A study by the Small Arms Survey and the Armament Research Services (ARES) revealed a growing number of arms trades made online in Libya.

Experts say closed groups on Facebook (FB, Tech30) and Whatsapp are the most common places for such trades, but apps like Instagram and Telegram are also used.

ARES tracked groups and individual arms traders active online in Libya, recording 1,346 illicit sales in just one year.

N.R. Jenzen-Jones, director at ARES, said the report provides only a snapshot of how armed groups use social media to trade weapons online.