U.S. Arms Trafficking Fuels Mexico's Cartel Violence Amid Political Tensions

MXMexico|

A recent report by EL PAÍS highlights the extensive network of arms trafficking from the United States into Mexico, where oversized firepower is sought by drug cartels. Under pressure from former President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has urged the U.S. to enhance its efforts against this illicit trade, which is responsible for 70% to 90% of the weapons in Mexico, according to local authorities.

The article details a case involving a woman named Fernanda, who sought to purchase AK-47s and M-240 machine guns, illustrating a typical transaction where undercover agents caught traffickers attempting to smuggle $63,000 worth of arms into Mexico. Experts indicate that the lax U.S. regulations and a vast number of licensed gun dealers facilitate such trafficking, noting that easy access to firearms contributes to escalating violence in Mexico.

With an estimated 200,000 to 500,000 weapons crossing the border annually, the U.S. government's recent commitments to tackle arms trafficking remain to be fully realized, as previous administrations have struggled to meaningfully address this issue.

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