Thread: Operation Gunrunner: ATF Stopping Weapons Flow Into Mexico

Operation Gunrunner: ATF Stopping Weapons Flow Into Mexico
Reported by Ryan Wolf

They're weapons destined to kill.

Illegal firearms are scooped off the streets of the Rio Grande Valley before heading into the wrong hands.

"It's become a big issue with the Cartels... battling for their turf," said Special Agent Robert Champion with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Champion said agents have seen the destruction and death first-hand.

"High powered weapons fuel the violence right across our border," he said.

Champion reported that they've seen a drastic increase of firearms violence especially in Mexico and it's spilled over to this side a little bit as well.

That's why ATF agents are adding more manpower and cross-training with their Mexican counterparts. It's all part of the recently created Operation Gunrunner.

The goal? To stop the flow of illegal firearms from the US into Mexico.

Agent Champion says Texas is the largest gun trafficking state in the US. It's a business where the profit is clear.

"Fifty dollars up to $300 per gun," he explained.

A firearms trafficker can pull in thousands of dollars per load. Loads that include guns like "the cop killer" as it's known on the streets.

ATF agents not only try to seize the weapons but "follow the guns" back to where it was purchased.

Often times they uncover how a third-party member bought the weapon as a favor or as a form of payment making it difficult to trace.

"We call it straw purchasing," said Champion.

It's a high stakes business. One ATF agents say they will never give up trying to stop.

http://www.team4news.com/Global/story.asp?S=7842318

While they are working on the fire arms going into Mexico how about stopping the illegals and drugs coming into the U.S.

Originally Posted by SOSADFORUS

While they are working on the fire arms going into Mexico how about stopping the illegals and drugs coming into the U.S.

Drugs and guns go hand in hand and there is a whole lot of money to be made from both.
More money can be made in one day of dealing than can be earned working a year.