The New York Times published an in depth report on March 17, 2026 by Times journalists Paulina Villegas and Paul Ratje describing how guns from the United States are being funneled in unprecedented numbers to Mexican drug cartels since the beginning of Trump’s second term as President.[1] The lead author, Pauline Villegas, spent weeks interviewing seven drug cartel operatives directly, including two dealers in Arizona and five in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The operatives described in detail how weapons sold at U.S. gun shops, at gun shows, and via websites and phone apps are transferred with relative ease across the border to Mexico. One dealer boasted, “No one stops you unless you run a red light.” Mexican authorities estimate that as many as half a million guns are smuggled from the United States into Mexico annually, and they report that about 80% of all guns they seize from drug cartels come from the United States. Trump has threatened to send U.S. troops into Mexico to disarm the cartels, but Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has rejected this proposal and has argued that instead of sending troops into Mexico, Trump should do more to stop the flow of guns into her country. Click on this link to read the full report.
[1] Paulina Villegas and Paul Ratje, “Inside the Supply Line Delivering American Guns to Mexican Cartels,” World, The New York Times, March 17, 2026, https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/17/world/americas/mexico-us-guns-trafficking-cartels.html.