The preparation of this report would not have been possible without the data and information reported by governments to UNODC and other international organizations. UNODC is particularly thankful to government and law enforcement officials met in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda while undertaking research. Special thanks go to all the UNODC staff members - at headquarters and field offices - who reviewed various sections of this report. The research team also gratefully acknowledges the information, advice and comments provided by a range of officials and experts, including those from the United Nations Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, MONUSCO (including the UN Police and JMAC), IPIS, Small Arms Survey, Partnership Africa Canada, the Polé Institute, ITRI and many others. Financial support for this study was provided by the Governments of Sweden (through the UNODC Integrated Programme and Oversight Branch) and Canada.

For the purposes of this Report, Central America comprises the seven nations of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama - excluding Mexico. This study was undertaken by the Research and Analysis Section of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in the framework of the project "Illicit Market Studies"(GLO/H93). The lead researcher and author is Theodore Leggett. Funding for this study was provided by the Government of France. The translation of this document was facilitated by the UNODC Regional Office for Mexico and Central America. The description and classification of countries and territories in this publication and the arrangement of the material do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. This document has not been formally edited or translated.