THE U.S.-MEXICO DOUBLE FIX
Hundreds of thousands of guns are trafficked from the U.S. to Mexico every year. This illicit trade fuels violence, organized crime, drug-related deaths, irregular migration, and security crises on both sides of the border. CAP's work on Mexico exemplifies the approaches we are also undertaking in other countries hard hit by foreign guns trafficked to their territories.
THE HARM
Drug Cartels and Gangs Stoking Armed Violence, Human Suffering, and Migrant Crisis.
Hundreds of thousands of guns are trafficked annually from the U.S. to Mexico, Haiti, and Central America fueling violence, organized crime, and security crises in multiple countries. This illicit trade exacerbates U.S. drug abuse and overdose deaths, undermines rule of law and government authority in the recipient states, and fuels irregular migration to the U.S. due to armed violence.
THE STORY
CAP partnered with the Pacific Council on International Policy to produce explainers, blogs, and a webinar on core issues related to the illicit flow of U.S. guns to Mexico and beyond. Some of the critical issues we highlighted for example including a rundown of gaps in existing laws, common methods of gunrunning, the weapons of choice used by cartels, the security and humanitarian stakes involved, and the impacts.
Not stopping there, CAP authored a comprehensive report outlining 30+ actionable strategies for governments, the gun industry, and civil society to turn the illegal gun problem around. Since the release of the report, we have promoted our recommendations in a multiplicity of forums in Mexico, the U.S., Europe, and globally through online presentations. Our audiences ranged from U.S., Canadian, Mexican and Caribbean officials; to the U.S. Congress; to UN bodies and the OAS; to the public and media.
THE CHANGE
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Together, working alongside members of the academic and expert communities, NGOs and civil society members on both sides of the border, and Mexico government officials, we’ve changed the U.S.-Mexico security narrative demonstrating that the overwhelming majority of guns fueling violence, drug and migrant trafficking, and organized crime in North America and parts of the Caribbean originate from the U.S.;
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A greater awareness of key strategies to stem illicit U.S. arms flows that were recommended and advocated by CAP in its comprehensive report;
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An expansion of collaborative networks prioritizing the problem of U.S. arms trafficked to rogue forces, organized crime, and gangs in neighboring and allied countries.
CONTINUING THE WORK
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Advancing Policy Recommendations: CAP continues to advocate with governments, the gun industry, and civil society for strategies in our report that have yet taken sufficient root.
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Advocating Transparency: CAP continues to press for the public release of gun crime and tracing data to empower experts and stakeholders to enhance gun violence prevention initiatives;
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Pressing for Sensible Arms Control: CAP continues to call for restrictions on military-grade assault weapons and .50-caliber rifles;
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Strengthening Enforcement Approaches: CAP continues to push for better enforcement of U.S. gun dealer compliance;
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Fostering Multi-jurisdictional Cooperation: CAP continues to sensitize government agencies to the need for metrics to evaluate joint efforts;
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Spotlighting Need for Gun Industry Reforms: CAP continues outreach to the gun industry to strengthen accountability for traffickers, anti-corruption efforts, and strategies to prevent firearms diversion.
A Report from the Pacific Council on International Policy and the Conflict Awareness Project
An investigation reveals how illicit gun trafficking and corrupt officials are undermining security in the U.S.-Mexico region. The report calls for greater transparency and collaboration to prevent firearms from fueling crime, supporting the rule of law, and combating corruption.
As part of the U.S.-Mexico Security Cooperation Project, CAP teamed up with the Pacific Council Magazine to produce a series of articles, animated videos, and webinar to raise awareness about the flow of illegal U.S. guns to Mexico and underscore the urgent need for joint U.S. and Mexico action.
