Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: It has not yet been determined whether the detainees belong to ISIS or another organization
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Around 10 people of different nationalities, including Lebanese nationals, were detained
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese army arrested a number of people in the Matn area of Mount Lebanon with possession it has not disclosed
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: We have strong indications that there are martyrs, injuries, and trapped people in the Salah al-Din area
Gaza Civil Defense spokesman: Citizens should avoid Salah al-Din Street because anyone who approaches it is at risk of being directly targeted

US weapons are used in 40% of crimes in Central America

  • By Al Mayadeen net
  • Source: The Washington Times
  • 18 Jan 2022 08:50
3 Min Read

According to a GAO audit, weapons included handguns, rifles, and machine guns.

  • x
  • (Getty images)
    Most of the weapons come from Florida, Texas, and California (Getty Images)

According to a recent audit by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and reported by The Washington Times, thousands of weapons produced or purchased in the United States are used in crimes in Central America. Half of the weapons are smuggled in, while the rest are legally sold and rerouted into criminal hands.

Most firearms that ended up in Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras came from Florida, Texas, and California.

GAO investigators evaluated 27,240 tracing requests filed by these nations to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) between 2015 and 2019. According to the GAO, ATF discovered that around 40 percent of the firearms were made in the US, with the remainder coming from 39 other countries.

Some bordering nations claim that the US is the source of many of the illicit guns they discover.

Despite Vice President Kamala Harris's efforts to curve illegal immigration from Central America, federal agencies do not prioritize US guns sent to the region. The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs admits it lacks sufficient information on the circumstances in those countries and plans to "elevate" focus on gun trafficking.

Related News

Senate blames Secret Service failures for Trump assassination attempt

South Korea warns US chip tariffs threaten economy, global supply

Authorities in Central America do not hold precise data concerning how the firearms are smuggled but believe land borders are the most likely answer.

According to the US and Central American officials, weapons smuggled via ports of entry often come in batches of one or two firearms.

Mexico says US arms manufacturers deliberately enable firearm trafficking

The greatest single shipment of guns intercepted by border police consisted of only ten weapons. The countries of Central America aren't the only ones expressing concerns.

Mexico has launched a $10 billion lawsuit alleging that American manufacturers deliberately enable firearm trafficking into the hands of warring cartels, to fuel the bloodshed that has engulfed the nation over the last decade.

According to a November report by InSight Crime, which analyzes organized crime in the Americas, US weapons are also driving gang violence in Haiti.

This month, federal authorities accused a Rhode Island man of smuggling "ghost guns" to the Dominican Republic.

Robert Alcantara purchased hundreds of partly built weapons at a gun exhibition in Pennsylvania and texts were discovered on his phone detailing an attempt to organize firearm sales in the Dominican Republic.

  • US Arms Fuel Cartel Violence in Mexico
    US Arms Fuel Cartel Violence in Mexico
  • United States
  • Gun Violence
  • Central America

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS