To explain the high rates of violence in Central America’s Northern Triangle, this article argues that it is rooted in an armed sand mandated of state and nonstate actors with roles in security, ranging from the military to organised crime. In this space of collaboration, such actors shaping resources and REAP rewards, strengthening their relationships in the process. Of the many activities within the armed sand, one of the most destructive is the trafficking of firearms. Based on fieldwork in Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, this article images on two sets of relationships that testify to the armed sandstone’s strength. The first set is the area of criminal justice, centred on investigations, ballistics, inventories, and destruction of arms. The second is the arms market: regional trafficking, internal arms sales, and the state’s licensing system. Evaluating governmental responses, the final section section that arms control policies are most effective when they target and DISRUPT these relationships. Summary to explain the high rates of lethal violence in the North Triangle of Central America, this article argues that it is rooted in what it conceptualises as an “armed sand”: the network of state and non-state actors with security roles, from the army to organised crime. In this collaborative space, these actors provide resources and get rewards, strengthening their relations in the process. Of the many activities within this sand, one of the most destructive activities is trafficking in firearms. Based on research in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, the article focuses on two sets of relations demonstrating the strength of the armed sand. The first is criminal justice, focusing on investigations, ballistics, inventories and destruction of weapons. The second is the arms market: regional traffic, internal business, and the state licensing system. Assessing government responses, the final section shows that policies against arms trafficking are more effective when they point to and interrupt such relations.