Texas is a major hub for 

firearms trafficking, primarily due to its combination of a robust legal gun market and relatively weak state-level trafficking laws, which facilitate the illegal movement of weapons into Mexico and other US states. Law enforcement agencies like the ATF and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are actively combating this issue, often in collaboration with the Department of Justice (DOJ). 

The Flow of Firearms

• Source of Weapons: A significant majority of guns recovered from crimes in Mexico are traced back to the United States, and Texas is the leading source among U.S. states. Reports indicate that from 2017-2021, 46% of crime guns recovered in Mexico traced back to Texas.
• “Iron Pipeline” to Mexico: The route for military-grade firearms from North Texas to Mexican cartels is sometimes referred to as the “Iron Pipeline”. Strict gun laws in Mexico and a large US market create a strong incentive for this illicit trade.
• Methods of Trafficking: Smugglers often use “straw purchasers” (people who legally buy guns for others who cannot, or will not, do so themselves) to acquire firearms. The weapons are frequently disassembled, hidden in vehicles or false compartments, and then transported across the border. 

Legal and Enforcement Efforts

• Federal and State Laws: Gun trafficking is a serious federal crime. Texas Penal Code Section 46.14 specifically prohibits firearm smuggling, with penalties ranging up to a second-degree felony, depending on the number of firearms involved.
• Bipartisan Safer Communities Act: The 2022 federal Bipartisan Safer Communities Act has provided federal authorities with specific statutes against firearms trafficking and straw purchasing, making it easier to investigate and prosecute these crimes. Since the law went into effect, the DOJ has prosecuted hundreds of defendants for these offenses.
• Prosecutions: The U.S. Attorney’s Offices for both the Southern and Western Districts of Texas frequently announce cases and sentences for individuals involved in large-scale trafficking operations, often involving military-grade weapons destined for drug cartels like the Sinaloa Cartel.
• Agency Collaboration: Federal agencies such as HSI, ATF, and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) collaborate with local law enforcement to intercept weapons and stop trafficking organizations. 

Reporting Trafficking

If you have information regarding gun trafficking, including straw purchasing, you can contact the ATF. 

Texas is a major hub for firearms trafficking, primarily due to its comparatively lax gun laws and proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border. This illicit activity is a significant source of weapons for Mexican drug cartels and other criminal organizations, leading to a focus on federal prosecution and enforcement efforts. 

Scope and Significance

• Primary Source: Texas is the leading source among U.S. states for guns trafficked into Mexico, accounting for more weapons than nearly every other state combined. From 2017-2021, 46% of crime guns recovered in Mexico and traced back to the U.S. originated in Texas.
• “Iron Pipeline”: North Texas, in particular, has been identified as a central market for military-grade firearms desired by cartels, with the trafficking route often referred to as the “Iron Pipeline”.
• Fueling Violence: Firearms purchased in Texas are used to fuel deadly violence and high murder rates in Mexico and Central America. 

Legal Context

• State Laws: Texas has generally weak state-level laws against gun trafficking, which is a primary reason the state is a hub for this activity. Texas Penal Code Section 46.14 prohibits firearm smuggling but has been criticized for being vague.
• Federal Laws: Federal agencies like the ATF and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) investigate and prosecute gun trafficking cases. The 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act created specific federal statutes for firearms trafficking and straw purchasing, making it easier to prosecute these crimes.
• Penalties: Trafficking weapons to prohibited people or in connection with drug trafficking can result in significant federal prison sentences, up to 15 years in some cases. A Texas man was sentenced to over 6 years for supplying weapons to the Sinaloa Cartel, and others have received multi-year sentences. 

Enforcement and Prevention

Federal agencies work together to combat trafficking through: 

• Border Interceptions: Weapons are frequently seized at ports of entry, often hidden in vehicles using false compartments.
• Targeting Straw Purchasers: A major focus of enforcement is preventing “straw purchasing,” where individuals legally buy firearms on behalf of those who cannot (such as felons or foreign nationals involved in criminal organizations).
• Operations: Initiatives like “Operation Take Back America” aim to use the full resources of the Department of Justice to disrupt transnational criminal organizations and stop the flow of illegal guns. 

If you have information about gun trafficking, you can contact the ATF to report it.