A new report by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reveals that almost three in four firearms used by Mexican cartels (74%) are trafficked illegally from the United States, primarily from Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas. The findings, part of the National Firearms Commerce and Trafficking Assessment (NFCTA), highlight the persistent flow of weapons across the border fueling violence in Mexico.
Northern Mexican states like Sonora, Baja California, Chihuahua, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas are the main destinations for these firearms. Guanajuato, in central Mexico, has also emerged as a hotspot for cartel-related violence, fueled in part by this illegal trade. Among the key trafficking routes, the Arizona-to-Sonora corridor stands out, as reported by El País México.
More than 80% of firearms recovered in Mexico were found in areas dominated by two powerful cartels: the Sinaloa Cartel (CDS) and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has identified these groups as the most influential criminal organizations in Mexico. Additionally, the ATF report showed that U.S.-sourced firearms have also been trafficked to countries beyond Mexico, including Canada, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Brazil.
The analysis points to a preference for privately made firearms (PMFs), often called "ghost guns" because they lack serial numbers and can be obtained without background checks. Pistols and rifles were the most frequently trafficked firearms, accounting for roughly 83% of weapons recovered in Mexico between 2022 and 2023.
Mexico has long criticized the U.S. for its role in the illicit arms trade. Between 2021 and 2023, Mexico increased its firearm tracing requests to U.S. authorities by nearly 25%, totaling 148,200 cases. Mexican officials estimate that between 200,000 to half million U.S.-origin firearms are smuggled into the country annually.
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum, joined by Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero, emphasized the need for binational cooperation. "Just as they are concerned about the flow of drugs into the U.S., we are deeply concerned about the influx of firearms into Mexico," Sheinbaum said on Thursday, Jan. 9th.
Mexico tightly controls gun sales, making them practically very difficult to obtain legally, unlike its northern neighbor. The country has repeatedly urged Washington to tackle arms trafficking across the border from the United States.
Sheinbaum last month encouraged residents to participate in the "Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace" program, assuring those skeptical that they would not be prosecuted if they gave up weapons. Mexico's government plans to offer up to $1,300 for people who hand in firearms including machine guns and assault rifles under a citizen disarmament program aimed at reducing violent crime.
The financial incentives for people dropping off weapons at collection points in churches were published late Monday in the country's official gazette. They include 8,700 pesos ($430) for a revolver, 25,000 pesos ($1,200) for an AK-47 rifle and 26,450 pesos ($1,300) for a machine gun.
Efforts to hold U.S. gun manufacturers accountable have met resistance. A 2021 lawsuit filed by Mexico against 11 U.S. gunmakers was dismissed in federal court, though an appeals ruling in January 2024 opened the door for potential legal actions against firearm producers.
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