A CBS News documentary titled, "Arming Cartels: Inside the Mexican-American Gunrunning Networks," revealed the extensive weapons smuggling networks operated by Mexican drug cartels from the US to Mexico. The documentary, released on September 14, featured interviews with intelligence officials and special agents who witnessed and reported on the smuggling.
According to the documentary, American citizens are selling military-grade firearms to Mexican drug cartels. Chris Demlein, a retired special agent with The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), confirmed that the cartels are obtaining weapons from the United States, taking advantage of Mexico's strict gun purchase laws. Demlein explained that the cartels have hubs in different cities across the US, allowing them to pull firearms from all over the country.
The documentary also highlighted Project Thor, a special operation involving multiple government agencies aimed at identifying Mexican drug cartel networks within the US involved in gun-smuggling. Demlein revealed that cartels activate their cells by contacting "accomplices" located anywhere in the US, not just along the southwest border. American citizens are paid by the cartels to purchase guns, which are then passed to brokers and eventually delivered to the cartels in Mexico.
In a significant development, an Oklahoma man was sentenced in 2022 for purchasing guns in the US and providing them to cartels. This marked the first successful takedown of an American accomplice by the US justice system, aided by the investigation of Project Thor and multiple law enforcement agencies. However, Project Thor has since been shut down due to a loss of funding.
The documentary also shed light on the alarming level of firepower sought by the cartels. Christopher Landau, former US ambassador to Mexico, criticized the US for turning "a blind eye to the flow of weapons illegally into Mexico." In June 2023, Steve Dettelbach, Director of ATF, warned that the cartels are seeking weaponry that outguns Mexican law enforcement authorities.
The revelations in the CBS News documentary highlight the ongoing issue of weapons smuggling from the US to Mexico and the significant role American citizens play in arming Mexican drug cartels. The documentary serves as a reminder of the importance of continued efforts to combat this illicit trade and disrupt the operations of these cartels.
