Press Releases 08
Our Continued Efforts Will Deny Firearms to Criminal Organizations
and Reduce Gun Violence
Statement by Ambassador Antonio O. Garza
Mexico City, January 16, 2008 - “Today I am announcing that
the U.S. government is increasing its ongoing efforts to stem
the illegal flow of firearms to Mexico, to deprive drug trafficking
organizations of firearms and to reduce gun-related violence
on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.
“As part of Project Gunrunner, announced today by the Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), eTrace
technology will be used in all nine U.S. consulates in Mexico
to help trace firearms. Using eTrace technology bolsters the
capacity of law enforcement agencies to identify patterns
of drug traffickers and other criminal organizations bringing
guns into Mexico from the United States. In addition, eTrace
assists criminal investigators to develop leads and prosecute
firearms traffickers and straw purchasers (people who knowingly
purchase guns for prohibited persons) even before they cross
the border.
“The eTrace technology was recently installed in U.S. consulates
in Monterrey, Hermosillo and Guadalajara, with additional
deliveries to all the remaining U.S. consulates in Mexico
planned by March 2008. We also are in discussions with the
government of Mexico to create a Spanish-language version
of eTrace for use by law enforcement agencies in Mexico.
“Project Gunrunner will also focus ATF’s investigative, intelligence
and training expertise to suppress firearms trafficking to
Mexico, with additional special agents, industry operations
investigators and intelligence research specialists in the
United States assigned to combat firearms trafficking to Mexico.
“The continued expansion of our enforcement and strategic
efforts on the U.S.-Mexico border, in partnership with the
government of Mexico and other U.S. agencies, will deny firearms
to criminal organizations and combat gun-related violence
and homicides on both sides of the U.S.- Mexico border.”
ATF Fact Sheet
More information
on eTrace (pdf - Click here to download Adobe Reader if
necessary)
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