The Mexican government is calling on the U.S. to take additional measures to curb the illicit flow of U.S. military weapons across its borders. Mexico’s top diplomat announced Monday, Jan. 23, that she is pushing for an investigation into the increasing presence of U.S. military equipment in the hands of Mexican drug cartels.
According to The Associated Press, some traffickers are going as far as posting pictures of U.S. military-grade weapons on social media. The Mexican government disclosed that the uncovered equipment includes rocket launchers, grenade launchers and machine guns.
Foreign Relations Secretary Alicia Bárcena stated that Mexico’s government has notified the U.S. of these findings.
“The [Mexican] Defense Department has warned the United States about weapons entering Mexico that are for the exclusive use of the U.S. Army,” Bárcena said. “It is very urgent that an investigation into this be carried out.”
On Monday, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar responded to Bárcena’s request. Salazar, who became aware of the discovery in a meeting last week with Mexican officials, pledged that thwarting the illegal transfer of U.S. military weapons in Mexico’s black market is a priority for the Biden administration.
In June 2023, the Mexican Army confirmed the confiscation of more than 220 machine guns, close to 60 grenade launchers, and a dozen rocket launchers from Mexican drug cartels since late 2018.
Determining the origin of the illegally acquired U.S. weaponry is a crucial aspect of addressing the problem. Various theories are circulating, ranging from leftover weaponry due to U.S. armed conflicts in Central America in the 1980s to reports of weapons manufacturers selling their devices on the black market.
While the recent seizures of U.S. military equipment by Mexico’s army are newly disclosed, Mexico has long grappled with violence attributed to drug cartels, often pointing to U.S. gun manufacturers for a surge in violent crime. The Mexican government estimates that 70% of weapons trafficked into the country originate from the U.S.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
