US government accused of supplying arms to Mexican organized crime groups

Mexico’s Defence Minister Reveals Origin of Seized Weapons

Defence Minister Ricardo Trevilla Trejo has stated that 80 percent of weapons seized from Mexican cartels come from the United States. According to Trevilla, this is a significant finding in the ongoing efforts to combat gun trafficking and cartel activity.

The raid on February 22 that resulted in the death of one of Mexico’s most wanted drug lords, Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho”, led to an increase in coordinated attacks by cartel members across multiple states. The incident highlighted the ongoing struggle between Mexican authorities and cartels.

The Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which is one of Mexico’s main drug cartels, has been linked to several high-profile incidents, including the shooting down of Mexican military helicopters in 2015. The cartel is known for its military-style arsenal and has been the subject of a US federal law enforcement investigation.

The majority of weapons seized from cartels are believed to originate from the United States, with estimates suggesting that between 200,000 to 500,000 firearms are trafficked across the border each year. This trade is considered illegal due to US federal law prohibiting the export of firearms to non-US residents without authorization.

Mexican authorities and the US government have both offered rewards for cartel leaders, including Ismael Zambada Sicairos, Ivan Archivaldo Guzman Salazar, Fausto Isidro Meza Flores, and Juan Reyes Mejia-Gonzalez. The use of straw purchasers, unlicensed resellers, theft, and specialized brokers to source firearms and ammunition from US commercial markets is also a common method used by cartels.

The Federal Law on Firearms and Explosives in Mexico requires civilians to undergo multiple government approvals and background checks when purchasing limited firearms, while military-grade rifles are reserved for the armed forces only. However, cartels have found ways to bypass these restrictions, primarily sourcing weapons illicitly from the United States.

Source: Al Jazeera