78% of seized cartel weapons come from the United States, Mexico report finds
A new government report shows that the vast majority of weapons seized from criminal groups in Mexico in recent years can be traced back to sources in the United States.
Officials in Mexico said that approximately 78 percent of guns seized from drug cartels and other criminal organizations were originally purchased or trafficked from the United States, according to data released by the Mexican government.
The figure is based on firearms that Mexican authorities have recovered and successfully traced to their country of origin.
High-level Mexican officials, including the defense minister, highlighted the role of U.S.-sourced weapons during recent briefings, noting that many of the seized guns are high-powered rifles and ammunition often used by cartel groups in violent confrontations with security forces.
The tracing figures have been cited in discussions between Mexico and the United States as both governments seek to strengthen cooperation against cross-border weapons trafficking.
U.S. law enforcement agencies assist in firearms tracing when Mexican authorities submit recovered weapons for identification. However, experts note that tracing depends on the sample of weapons submitted and may not represent the entire universe of firearms in criminal hands.
Illegal arms trafficking has been a persistent concern along the U.S.-Mexico border, with guns often purchased legally in U.S. gun markets before being smuggled south. Mexican authorities argue that addressing the flow of weapons from the United States is critical to reducing cartel firepower and violence.
The issue remains a point of ongoing dialogue between the two countries as they work to develop strategies to limit the illegal movement of firearms.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
