The Link between Firearms Laws and Cartel Operations in Mexico

If you’re wondering why Mexico has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, the answer’s simple: cartels. Gun battles involving rival cartel members are one of the main reasons over 300,000 people have died since Mexico began its war on drugs in 2006. Unfortunately, law enforcement officials continue to discover bodies left in the wake of deadly shootouts between rival cartels to this day.

In response to cartel operations, the Mexican government has enacted some of the toughest firearms laws in the world. But how have cartel operations shaped Mexico’s gun laws? If you’re eager to find out, read on!

Here’s a breakdown of the link between cartel operations and firearms laws in Mexico.

Restrictions On Bringing Firearms Across the US-Mexico Border

What Does the Law Say?

Mexico’s Federal Penal Code outlines an array of restrictions on bringing weapons across the US-Mexico border. Anyone who imports prohibited guns into Mexico without a permit will end up in jail for 3 years and be fined 360 days of their salary as per Articles 160 and 162. The guns will also be confiscated.

How Is This Linked to Cartel Operations?

Mexican drug cartels purchase a majority of their firearms illegally from the United States. Gun laws in the US are far more relaxed than in Mexico—especially in red states where the constitutional right to bear arms is often emphasized. Since the Mexican government can’t control or dictate US gun laws, they’ve adopted some of the toughest gun laws in the world to restrict the inflow of guns from the US to Mexico.

One of the most common ways for cartels to circumvent Mexico’s gun import restrictions is through “straw purchasing”. This refers to the act of paying US citizens to purchase guns lawfully before smuggling them across the border. This is one of the main reasons why Mexico carries out extremely stringent checks to weed out gun trafficking at the border with the United States.

Restrictions on Gun and Ammo Sales in Mexico

What Does the Law Say?

According to Article 163 of Mexico’s Federal Penal Code, only licensed commercial establishments are legally allowed to sell firearms in Mexico. Theoretically, any Mexican organization can apply for a license to sell guns in the country—but these are never issued. As a result, there’s only one gun store in all of Mexico located in a heavily guarded military base.

How Is This Linked to Cartel Operations?

Cartels make a ton of money through criminal operations including but not limited to drug sales, kidnapping, and extortion. In other words, if the Mexican government allowed several gun and ammunition stores to pop up across the country, it’d only be a matter of time before cartels threatened to control them.

Cartels have a history of bribing Mexican security officials to maintain impunity. Therefore, it’s not difficult to imagine a world in which cartels have bribed their way into obtaining guns from ‘legal’ gun stores in Mexico. This is why Mexico’s firearms laws have practically banned gun stores in the country.

Extremely Stringent Gun Permit Protocols

What Does the Law Say?

Mexican laws allow for special gun permits to be issued under specific circumstances. For instance, foreign public servants such as DEA agents are given permission to bear firearms in Mexico. As stated in Article 163 of the Federal Penal Code, public servants may obtain gun permits by posting a bail amount and proving their honorability by submitting character references to Mexico’s Secretariat of National Defense.

How Is This Linked to Cartel Operations?

Cartel members rarely hesitate to defend themselves using guns. Therefore, it’s vital for the Mexican government to allow public servants to bear arms so they can defend themselves adequately. The Mexican government understands that this is a short-term solution, which is why it has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against major American gun manufacturers to stem the flow of illegal firearms into the country.

Fabian Meneses of Meneses Legal Is Extremely Well-versed in Mexico’s Firearms Laws

If you ever find yourself charged with firearms-related crimes in Mexico, your best bet is to call Fabian Meneses at Meneses Legal. At Meneses Legal, we’ve acted as a gun crimes lawyer for countless clients facing firearms-related charges in places like Tijuana, Mexico. We also provide legal assistance for clients charged with drug crimes, sex crimes, homicide, and contraband smuggling. Our criminal defense lawyers regularly answer our clients’ most frequently asked questions and publish a ton of informative content related to our practices on our blog.

Find out what makes us a top firearms defense attorney in Tijuana by browsing our client testimonials and contacting us today!