Firearms/Explosives Smuggling

Since its creation in 2003, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has conducted criminal export investigations and possessed some of the broadest authorities of any U.S. government agency. ICE investigates cases involving the illegal export of munitions, small arms and weapon sanctions violations. It also has primary jurisdiction over investigations related to smuggling firearms across our borders and other weapons out of the United States.

Illegal weapons smuggling between the U.S. and Mexico threatens the overall safety and security of both countries. Weapons smuggled into Mexico from the United States often end up in the hands of the drug cartels or other smuggling organizations where they can be employed against law enforcement officers and citizens in either country. These firearms continue to fuel violence along the Southwest border and in the interior of Mexico. In response, ICE continues to increase its efforts to combat the illegal movement of firearms and explosives to Mexico by establishing unprecedented bilateral interdictions, conducting joint investigations and sharing information with Mexican authorities.

Key Components

Stakeholder training. ICE trains stakeholders in appropriate laws, resources and methods used to combat cross-border smuggling as well as how to input and retrieve database information on active cases.
Intelligence analysis. BEST (Border Enforcement Security Taskforce) operations generate raw data on arrests, seizures and significant events, which is compiled and provided to the Border Violence Intelligence Cell for analysis.
Vetted Arms Trafficking Group. This group receives and analyzes investigative information from Mexican weapons seizures and arrests for exploitation by BEST.
ICE Border Liaison Program. The Border Liaison Program establishes an official ICE point of contact for CBP, ICE representatives in Mexico, state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as Mexican law enforcement agencies along the U.S. and Mexican border.