US, Mexico launch joint initiative to tackle cross-border gun trafficking [View all]

Source: Reuters

September 28, 2025 11:44 AM EDT Updated 8 hours ago


MEXICO CITY, Sept 28 (Reuters) - The United States and Mexico launched a new bilateral initiative aimed at disrupting the flow of illicit firearms across their shared border, the U.S. State Department said on Saturday.

The announcement came during the inaugural meeting of the U.S.-Mexico Security Implementation Group, formed earlier this month during Secretary Rubio's visit to Mexico to enhance joint action against narcotrafficking and arms smuggling.

As part of the new initiative, Mexico will expand its use of U.S. tracing tools such as eTrace and ballistic imaging technology to all 32 states, while both countries will increase joint investigations, prosecutions, and intelligence sharing, the department said.

The initiative also calls for deeper bilateral investigations, more prosecutions, and a ramp-up of U.S. inspections to stop the southbound smuggling of weapons — a key enabler of cartel violence in Mexico.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-mexico-launch-joint-initiative-tackle-cross-border-gun-trafficking-2025-09-28/