Project Gunrunner

Project Gunrunner is a project of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) intended to stem the flow of firearms into Mexico, in an attempt to deprive the Mexican drug cartels of weapons.[1]

The primary tactic of Project Gunrunner is interdiction of straw purchasers and unlicensed dealers to prevent legal guns from entering the black market; between 2005 and 2008, 650 such cases involving 1,400 offenders and 12,000 firearms were referred for prosecution.[2] However, other tactics ("gunwalking" and "controlled delivery") have led to controversy.

In early 2011, the project became controversial when it was revealed that Operation Wide Receiver (2006–2007) and Operation Fast and Furious (2009–2010) had allowed guns to "walk" into the hands of Mexican drug cartels.[3][4]

  1. ^ "ATF Fact Sheet - Project Gunrunner - ATF". Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  2. ^ "FBI — Fact Sheet: Department of Justice Efforts to Combat Mexican Drug Cartels". FBI. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
  3. ^ "AP Exclusive: Second Bush-Era Gun-Smuggling Probe". The Associated Press. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2011.
  4. ^ Savage, Charlie (27 July 2011). "Agent Who Supervised Gun-Trafficking Operation Testifies on His Failings". New York Times. Retrieved 16 October 2011.