How are firearms smuggled into Mexico?

Through various methods like disassembling and concealment.

What challenges exist for legal firearm possession in Mexico?

It is challenging and expensive, leading to black market reliance.

Through social media targeting and exploitation of opportunities.

The Sinaloa Cartel and New Generation Cartel.

Led to anti-American sentiment and conspiracy theories.

Firearms are predominantly smuggled from the United States to Mexico, with innovative methods like disassembling AK-47s and concealing them in backpacks or vehicles used by gun runners.
Corruption within Mexican law enforcement and border patrol, coupled with challenges in legal firearm possession, contribute to the thriving black market for firearms in Mexico, exacerbated by cartels exploiting social media to recruit individuals and the influx of guns from the United States.

How are firearms smuggled into Mexico?
Through various methods like disassembling and concealment.
What challenges exist for legal firearm possession in Mexico?
It is challenging and expensive, leading to black market reliance.
How do cartels recruit individuals for smuggling operations?
Through social media targeting and exploitation of opportunities.
What are the dominant cartels operating along the border?
The Sinaloa Cartel and New Generation Cartel.
What impact did the surge in firearms crossing the border have on Mexico?
Led to anti-American sentiment and conspiracy theories.

00:00

Ed Calderon, a former Baja police agent turned security consultant in the United States, shares insights on gun smuggling and crime.
Firearms are smuggled from the United States to Mexico, with 70% of all firearms coming from the north.
Operación Hormiga, or Operation Ant, involves individuals carrying small pistols across the border multiple times.
Methods of smuggling include disassembling AK-47s and concealing them in backpacks or duct-taping them onto individuals.
Tijuana is a hub for innovative smuggling techniques, including concealment compartments in vehicles.
Gun runners utilize tunnels, drones, and remote-control vehicles to transport firearms across the border.
The Border Patrol is criticized for corruption, with gun runners bribing officials and utilizing various smuggling methods.
Legal firearm possession in Mexico is challenging and expensive, leading many to resort to the black market.
Cartels recruit individuals through social media, targeting young people for easy money and exploiting the lack of opportunities.
The Sinaloa Cartel and New Generation Cartel dominate the border, seeking specialized firearms like night-vision equipment and suppressors.

14:39

Over 2,000 guns were allowed to cross the border into Mexico, leading to a surge in anti-American sentiment and conspiracy theories. The Mexican government, despite suing American gun manufacturers, faces challenges in curbing corruption within its institutions, including the military being the sole legal seller of firearms in the country.
The narrator, a former Baja police agent, highlights the rampant corruption within Mexican law enforcement, leading to his departure after 12 years of service. Despite the challenges faced, he now utilizes his experience to provide training on gun smuggling and aims to advocate for those affected by the violence caused by illicit firearms in Mexico.