The Center for Defense Information (CDI) has reported on the thriving black market that has existed throughout the U.S. occupation. In a December 2006 report, the CDI stated that “weapons originally supplied by the U.S. and its allies to the Iraqi police have been showing up on the streets and on the black market, likely diverted by theft, loss, or by officers who kept their weapons after quitting the police force”.
Tag: Arms Trafficking
Information and statistics on the global arms trafficking industry. Contains financial data and other relevant market figures on the international arms trafficking business.
10,579 US guns seized in Mexico in 2006
According to the Mexican Department of National Defense, 10,579 guns were seized in Mexico that originated from the United States. This figure is up from the 3,214 guns that were seized in 2002.
Gun smuggling from the US to Mexico
As many as 2,000 guns purchased in the US are smuggled into Mexico each day. Source: Manuel Roig-Franzia, “U.S. Guns Behind Cartel Killing in Mexico,” Washington Post, October 29, 2007.
Earnings of corrupt Mexican Custom Officials
According to the Washington Post, corrupt Mexican Customs Officials can earn up to $1 million for allowing large shipments of guns to be smuggled into Mexico.