The World Today
Since the publication of the recent report by the Uruguayan Ministry of the Interior, we can affirm that firearms occupy a central place in the Uruguayan security crisis. Although they are not the only factor, their proliferation, along with problematic drug use, is fueling a complex situation that demands urgent responses.
The dimension of the problem
The document prepared by the Ministry's Statistics and Applied Criminology Department (AECA) reveals that Uruguay is "one of the most heavily armed countries in Latin America." As of December 2024, there were 617,327 legally registered firearms , representing approximately 17.5 weapons per 100 inhabitants.
Furthermore, external estimates suggest that there may be more than 400,000 unregistered weapons in circulation, bringing the total number to nearly 1,200,000 units.
The main concern lies not only in the number, but in their impact: for example, firearms crimes increased from 453 reports in 2013 to 1,826 in 2024, an increase of more than 300%.
A map that moves inward
Although Montevideo remains relevant, the report highlights a clear expansion of gun violence into the interior of the country. The department of Durazno, in the center of the country, currently has the highest rate of this type of crime, with 109.7 reports per 100,000 inhabitants.
This geographic shift demands a rethinking of the security strategy: it is not enough to concentrate on large urban centers; attention must also be paid to the periphery, the interior, and links with local networks.
Guns, organized crime and homicides
The lethal use of firearms is a constant: between 2012 and 2022, 83.5% of revenge or retaliation homicides were carried out with firearms. In homicides associated with drug trafficking, this figure rises to 78.9%.
Furthermore, the current government believes that the entry of illegal weapons from abroad is not widespread, but rather occurs "in a trickle," which makes control more difficult.
Drug use: the other risk front
The report also highlights that drug use is a factor that "facilitates" armed violence . In 2024:
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89% of people aged 15 to 65 reported having consumed alcohol at some point.
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Regarding cannabis: About one in three people have used it. The average age of initiation is 20 years.
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Regarding cocaine, 8.4% reported having used it at some point, and of those, 35% reported problematic use.
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Regarding so-called base paste: although its number appears to have decreased, it remains a phenomenon of "extreme vulnerability," linked to social exclusion, precariousness, and frequent contact with health services or the criminal justice system.
Taken together, these data show that the combination of firearms and drug use acts as a dangerous cycle: each factor exacerbates the other.
What is being done and what is missing?
The plan is ambitious: the assessment is part of the National Public Security Plan 2025–2035, open to public input until November 15. One of the key themes is "Firearms and Ammunition."
Specific measures include:
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The ministry is promoting a civilian disarmament plan to reduce the circulation of illegal weapons.
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There is a law (Decree No. 345/020) that strictly regulates the possession and carrying of weapons.
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Work is also underway to modernize the national weapons registry, although the current system is divided among different ministries and is considered obsolete.
But many challenges remain:
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The oversight of registered and unregistered weapons is insufficient: for example, controls on collectors have declined drastically.
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The routes for illegal arms importation remain diffuse (trickle-down smuggling, clandestine assembly), which complicates prevention.
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The link between armed violence and drug use demands a multidimensional strategy: justice, public health, social policies , education.
The voice of the community and the cultural challenge
Beyond the numbers, there is a cultural shift: in several neighborhoods across the country, the use of firearms as a "tool of conflict" is normalized. Programs like Neighborhoods Without Violence, which operate in Montevideo, work with "violence interrupters" who intervene in armed situations and problematic drug use.
These types of approaches show that the solution is not solely a matter of police or legislative intervention: it requires a change of mentality, starting with early prevention, reducing problematic drug use, and dismantling gun trafficking networks.
Conclusion: Where to start?
The country faces a complex situation. On the one hand, there is a huge number of legal and illegal firearms. On the other hand, drug use is not only widespread but also closely linked to armed violence.
Faced with this reality, a comprehensive approach is urgently needed, combining gun control, addressing problematic drug use, strengthening the criminal justice system, and social policies that address the root causes of the phenomenon.
The key word—firearms—is not a slogan. It's the tangible axis of a structural problem. Any security plan that doesn't consider arms control loses strength from the start.
And yet, that's not enough. True transformation will only be possible if we address the conditions of vulnerability that allow young people to access weapons, use them, and engage in conflict.
1. Introduction
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The link between firearms and drugs: a combination that redefines security in Uruguay.
2. A highly armed country
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More than a million guns in circulation: legality or latent risk?
3. Violence that spreads to the interior
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Durazno and other departments surpass the capital in armed crime.
4. Organized crime and homicides
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Weapons as a central tool in score-settling and drug trafficking.
5. Drug use as an amplifying factor
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From cocaine to base paste: social and health impact.
6. State Responses
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National Security Plan 2025-2035 and the “civil disarmament” axis.
7. What remains to be resolved
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Weak controls, outdated records, and active illegal routes.
8. The cultural challenge
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The normalization of weapons as instruments of power in vulnerable neighborhoods.
9. Conclusion
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Without gun control there is no security, but without social policies there is no transformation.
