LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

December 12, 3918

How Are Mexican Cartels Getting U.S. Military Weapons?

Military-grade weapons from the United States are ending up in the hands of Mexican drug cartels, and Mexico’s foreign secretary is demanding an explanation. Weapons seized in Mexico are pictured. // File Photo: State of Michoacán.

Q

A

Arturo Sarukhan, board member of the Inter-American Dialogue and former Mexican ambassador to the United States: “Trafficking of American-sourced firearms into Mexico is a national security threat for both nations. Military-style weapons are smuggled in huge numbers from the U.S. civilian market to Mexican criminal organizations because it’s the easiest, cheapest place in the world to purchase them, thanks to straw purchasers, weak gun laws, regulatory loopholes and a deliberate strategy by the U.S. gun industry to design and sell military-style weapons to civilians. It should come as no surprise that there are more gun shops along the border with Mexico than Walmarts. But the problem isn’t only the American regulatory framework or the impact that…”

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The Inter-American Dialogue publishes the Latin America Advisor every business day for a distinguished membership of informed corporate leaders, scholars, and government officials invested in Latin America’s development and future. The Advisor‘s highly regarded Q&A section covers questions submitted by subscribers themselves. Commentators regularly include heads of state, business leaders, diplomats, economists, analysts, and thought leaders from around the world. Many of the world’s largest and fastest-growing companies subscribe to the Advisor. To subscribe, click here. For terms and conditions, click here. For more information, contact Gene Kuleta, editor of the Advisor, at gkuleta@thedialogue.org.

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Gene Kuleta
Editor
P. 202.463.2920
E. gkuleta@thedialogue.org

Carl David
Goette-Luciak
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Nili Blanck
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Diego Arria
Director,
Columbus Group

Merike Blofield
Professor of Political Science,
University of Hamburg

Devry Boughner Vorwerk
CEO,
DevryBV Sustainable Strategies

Joyce Chang
Global Head of Research,
J.P. Morgan

Marlene Fernández
Corporate Vice President for Gov’t Relations,
Arcos Dorados (McDonald’s)

Peter Hakim
President Emeritus,
Inter-American Dialogue

Donna Hrinak
Director,
Adtalem Global Education

Jon E. Huenemann
Council Member,
GLG Inc.

James R. Jones
Chairman,
Monarch Global Strategies

Craig Kelly
Senior Director,
Int’l Gov’t Relations,
Exxon Mobil

Barbara Kotschwar
Professor of Political Economy,
Georgetown University

John Maisto
Director,
US Education Finance Group

Nicolas Mariscal
Chairman,
Grupo Marhnos

Thomas F. McLarty III
Chairman,
McLarty Associates

Beatrice Rangel
Director,
AMLA Consulting

Ernesto Revilla
Head of Latin American Economics, Citi

Gustavo Roosen
President,
IESA

Andrés Rozental
President, Rozental &
Asociados

Shelly Shetty
Managing Director,
Sovereigns, Fitch

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