it. The range of possible actions of a smuggler is significantly expanded and may include intimidation, bribery of witnesses, false testimony, forgery, etc. When smuggling by an organized group of persons, the method of commission may be the same, and the methods of concealment are different for each member of the criminal group. However, a characteristic feature of actions to conceal smuggling is their focus on evading the perpetrator from criminal liability. In addition, the analysis of smuggling activities must take into account the most typical ways of concealing smuggling, namely: destruction, disguise, falsification and concealment.
Thus, the above allows to define the concealment of smuggling of firearms and ammunition as an intentional act of the offender, which is to prevent the establishment of the objective truth about illegal movement across the border by concealing, destroying, masking or falsifying traces of smuggling and smuggling, aimed at guilty of criminal liability. Methods of concealing this type of smuggling are aimed at destroying traces: a) leaving metal particles of firearms, weapons oil, powder gases; b) clothing; c) means of camouflage; d) forged documents, etc.
The generalization and analysis of investigative practice shows that an integral part of the method of smuggling is the use of the results of criminal activity. In the criminalistic aspect, it is essential that even after the end of smuggling, criminal activity continues and is expressed in the use of the results of smuggling. These can be actions, for example, on the sale of smuggled weapons and making a profit, or the use of weapons for their own needs and further criminal activity, and so on. Smuggled weapons are mainly sold directly by the smuggler, with the help of intermediaries (resellers), through criminal structures, relatives or acquaintances. As a rule, it is illegally sold on the "black market" to individual citizens and representatives of organized criminal groups.