Federal agents in Austin are cracking down on gun smugglers who cross the border into Mexico. An ATF program called Operation Gunrunner has 4,500 active investigations. The program has seized 10,000 weapons and one million rounds of ammunition.
Straw buyers purchase guns legally in the United States. They then sell them to drug cartels and smuggle them across the border.
“They are looking for high capacity magazines, guns that can put out a lot of ammunition at one time; a lot of bullets to hurt people,” ATF Resident Agent in Charge Michael Reyes said.
Stratfor analyst Fred Burton says drug cartels also purchase guns from other countries. Burton says it is harder to get guns and ammunition in Mexico. He says legislators on Capitol Hill need to be aware of the situation and ask themselves questions.
“Are we setting an organization like ATF up for failure simply because they don't have enough resources to investigate this issue?” Burton asked.
Dr. Michael Lauderdale chairs Austin’s Public Safety Commission. He is a border expert and professor at the University of Texas. He says I-35 is a major artery for gangs to transport drugs, weapons, and cash.
"The activities that occur in Mexico with regard to violence come to Austin as well," Lauderdale said.
