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True, because many of those smugglers also smuggle military-grade firearms back to Mexico. It's very risky, but also very easy money. Sometimes there are enhanc

True, because many of those smugglers also smuggle military-grade firearms back to Mexico. It's very risky, but also very easy money. Sometimes there are enhanced controls to detect smuggling, but I'd bet anything they have well-bribed moles who warn the smugglers when that happens.

JKCalhoun 4y ago
So we're already at gig-smuggling now?
- alexchantavy 4y ago
  There was another article posted here that said the cartel is now using a gig work like model to be more decentralized. Can't find it though.
  - SilasX 4y ago
    Maybe California could prosecute them under the new rules about contractor misclassification!
- WJW 4y ago
  You say "already" but offering random people money for doing crime is at least several centuries old.
mike_d 4y ago
Most of the guns smuggled into Mexico from the United States are status guns. Think unique guns you'd find in popular video games, gold plated, old west revolvers and antiques, etc. Practically it is much easier for cartels to buy thousands of rifles from Africa or the Middle East than to try and get them across the border from the US. Handguns are trivial to source directly from Chinese factories producing Glock and 1911 knockoffs. Heck, you can order every part individually to assemble a Glock directly from Wish.com if you know what to search for.
- GaryNumanVevo 4y ago
  Not true in the slightest, it's extremely easy to smuggle guns out of the United States. Glocks, AR-15s, AKs, Barrett .50 cal rifles, etc. [1] 60% of firearms trafficked are bought without a background check from gun shows in border states. Cartels continue to purchase weapons this way because it's so easy. [1] - Pages 11-14 https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/report/nfcta-volume-ii-part-iv-crime-guns-recovered-outside-us-and-traced-le/download https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/report/nfcta-volume-ii-par...
  - mike_d 4y ago
    The report you point to has some self selection bias, it is a report only covering guns coming from the US. Mexico only initiated 32k traces in 2021, which lends further support to my point that the majority of guns are not coming from the US. That number is incredibly small compared to the net new volume of guns cartels get on a yearly basis. “Most cartels buy in bulk, and the weapons are coming from places like Nicaragua and other South American countries. Also Asia and some from the Middle East,” a Tijuana-based police authority who requested anonymity explained. “And, another factor is the CNC machines making uppers in clandestine shops in Mexico.” https://www.foxnews.com/world/mexico-guns-black-market-tepito https://www.foxnews.com/world/mexico-guns-black-market-tepit...
    - GaryNumanVevo 4y ago
      Yes, that's why I chose a US source. The report doesn't conclude that "status guns" are the only ones making it across the border.
      - mike_d 4y ago
        I'm not sure you understand the ATF report you're trying to cite. It doesn't say a lot of things because they don't fall under ATFs jurisdiction and they don't have any data on it. My information comes directly from law enforcement sources on the ground.
  - everforward 4y ago

JKCalhoun 4y ago

So we're already at gig-smuggling now?

alexchantavy 4y ago
There was another article posted here that said the cartel is now using a gig work like model to be more decentralized. Can't find it though.
- SilasX 4y ago
  Maybe California could prosecute them under the new rules about contractor misclassification!
WJW 4y ago
You say "already" but offering random people money for doing crime is at least several centuries old.

mike_d 4y ago

Most of the guns smuggled into Mexico from the United States are status guns. Think unique guns you'd find in popular video games, gold plated, old west revolvers and antiques, etc. Practically it is much easier for cartels to buy thousands of rifles from Africa or the Middle East than to try and get them across the border from the US. Handguns are trivial to source directly from Chinese factories producing Glock and 1911 knockoffs. Heck, you can order every part individually to assemble a Glock directly from Wish.com if you know what to search for.

GaryNumanVevo 4y ago
Not true in the slightest, it's extremely easy to smuggle guns out of the United States. Glocks, AR-15s, AKs, Barrett .50 cal rifles, etc. [1] 60% of firearms trafficked are bought without a background check from gun shows in border states. Cartels continue to purchase weapons this way because it's so easy. [1] - Pages 11-14 https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/report/nfcta-volume-ii-part-iv-crime-guns-recovered-outside-us-and-traced-le/download https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/report/nfcta-volume-ii-par...
- mike_d 4y ago
  The report you point to has some self selection bias, it is a report only covering guns coming from the US. Mexico only initiated 32k traces in 2021, which lends further support to my point that the majority of guns are not coming from the US. That number is incredibly small compared to the net new volume of guns cartels get on a yearly basis. “Most cartels buy in bulk, and the weapons are coming from places like Nicaragua and other South American countries. Also Asia and some from the Middle East,” a Tijuana-based police authority who requested anonymity explained. “And, another factor is the CNC machines making uppers in clandestine shops in Mexico.” https://www.foxnews.com/world/mexico-guns-black-market-tepito https://www.foxnews.com/world/mexico-guns-black-market-tepit...
  - GaryNumanVevo 4y ago
    Yes, that's why I chose a US source. The report doesn't conclude that "status guns" are the only ones making it across the border.
    - mike_d 4y ago
      I'm not sure you understand the ATF report you're trying to cite. It doesn't say a lot of things because they don't fall under ATFs jurisdiction and they don't have any data on it. My information comes directly from law enforcement sources on the ground.
- everforward 4y ago