South Texas is a primary hub for 

difficult to determine the exact total number of guns trafficked annually in the United States, as the illegal nature of the activity makes comprehensive data collection impossible. However, available data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) provides insight into the scale and scope of the problem based on their investigations and tracing efforts. 

Key Statistics on Gun Trafficking (2017-2021)

According to a comprehensive 2024 ATF report analyzing data from 2017 to 2021, the following figures were documented:

• Total firearms trafficked in ATF investigations:Nearly 230,000 firearms were documented as trafficked across approximately 7,779 investigations.
• Annual average in investigations: This equates to an average of around 46,000 firearms documented as trafficked per year within those specific ATF investigations.
• Firearms involved in interstate trafficking: At least 122,089 firearms were likely trafficked across state lines within this five-year period. In 2021 alone, 38,597 guns were recovered in a different state from their purchase state within three years of sale.
• Guns from unlicensed dealers: More than 68,000 of the illegally trafficked firearms in the U.S. came through unlicensed dealers, who are not required to perform background checks. 

Broader Estimates and Context

Broader estimates, which often rely on various data sources and methodologies, suggest the actual number of trafficked guns is much higher than what is documented in specific ATF investigations: 

• Mexico border trafficking: The Mexican government estimates that approximately 200,000 firearms are smuggled from the U.S. into Mexico each year. One 2022 model estimated between 72,819 and 258,101 firearms were trafficked from the U.S. to Mexico in 2022.
• Stolen firearms: Theft is a primary avenue for firearms entering the illegal market. An estimated 380,000 firearms are stolen from private owners every year. 

These numbers represent only a portion of the overall illegal gun market, as they primarily stem from guns recovered by law enforcement and successfully traced. Many firearms used in crimes are never recovered or successfully traced, meaning the actual number of trafficked guns is likely higher. 

is difficult to determine the exact number of guns trafficked annually, as figures vary depending on the study and source, but estimates suggest a range of 

tens to hundreds of thousands of guns per year are trafficked within or out of the United States. For example, a 2017-2021 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) report documented nearly 230,000 firearms trafficked in just over 7,700 cases, while another study estimated that around 135,000 firearms were trafficked from the U.S. to Mexico in 2022 alone. 

Key estimates and findings

• U.S. to Mexico: A 2022 model estimated that between 72,819 and 258,101 firearms were sold in the U.S. to be trafficked to Mexico, with a middle-range estimate of 135,000.
• ATF investigations (2017–2021): The ATF documented nearly 230,000 firearms trafficked in 7,779 investigations. During this period, unlicensed sellers were the largest source, accounting for 41% of trafficked firearms, notes Giffords.
• Within the U.S.: Between 2017 and 2021, at least 122,089 firearms were trafficked across state lines before being recovered by law enforcement, according to Everytown.
• “Ghost guns”: From 2017 to 2023, 92,702 privately made firearms (PMFs) were recovered and reported. The number of PMFs recovered in crimes surged nearly 1,600% in that period, says the Department of Justice. 

Factors influencing estimates

• Data limitations: The true number is hard to track because it involves illegal activity and the U.S. has weak gun laws, making it difficult to track firearms trafficked across state lines, notes Everytown.
• Source of firearms: The majority of trafficked firearms originate from unlicensed sellers who are not required to perform background checks, according to the Giffords article. 

gun trafficking to Mexico, where firearms purchased in the U.S. are funneled to drug cartels, fueling violence. Law enforcement agencies are actively combating this issue, leading to frequent seizures and arrests of traffickers, including those using sophisticated concealment methods and straw purchasers. 

Key Aspects of Gun Trafficking in South Texas

• Primary Source: Texas, due in part to relatively weaker state laws against gun trafficking, is the leading source among U.S. states for weapons recovered and traced in Mexico.
• Destination: The vast majority of the trafficked firearms are destined for Mexican Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and drug cartels, such as the Sinaloa Cartel, to arm their forces.
• Methods: Traffickers often use “straw purchasers” (individuals who can pass background checks to buy guns on behalf of prohibited buyers) to acquire weapons from licensed dealers or unlicensed sellers across Texas. These firearms are then frequently disassembled and hidden in vehicles or false compartments within trailers to cross the border undetected.
• Types of Weapons: High-powered and military-grade firearms are common targets for trafficking, including “assault rifles,” belt-fed rifles, and high-capacity magazines.
• Enforcement Efforts: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) lead investigations. A new regional Homeland Security Task Force-South Texas has recently been established to focus specifically on cartel activity and disrupt these operations. 

Recent Law Enforcement Actions

Recent cases highlight the ongoing nature of the problem and the federal response:

• Major Seizures: In separate incidents in late 2025, authorities in Laredo seized hundreds of firearms hidden in vehicles or trailers at the border. One seizure alone netted 270 firearms, over 250 magazines, and thousands of rounds of ammunition, with the individuals involved sentenced to federal prison.
• High-Profile Convictions: A former gun store owner in Laredo was sentenced to prison for his role in smuggling ammunition and magazines to Mexico. In another case, a San Antonio man received over six years in prison for supplying numerous belt-fed rifles and other weapons to the Sinaloa Cartel.
• Organized Crime Busts: Federal agents have arrested members of trafficking organizations that coordinate across several states (Louisiana, Alabama, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Tennessee) to source and move weapons. 

Federal law provides significant penalties for gun trafficking, including up to 10 years or more in federal prison, depending on the severity of the offense. 

South Texas is a primary hub for firearms traffickingfrom the U.S. into Mexico, with weapons often destined for violent drug cartels. The flow of guns is facilitated by “straw purchasers” who acquire firearms legally in the U.S. and then smuggle them across the border. 

Key Aspects of Gun Trafficking in South Texas

• Primary Source of Crime Guns in Mexico: According to a 2016 GAO report, Texas is the leading source of weapons trafficked into Mexico, accounting for more guns than almost every other U.S. state combined.
• “Ant Trafficking” Method: Most cross-border seizures involve small quantities of firearms, a phenomenon known as “ant trafficking”. However, organized operations involving hundreds of weapons in a single bust also occur frequently.
• Straw Purchasing: Cartel-affiliated organizations use straw purchasers (individuals who can pass federal background checks) to buy firearms from licensed dealers or private sellers in Texas.
• Types of Weapons: Traffickers attempt to smuggle a wide range of firearms, including pistols, shotguns, and high-powered “assault rifles,” such as M249S belt-fed rifles and AK-47 variants.
• Concealment Methods: Smugglers use sophisticated methods to hide the weapons, such as creating false walls in utility trailers or stashing them inside water heaters. 

Law Enforcement Response

Federal agencies have intensified their efforts to combat gun trafficking in the region: 

• Increased Collaboration: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) work with local law enforcement to disrupt smuggling operations.
• Task Forces: A new regional Homeland Security Task Force-South Texas has been established to target cartel and transnational criminal organizations in the border region.
• Significant Seizures and Prosecutions: Numerous arrests and convictions have been made, including cases involving the seizure of nearly 400 weapons in Laredo and the sentencing of individuals connected to the Sinaloa Cartel.
• Penalties: Individuals convicted of firearms trafficking can face significant federal prison sentences, often 5 to 10 years or more, depending on the severity of the offense. 

For further information on federal efforts, visit the official websites for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).