Bilateral recognition of arms trafficking
President Claudia Sheinbaum reported that the United States government formally accepted that the majority of weapons seized in Mexico come from its territory. This recognition, he noted, reinforces the need to stop illegal trafficking as a priority in security cooperation.
“They already recognized it. And in the understanding that we have, now with President Trump’s government, they recognize that something fundamental is to seize the weapons that come to Mexico,” declared Sheinbaum.
The key data was given by the US Department of Justice before the end of Joe Biden’s administration: about 75% of the weapons seized in Mexican territory originate in the American Union.
Civil litigation and progress in the evidence phase
The Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Velasco, confirmed that the civil lawsuit that Mexico maintains against arms manufacturers and distributors in the United States is still active. It is currently in the discovery phase, despite the fact that other previous litigation was dismissed by US courts.
“This demand continues. We are going to follow up on it and we are committed to ensuring that this phase goes well,” Velasco said.
Concrete actions at the border
Velasco explained that the fight against arms trafficking is also addressed in bilateral coordination tables. The United States has increased actions to detect weapons and ammunition in its border area.
Additionally, Mexico has direct access to the ATF’s eTrace tracking system, which allows the origin of seized weapons to be identified. According to data from that platform, approximately 70% of the weapons seized and tracked come from American gun stores or distributors.
The chancellor also highlighted a recent operation in the United States that secured a shipment of weapons destined for the Mexican border, including detainees. This reflects greater cooperation to stem the flow of arsenal into the country.
