Project Gunrunner
Project Gunrunner
ATF is deploying its resources strategically on the Southwest Border to deny
firearms, the “tools of the trade,” to criminal organizations in Mexico and along the
border, and to combat firearms-related violence affecting communities on both sides of
the border. In partnership with other U.S. agencies and with the Government of Mexico,
ATF refined its Southwest Border strategy. ATF developed Project Gunrunner to stem
the flow of firearms into Mexico and thereby deprive the narcotics cartels of weapons.
The initiative seeks to focus ATF’s investigative, intelligence and training resources to
suppress the firearms trafficking to Mexico and stem the firearms-related violence on
both sides of the border.
Firearms tracing, in particular the expansion of the eTrace firearms tracing
system, is a critical component of Project Gunrunner in Mexico.
ATF Announces Gun Runner Impact Teams Rollout
April 28, 2009
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Acting Director Kenneth Melson and Special Agent in Charge J. Dewey Webb, Houston Field Division, today announced the arrival of its Gun Runner Impact Teams (GRITs) personnel to the Houston Field Division in support of ATF’s Southwest Border strategy, Project Gunrunner. More »
Acting Director Kenneth Melson’s Remarks for Gun Runner Impact Teams Rollout, ATF Houston Field Division, April 28, 2009
April 28, 2009
For more than 30 years, ATF has been at the frontline in the fight against violent crime. Although I am less than three weeks in the job as Acting Director of this proud federal law enforcement agency – as a career federal prosecutor, I have been well aware of its diverse and important mission. More »
Remarks As Prepared For Delivery by Attorney General Eric Holder at the Mexico/United States Arms Trafficking Conference
April 2, 2009
This is my first trip to another country as Attorney General. I wanted to come to Mexico to deliver a single message: We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with you in this fight against the narcotics cartels. The United States shares responsibility for this problem and we will take responsibility by joining our Mexican counterparts in every step of this fight. More »
Fact Sheet: Department of Justice Efforts to Combat Mexican Drug Cartels
April 2, 2009
The increased efforts and reallocation of personnel recently announced by the Department of Justice builds on the foundation of expertise and experience gained from ongoing efforts to combat Mexican drug cartels in the United States and to help Mexican law enforcement battle cartels in its own country. More »
Recovery Act Information - The Southwest Border Initiative - ATF's Project Gunrunner - $10 Million
February 26, 2009
The Administration’s southwest border initiative will reduce cross border drug and weapons trafficking, and the associated high level of violence occurring on the border between the U.S. and Mexico. The primary role of ATF’s Project Gunrunner in support of this initiative is to stem the illegal trafficking of firearms across the border and to reduce the firearms violence occurring on both sides of the border. More »
ATF Provides Small Arms Trafficking Training for Mexican Officers
December 31, 2008
On Sept. 8-12, 2008, ATF held a small arms trafficking class for about 40 officers from agencies of the Mexican government, including the Procuraduria General de la Republica de Mexico (the PGR, the equivalent of the U.S. Office of the Attorney General), the Secretariat de Seguridad Publica (the federal police force, the uniformed and investigative branch of the PGR), the army and the navy. More »
Formal Declaration Between U.S., Mexico Governors To Use ATF Project Gunrunner, eTrace Investigative Tool
August 15, 2008
WASHINGTON – The Border Governors Conference announced a significant partnership to stop the flow of illegal guns into Mexico by utilizing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) programs called Project Gunrunner and eTrace. The two programs make up the centerpiece of a new declaration of cooperation between the 10 border governors from the United States and Mexico that aims to eliminate illegal sources of weapons and bring gun traffickers and violent criminals to justice. More »
ATF Expands Efforts to Combat Illegal Flow of Firearms Into Mexico
January 16, 2008
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) plans to add additional staff members, including 35 special agents and 15 industry operations investigators, to the southwest border and deploy eTrace technology in nine U.S. consulates in Mexico in an effort to stem the illegal flow of firearms to Mexico as part of Project Gunrunner, ATF Acting Director Michael J. Sullivan and Director Arthur Doty of the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC) announced. More »
Fact Sheet: Project Gunrunner
Revised: September 2008
ATF P 3317.6 - Project Gunrunner: The Southwest Border Initiative
March 2009