A CBS News documentary titled "Arming Cartels: Inside the Mexican-American Gunrunning Networks" has revealed exclusive details about Project Thor, an operation aimed at stopping the flow of American military-grade weapons to Mexican drug cartels. Released on September 14, the documentary features interviews with intelligence officials, special agents, and cartel members who witnessed the smuggling firsthand.
According to CBS News, Project Thor was a special operation involving multiple government agencies to identify Mexican drug cartel networks within the US that were responsible for running gun-smuggling networks. Chris Demlein, a retired special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), spoke with CBS News about his experience with Project Thor. Demlein confirmed that the cartels are indeed obtaining weapons from the United States, as Mexico has strict gun purchase laws. He explained that cartels have different hubs in different cities across the US, allowing them to pull firearms from all over the country.
The CBS News documentary also highlighted the efforts of the Biden administration to tackle the issue. In June 2023, President Biden announced that stopping the flow of weapons from the US to the cartels was a priority. Lisa Monaco, Deputy Attorney General, stated that from October 2022 to March 2023, "nearly 2,000 firearms" were seized at the border.
The documentary shed light on the ease with which firearms are smuggled across the US-Mexico border. CBS News reporter Adam Yamaguchi crossed the border into Mexico without anyone checking his car, highlighting the lack of border security measures. Project Thor revealed that 85% of guns found at cartel crime scenes can be traced back to the US. Demlein stated that the murder rate in Mexico has skyrocketed by 600% due to the cartels' access to firearms. He emphasized the power and influence of the cartels, stating that they "own the country" and that nobody is able to bring them to justice.
Chris Demlein raised concerns about the United States allowing these guns to flow to Mexico, fueling the cartels' fight against the Mexican government, their production of fentanyl, and ultimately the influx of illicit drugs into the US. He argued that the US has the ability to shut down this pipeline.
