Three In Four Weapons Used By Mexican Cartels Come from The U.S., Most From Border States, Report Shows

Mexico has long criticized the U.S. for its role in the illicit arms trade. In 2023, the country recorded 31,062 homicides, 70% of which were caused by firearms (Credit: AFP / HERIKA MARTINEZ)

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.