Arr, Mexico be wantin' t' know why be so many weapons o' war flowin' from US t' drug scallywags!
2024-01-27
Arrr, the Mexican scallywags be chasin' a lawsuit 'gainst them fancy American gunsmiths! These landlubbers be accused o' supplyin' weapons to them treacherous cartels, aidin' 'em in their battle 'gainst the law!
The Mexican government has called for an urgent investigation into how U.S.-grade weapons have been getting into the hands of drug cartels. According to Kristina Mastropasqua, a spokesperson for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), these weapons pose a significant danger to both the public and law enforcement agents on both sides of the border. The ATF's Operation Southbound aims to disrupt the trafficking of firearms from the United States to Mexico, focusing on the four southwest border states. However, cross-border firearms trafficking is not limited to these states and often involves only a few firearms originating from states far from the border.Voice of America reported that the number of weapons smuggled into Mexico could exceed half a million per year. Mexican officials claim that despite efforts to tackle the issue, the flow of weapons from the United States has not significantly decreased. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar stated that 70% of the weapons causing violence in Mexico come from the United States and that reducing this flow is a top priority for President Biden.
One example highlighted in a Reuters report was a U.S. weapons factory in Wisconsin that allegedly supplied high-caliber weapons, including sniper rifles, to the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion. The cartel took advantage of permissive gun control rules in the United States to acquire these powerful weapons. Members of a local family in Wisconsin with connections to Mexico would buy the guns and ship them to California, where they would then be transported across the border.
Mexican authorities have seized numerous weapons from cartels, including fully automatic machine guns, grenade launchers, and rocket launchers. Mastropasqua emphasized that these cartels seek out weapons that outgun Mexican law enforcement authorities and even weaponry used by the American military.
The Mexican government previously filed a $10 billion lawsuit against American gun manufacturers, alleging that they knew the weapons they produced would end up in the hands of traffickers. Although the lawsuit was initially dismissed, an appeals court in Boston has since revived it.
The issue of weapons smuggling remains a significant concern, and both Mexican and U.S. authorities are committed to addressing this problem and preventing weapons from falling into the hands of dangerous criminal organizations.