05:58

ARCHIVE - RTV 3065 - Mexico-Violence/Prison - Ciudad Victoria , Tamaulipas - June 6, 2017.

Next Edgar takes us to the city’s jail. He wants to show us that the cartel’s weapons are everywhere.

Barely two months before our visit the jail was home to a massive armed riot.^[10]It’s alleged that the weapons were smuggled in with the help of corrupt prison guards.

Edgar

They had more than, I would say, 6,000 bullets inside

Juliana

What weapons did the prisoners have?

Edgar

Long guns, just like us

Juliana

So similar to what you’re carrying?

Edgar

Exactly.

We got some guns but unfortunately we know there are many guns inside that we don’t know where they’re hidden

29

During the raid seven people were killed: Four inmates but also three police officers from Edgar’s team.

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Juliana

Can we go closer? Because you say that they still have guns inside

Edgar

They won’t be able to see us because we control this side

Juliana

And who controls the other side?

Edgar

We also control the other side

Juliana

I’m very glad to hear that

Edgar:

He is in charge of the control right now!

06:45

Mexico has very prescriptive gun laws and weapons such as these are only legal in the hands of security forces.^[11]  

Yet the cartels seem to face no shortage of firepower.

32

Sync: (Spanish)

Sub-titles: We came across four pickups

driven by gunmen.

We were able to detain them and

confiscate their weapons.

They had AK47s, AR15s and

a 50mm calibre weapon.

Juliana

Do you sometimes feel that the cartels on the other side are better equipped than you are?

Female officer

Sub-titles: Yes, that's right.

They have better weapons than we do,

with more magazines of ammo.

The government gives us four

magazines of ammo.  Four or five, that’s it.

You saw it right now. That was one magazine gone, just like that. 

In the middle of a confrontation I’m going

to go through four magazines and then what?

33

Commissioned footage

These weapons have been collected by Mexican security forces from crimes scenes. 

The cartels obtain firearms from a number of sources including neighbouring countries and China.^[12] But out of the serial numbers submitted to American authorities for tracing 70% are tracked to purchases from US gun shops.^[13]

To take them out of circulation the Tamaulipas government organises regular destructions. 

34

The illegal flow of weapons across the border is a sensitive issue - Mexico and the US are heavily invested in trade. Victor Manuel Saenz, the Governor’s Chief of staff, is in regular talks with his US colleagues.

35

VICTOR MANUEL SAENZ

CHIEF OF STAFF, GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

Victor (Spanish)

Sub-titles: We have a great relationship with

the state of Texas in particular. //

So we have spoken to the US embassy,

we have asked them

to look more carefully

at this issue,

particularly gun sales

in the Texas valley.

Juliana

So specifically, in what ways could they tighten the gun legislation to stop the flood of weapons coming across the border?

Victor

Sub-titles: In an ideal world, we’d like the sale

of automatic weapons to stop.

We would like these sales to be limited

to sport guns, or for personal defence.

But if they will carry on

selling automatic weapons,

then these should be

very stringently controlled.

09:04

We leave to follow the gun smuggling route back north.

The authorities insist that we travel with an escort, as the closer you get to the US the more dangerous it becomes. 

37

PTC

We’ve just reached the border city of Reynosa and we’ve told categorically that we can’t film here, the Cartels are fighting each other and they at war with the security forces

39

And then we reach the calm of the border queues ...

On the other side it’s another world.

Here in the city of McAllen it’s much more peaceful but suddenly gun stores are a common sight.

They number nearly 5,000 - the highest for any American state^[14].

40

Mel

This is the real deal right here, this is a fully automatic AK-47.

It looks ugly, it sounds ugly and it scares people

Of course this is the gun- that most of bad guys in Mexico like

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Mel Rodero is a Federally Licensed Firearms or FFL dealer.

We’re here want to find out how traffickers manage to purchase weapons in Texan gun stores

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MEL RODERO

SOUTH TEXAS TACTICAL

OR

LICENSED GUN DEALER

Juliana:

If somebody comes in and wants to buy a weapon from you what are you required to do by law?

Mel

When you are an FFL dealer you can only sell to people in your state. They have to show some kind of proof of ID.

They need to fill out one of these, this is called a 44-73 and they’re going to ask you are you the buyer the actual buyer to the gun, they’re going to ask you are you under indictment, ever been convicted, all these kind of questions. Can they lie? Yes they can lie on the form.

43

Because buyers must show identification Mexican cartels often commission locals to buy weapons on their behalf. It’s called a straw purchase.^[15]

Since 2011 gun dealers must notify the authorities of multiple sales of certain guns.^[16]  It’s a regulation introduced by the Obama administration to make it easier to spot straw purchases. 

44

Mel

If you buy rifles that are magazine fed and above a 22 calibre, you have to do a multiple sale for those two.

45

But since President Trump’s election gun owners think tighter regulation is a thing of the past.

46

Mel

Since Trump has won it’s been very, very slow. I love Donald Trump, I'll say it right now I love Donald Trump but now that Trump won, everybody's happy that guns are not going to go away.

Now that they're safe, nobody is buying anything so we’re in trouble now

47

We want to hear the traffickers side and a law enforcement officer has put us in touch with a Mexican police informer.

This man used to work for the Gulf Cartel.

12:01

Juliana

Can you describe to me how the cartels are operating the weapons trafficking from the US into Mexico?

49

Nolberto

Short guns are brought in on foot,

while long guns are disassembled,

broken up into various pieces

and then they get stashed away

in different vehicles

in order to bring them in to Mexico.

Juliana

So what about the Mexican security forces? Do they make an attempt to stop any of it?

Nolberto

Corruption is really widespread.

If you don’t play along, they'll just kill you.

If you are working at customs,

you’re almost certainly getting kickbacks.

And if you’re not, you’ll be killed. 

Or your family will be killed. 

50

And US security simply has a different concern.

As American border forces are more focused on drugs coming in than weapons going out traffickers have adapted their business model:

51

Nolberto

Now they are offering us guns for drugs,

because it's getting trickier to take drugs

over the border.

52

Official data about trafficking is hard to come by.  But some US gun sellers have come to attention such as this superstore chain called Academy Sports.

53

PTC

It keeps coming up as a purchasing point of weapons that have been trafficked to Mexico.  

US agencies are limited by law as to what information they are allowed to publish but in 2011 a spreadsheet with thousands of gun traces was leaked and Academy Sports features very prominently.

54

Academy Sports comes up in nearly 100 traces some linked to weapons recovered from the Zeta Cartel^[2]. 

55

PTC

Now because the data is a bit old I’ve also gone through recent court documents and Academy sports has come up again as a place where US agencies have mounted an undercover investigation into the illegal sale of firearms^[3].

56

Academy Sport didn’t respond to our interview requests but has denied any wrongdoing in previous statements, adding that they have removed tactical weapons from open display^[4].

57

But the federal agency who investigated Academy Sports has agreed to see us.

It’s called the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, or ATF

58

Nicole, Juliana

Nice to meet you

59

Agents Frank Ortega and Nicole Strong work on cases that involve firearms trafficking.  

60

NICOLE STRONG

SPECIAL AGENT, ATF

Nicole

This was one of several that was seized in a recent investigation.

61

This gun was bought by two US citizens, on behalf of a Mexican Cartel. The investigation revealed a whole straw purchasing network.

But their charge was based on lying on the paperwork.

62

FRANK ORTEGA

SUPERVISORY SPECIAL AGENT, ATF

Frank

Seven of them have been prosecuted in federal court for providing false statements on the transaction report.

63

Juliana

So what you’re prosecuting them for is the fact that they filled in the form wrongly?

Frank

Correct! There is currently no firearms trafficking statute that we can prosecute someone for.

64

In the absence of a targeted federal law, traffickers get off with minimal or no punishment.

65

Nicole and Frank take us along the route where weapons are trafficked South.

There are 52 border crossings between the US and Mexico^[18] used by thousands of people every day.  This one connects Brownsville with the city of Matamoros.

66

Juliana

Basically what we’re looking at it, this is your front line.

67

In spite of a massive drive to increase border security the ATF has seen a series of budget cuts and the number of agents has been substantially reduced. ^[19]

68

Juliana

President Trump wants to build a wall to keep refugees and migrants out of the united states. Do you think such a wall could stop the flood of American weapons going into Mexico?

Frank

That’s not the trend that we’re currently seeing, they don’t focus or cross firearms by crossing the river, they cross them in vehicles through the international bridges

Juliana

What does it take to stop the weapons crossing the border?

Nicole

What we could really use, is the trafficking firearms statute because that would allow us to go after not just the straw purchaser but the entire network of people that are getting these guns to arm the cartel.

16:20

But some legal gun sales take place virtually outside the law.

Here in Texas so-called private sellers can sell weapons without any background checks^[5].

Many private sellers use specialist websites and I have made contact.

A former Texan law enforcement officer has agreed to help us.  Since he still does private undercover work we’re hiding his face.

70

JR: I went onto Armslist, there is actually somebody who’s is selling a Romanian AK

$650, it’s got the package, looks new ...

71

The investigator takes over contact with the seller.  He will show us how easy it is to buy a weapon completely anonymously.

72

Juliana

So you’re texting with him now?

Rob

I told him that I was only interested in the Romanian, the AK

73

VO

The vendor has at least four other rifles for sale.

74

Rob

He just replied to me, he said the mag, question mag, question mark, it’s in perfect condition, not in a package, I will call you at noon to set up a meeting place

75

The seller wants to meet at this service station - a busy and public place.  He’s waiting with the AK47 in the boot of his car.

We record the audio

76

Rob

Hey Tom, how you doing?

650, right?

Tom

Yes sir

You want to look at it? It has the case and I gave you an extra mag

Rob

Excellent, you want to count it?

Tom

Nah, gun guys are honest

Rob

Thank you

77

Within minutes the deal is done.

Later, in a private place, we meet to look at Rob’s purchase.  It’s an AK-47, the cartel’s favourite weapon

78

Juliana

I find it pretty extraordinary, I mean this is a weapon that was designed for war and it took you about five minutes to buy it

Rob:

I think it took me about two minutes ... less than two minutes!

Juliana

Did you at any point of time show identification? Did he ask anything about your second name, who you were?

Rob

No, no, it was just a sale!

Right now it was me, an experienced person but it could have been a cartel member

79

To make sure the weapon doesn’t end up in the wrong hands we decide to destroy it.

80

PTC

So this Kalashnikov actually broke the machine, and it’s really hot, but nobody is going to shoot this gun again, that’s for sure

81

So what can American authorities do to keep track of firearms?

Our next stop is a 1,000 miles north in West Virginia. It is here that the Bureau of Tobacco and Firearms traces weapons found at crime scenes - including those in Mexico.

82

NEIL TROPPMAN

PROGRAM MANAGER, ATF TRACING NATIONAL CENTRE

Neil

So we do trace US sourced firearms for anywhere between 75 to 100 foreign countries

84

In 2016 alone the ATF traced nearly 10,000 ^[20] weapons found in Mexico back to dealers and owners in the US. But American laws stop Neil. from sharing details. 

Instead he takes us on a tour.

85

Neil

What you’ll see here are hallways and rows and rows of boxes

86

US laws only allow the agency to keep records from gun dealers who are no longer in business.

Each month the ATF receives around two 

million paper documents.

87

Neil

We’re simply prohibited from creating any kind of a searchable database

Juliana

[Off]: Why?

Neil

[laughs] It’s just the way the legislation is written

88

Even records submitted by dealers in electronic format must be reversioned

89

UPSOT NEIL:

 ... the guys here are the e-media conversion group

90

Man

When we receive the documents in an electronic format what we do is we take that and we make an image so it’s not searchable any more

Juliana

So you’re talking something that was easily searchable, electronically searchable and you’re making the search harder

Man

Yes, that’s what happens

91

If investigators want to trace a gun from a crime scene in Mexico or the US - ATF employees must navigate a mountain of paperwork.

92

Juliana

Your life is made so much more difficult by all these laws that restrict how you can actually do your work. Who’s responsible for those laws?

Neil

US congress is responsible for any of the laws, particularly the federal gun laws and it would be literally an act of Congress if that were to be changed

93

Washington - the place to find out who really shapes US gun laws. 

A group of congressmen is bringing a bill which could further limit the ATF’s ability to investigate trafficking.  Our interview requests to them have gone unanswered so we try to find them in person.

Congressman Evan Jenkins is the sponsor of the proposed new law.

94

JR: Hi, I am from Al Jazeera, I’m looking for Congressman Jenkins.  Is he around today?

95

His staff say they haven’t received our emails and we are sent away.

96

We go in search of the co-sponsors of the bill.

Actuality and UPSOT

97

We have records of our emails but it’s the same answer everywhere:

98

11.07.50 – Looking for Congressman Olsen

MELISSA KELLY

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR CONGRESSMAN PETE OLSON

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR REP.  PETE OLSON

MK: Well, I didn’t get any requests from you.

I’m his communications director.

JR: Right, ok, we’ve put in a few requests over time!

MK: Well, the house email system ... we don’t always get emails.  Sometimes they don’t come through my email inbox.  They go to a spam filter.

JR: Right, so how as the press do we get in touch with you?

...

MK: Call?!

99

But call we did - without results!

Finally we are in luck!

101

REP. BLAKE FARENTHOLD

CONGRESSMAN R-TX

BLAKE FARENTHOLD

US REP. TEXAS, REPUBLICAN

JR: Hi Good Morning Congressman!  We know that you are supporting this bill, which cancels the multiple reporting requirement for assault rifles.  Now the ATF is saying that it’s one of the few tools they have to stop trafficking and straw purchasing.  Can you just tell us why you support this bill?

102

BF: Because the Second Amendment is very clear on the limitation of the government’s ability to regulate firearms and I think the second amendment speaks for itself.  I took an oath when I ran for congress to observe, protect and defend the constitution and this bill is one of the ways I’m doing it. 

103

JR: But it helps to prevent a crime and helps to stop trafficking and straw purchasing – Congressman?  Aren’t you interested in stopping crime?

104

The second amendment of the US constitution guarantees Americans the right to carry weapons.

We know the congressman is due at a meeting so we wait again.

105

JR: Congressman, anything else beyond the second amendment?

BF: It’s not the weapons that do the crime, it’s the the people

106

JR: There’s a bill here that’s an anti-trafficking bill, would you vote in favour of that?

BF: I don’t know what bill that is?

JR: Would you like to – can I show it to you?

BF: Sure – I’ve got to get to a committee.  Ask me this afternoon – I’ll have looked at it!

JR: Thanks very much, we’ll do that,

107

We called Congressman Farenthold’s office several times thereafter - he never did provide a response.

But Evan Jenkins - the sponsor of the proposed law which would limit the ATF’s investigative powers - sent a written statement. He says he wants to stop government intrusion into the lives of responsible gun owners.

108

Archive - AP 4093800 ++US Trump NRA 2 - Atlanta - 28.04.17 -

With President Trump now in power laws that target trafficking have become much less likely to get passed. 

Here he is addressing the 2017 convention of the National Rifle Association who contributed over 30 million USD to his campaign.

109

Archive - AP 4093800 ++US Trump NRA 2 - Atlanta - 28.04.17

DONALD TRUMP

You have a true friend and champion in the White House, no longer will Federal Agencies be coming after law-abiding gun owners.

110

Ruptly - 20120722-043-Trump-Supporters  (outdoors chanting build the wall)

Archive - AP ++US Trump Rally 4 - Phoenix - 22.08.17- 4112176 -

At rallies across the country Trump voters have urged him to construct a wall between Mexico and the US -

Shouts: Build the wall, build the wall!

- a promise President Trump has vowed to deliver.

111

Archive - AP ++US Trump Rally 4 - Phoenix - 22.08.17- 4112176 -

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Archive - AP ++US Trump Rally 3 - Phoenix - 22.08.17

Trump:

That wall is going to help us, very importantly, with the deadly and heartbreaking consequences of illegal immigration - the loss of lives, the drugs, the gangs, the cartels, the crisis of smuggling and trafficking.

112

Archive - AFP 20170430 - US Trump 100 days rally politics - 29.04.17 - Pennsylvania.

+

Archive TBC

But do Trump and his supporters connect their freedom to buy guns with the destruction suffered by Mexico’s people?

If America intends to keep drugs and migrants out it should get tougher on weapons going in.

113

For now the families of the disappeared are waiting for the violence to end. 

They want the search for their loved ones to finally begin ...