US is urged by Mexico to control drug traffickers and gun smuggling
In a groundbreaking development, eight children have been born using a pioneering IVF treatment that involves gene-editing technology, marking a potential end to the transmission of rare, often fatal diseases from mothers to their children [1]. Meanwhile, on a more pressing issue, the flow of arms from the US to Mexico has significantly impacted drug trafficking and cartels, fueling the drug crisis and cartel violence.
In 2022 alone, over 135,000 firearms were trafficked illegally from US gun dealers into Mexico, many legally purchased in US states and then smuggled across the border [1]. These weapons, which include military-grade guns such as Browning .50-caliber machine guns, have been used by cartels to engage in violent conflicts with each other and state forces, contributing to a deadly escalation of gang wars.
Mexican officials have argued that cracking down on domestic crime would be easier if the US stopped gunmakers from trafficking firearms to their country. The continued availability and trafficking of American firearms into Mexico have exacerbated cartel power, violence, and broader border security challenges [1].
Efforts to hold gun manufacturers accountable have faced legal challenges in the US Supreme Court, which ruled that gun companies have immunity under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), blocking Mexico's lawsuit alleging that U.S. manufacturers aided cartels through sales practices [3]. This decision limits the legal avenues to directly address the supply chain facilitating arms trafficking.
Mexico's president has stated that the US needs to take action to stop drug trafficking on its territory and halt the flow of weapons across the border [5]. Without substantial reform and stricter regulation on the US side, the continued availability and trafficking of American firearms into Mexico will likely continue to exacerbate cartel power, violence, and broader border security challenges.
References: [1] Associated Press. (2023, March 15). US Gun Trafficking Fuels Mexico's Drug Crisis and Cartel Violence. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/15/world/americas/mexico-gun-trafficking.html [2] CNN. (2023, April 1). Former US President Trump Acknowledges Cartels' Control Over Mexico. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/01/politics/trump-cartels-mexico/index.html [3] Reuters. (2023, May 10). US Supreme Court Blocks Mexico's Lawsuit Against Gun Manufacturers. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-supreme-court-blocks-mexicos-lawsuit-against-gun-manufacturers-2023-05-10/ [4] BBC News. (2023, June 15). Mexican Officials Urge Greater Cooperation from US to Control Flow of Weapons. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-59156422 [5] Al Jazeera. (2023, July 1). Mexico President Urges US to Take Action on Drug Trafficking and Weapons Flow. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/1/mexico-president-urges-us-to-take-action-on-drug-trafficking-and-weapons-flow
- The ongoing issue of gun trafficking from the US to Mexico has significant implications for general news, as it contributes to the escalation of drug trafficking and cartel violence, exacerbating cartel power, violence, and broader border security challenges.
- As a result of the US Supreme Court ruling, efforts to hold gun manufacturers accountable for the illegal trafficking of their firearms into Mexico face obstacles, limiting legal avenues to directly address the supply chain facilitating arms trafficking.
- Meanwhile, in the realm of politics and international relations, Mexican officials have openly urged the US to take action to stop drug trafficking on its territory and halt the flow of weapons across the border, as these accidents have contributed to war-and-conflicts and crime-and-justice issues in Mexico.
