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{{Short description|ATF project}}

'''Project Gunrunner''' is an operation of the [[Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives|U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives]] (ATF) intended to stem the flow of [[firearms]] into [[Mexico]], in an attempt to deprive the Mexican drug cartels of weapons.<ref>[http://www.atf.gov/publications/factsheets/factsheet-project-gunrunner.html Project Gunrunner]</ref>

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}

'''Project Gunrunner''' is ana operationproject of the [[Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives|U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives]] (ATF) intended to stem the flow of [[firearms]] into [[Mexico]], in an attempt to deprive the Mexican drug cartels of weapons.<ref>[{{cite web|url=http://www.atf.gov/publications/factsheets/factsheet-project-gunrunner.html|title=ATF Fact Sheet - Project Gunrunner] - ATF|access-date=26 December 2014|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015050830/http://atf.gov/publications/factsheets/factsheet-project-gunrunner.html|archive-date=15 October 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In early 2011, the operation became controversial when it was revealed that [[Operation Fast and Furious]] and other probes under Project Gunrunner had [[ATF gunwalking scandal|allowed guns to "walk" into the hands of Mexican drug cartels]] since as early as 2006.<ref name="npr1">{{cite web|title=AP Exclusive: Second Bush-Era Gun-Smuggling Probe|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=141364631|publisher=The Associated Press|accessdate=16 October 2011}}</ref><ref name="nyt1">{{cite web|last=Savage|first=Charlie|title=Agent Who Supervised Gun-Trafficking Operation Testifies on His Failings|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/us/politics/27guns.html|publisher=New York Times|accessdate=16 October 2011}}</ref>

The primary tactic of Project Gunrunner is interdiction of straw purchasers and unlicensed dealers to prevent legal guns from entering the black market; between 2005 and 2008, 650 such cases involving 1,400 offenders and 12,000 firearms were referred for prosecution.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fact-sheet-department-of-justice-efforts-to-combat-mexican-drug-cartels|title=FBI — Fact Sheet: Department of Justice Efforts to Combat Mexican Drug Cartels|work=FBI|access-date=26 December 2014}}</ref> However, other tactics ("gunwalking" and "controlled delivery") have led to controversy.

In early 2011, the operationproject became controversial when it was revealed that [[ATF gunwalking scandal|Operation FastWide andReceiver Furious]](2006–2007) and otherOperation probesFast underand ProjectFurious Gunrunner(2009–2010)]] had [[ATF gunwalking scandal|allowed guns to "walk" into the hands of Mexican drug cartels]] since as early as 2006.<ref name="npr1">{{cite web|title=AP Exclusive: Second Bush-Era Gun-Smuggling Probe|url=http://www.nprtulsaworld.orgcom/templatesnews/story/storyarticle.phpaspx?storyIdsubjectid=14136463116&articleid=20111015_13_A10_WASHIN703082|publisher=The Associated Press|accessdateaccess-date=1611 OctoberDecember 2011|archive-date=12 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120912050506/http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=16&articleid=20111015_13_A10_WASHIN703082|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="nyt1">{{cite webnews|last=Savage|first=Charlie|title=Agent Who Supervised Gun-Trafficking Operation Testifies on His Failings|url=httphttps://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/us/politics/27guns.html|publisherwork=New York Times|accessdatedate=27 July 2011 |access-date=16 October 2011}}</ref>

==History==

The ATF began Project Gunrunner as a pilot project in [[Laredo, Texas]], in 2005 and expanded it as a national initiative in 2006. Project Gunrunner is also part of the [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]]’s's broader Southwest Border Initiative, which seeks to reduce cross-border drug and firearms trafficking and the high level of violence associated with these activities on both sides of the border.<ref> {{Cite documentweb | contribution quote= Preliminary review by the Department of Justice implementation of Project Gunrunner on the illicit trafficking of guns from the United States to Mexico |date=September title2009 |url=https://oig.justice.gov/reports/ATF/e0906.pdf |title=Review of ATF’sATF's Project Gunrunner | publisher = U.S. Department of Justice - Office of the Inspector General | pages = 3 | access-date =1 SeptemberMarch |2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite yearweb |title=WORKING 2010|DRAFT idREPORT: =Review |of contribution-urlATF's Project Gunrunner |date=September 2010 |url=http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/OIG_report.pdf |access-date=1 formatMarch = PDF2017 | accessdate = 2010archive-11-13 | postscript url= <!-- Bot inserted parameterhttps://web. Either remove it; or change its value to "archive." for the cite to end in a "org/web/20130621203219/http://msnbcmedia.",msn.com/i/msnbc/sections/news/OIG_report.pdf as|archive-date=21 necessary.June 2013 |url-->{{inconsistentstatus=dead citations}}}}</ref>

ATFThe hasATF determined that the Mexican cartels havehad become the leading gun trafficking organizations operating in the southwest U.S. and is working in collaboration with other agencies and the Government of Mexico to expand the ''[[eTrace]]'' firearm tracing software system.<ref name=Hoover >{{Cite documentweb | first=William | last=Hoover| coauthors=| contributiontitle=Statement by William Hoover, Assistant Director for Field Operations, Bureau of ATF: STATEMENT AT THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE| title=Statement by William Hoover, Assistant DIrector for Field Operations, Bureau of ATF| editor-first=| editor-last=| publisher=UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS | place=Washington, D.C.| pages=| date=7 February 72008 | yearurl=2008http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/110/hoo020708.htm | idaccess-date=21 March 2009 | contributionurl-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080813021728/http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/110/hoo020708.htm| format=| accessdatearchive-date=2009-03-21|13 August 2008 editors=| postscriptdf=.dmy-all }}</ref> ''[[eTrace]]'' provides web based access to ATF’sthe ATF's Firearms Tracing System to allow law enforcement both domestically and internationally the ability to trace firearms encountered in connection with a criminal investigation to the first recorded purchaser<ref>[httphttps://www2009-2017.state.gov/p/wha/rls/fs/2009/121671.htm eTrace: Internet-based Firearms Tracing and Analysis<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref name=autogenerated2>[http://www.atf.gov/publications/factsheets/factsheet-etrace.html ATF Fact Sheet - eTrace: Internet-Based Firearms Tracing and Analysis<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110190026/http://www.atf.gov/publications/factsheets/factsheet-etrace.html |date=10 November 2010 }}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>[http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09709.pdf GAO-09-709 Firearms Trafficking: U.S. Efforts to Combat Arms Trafficking to Mexico Face Planning and Coordination Challenges<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> - (who may have innocently sold the gun years ago). ''[[eTrace]]'' allows law enforcement to access their trace results directly (name and address of first purchaser) and offers the ability to generate statistical reports to analyze their trace data to estimate firearms trafficking trends or patterns.<br>

The ATF announced a goal to deploy ''[[eTrace]]'' software to all thirty-one Mexican states within the Republic of Mexico. As part of [[eTrace]] expansion, the ATF continues to provide training to Mexican and Central American countries to ensure that the technology is utilized to a greater extent.<ref name=Hoover /> [[Colombia]] and [[Mexico]] were provided with their own in-country tracing centers with full access to the ATF firearm registration records. In Colombia, a joint ATF-CNPATF–CNP Center for Anti-Explosives Information and Firearms Tracing (CIARA) opened on 6 December 6, 2006.<ref>[httphttps://www2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/125571.pdf Bureau of International Narcotics Matters End Use Monitoring (EUM) Report], CY 2006, U.S. State Department.</ref> In Mexico, The National Center for Information, Analysis and Planning in order to Fight Crime (CENAPI) was established in 2003. ATF states these are models for planned future tracing centers throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean Basin.<ref>[http://www.justice.gov/jmd/2010justification/pdf/fy10-atf.pdf CBS<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In December, 2009, ATF announced deployment of a Spanish version of [[eTrace]] to Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica. A planned second phase will release the software to all Spanish-speaking countries with agreements with ATF. In June 2011 Congress opened an investigation into project gunrunner against the ATF, as some ATF agents have come forward stating that top heads in ATF and the Department of Justice instructed the agents to encourage gun stores in the U.S. to sell assault-style weapons to Mexican firearm traffickers.

In Mexico, The National Center for Information, Analysis and Planning in order to Fight Crime (CENAPI) was established in 2003. The ATF states these are models for planned future tracing centers throughout Central and South America and the Caribbean Basin.<ref>[https://www.justice.gov/jmd/2010justification/pdf/fy10-atf.pdf CBS<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> In December, 2009, the ATF announced deployment of a Spanish version of eTrace to Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

In 2009, the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]]<ref>[http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1/text?version=enr&nid=t0:enr:232 H.R.1 - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]</ref> provided $40 million to state and local law enforcement agencies. This money was primarily slated for competitive grants to provide assistance and equipment to local law enforcement along the southern border; and, in high-intensity drug trafficking areas, to combat criminal narcotics activity stemmming from the southern border. $10 million of the money was to be transferred to the BATF for Project Gunrunner to hire personnel and open facilities in 6 new locations. The use of "stimulus" money to fund Project Gunrunner is controversial, given the ATF Phoenix Field Division's reported initiative of allowing known criminals purchase guns in an effort to gain intelligence on the cartels ([[Operation Fast and Furious]]).

A planned second phase will release the software to all Spanish-speaking countries with agreements with the ATF. In June 2011 Congress opened an investigation into Project Gunrunner against the ATF, as some ATF agents have come forward stating that top heads in the ATF and the Department of Justice instructed the agents to encourage gun stores in the U.S. to sell assault-style weapons to Mexican firearm traffickers.

==Participants==

Along with a number of Caribbean police forces, many countries use [[eTrace]] software:

<ref name=autogenerated2 /> Mexico, Colombia, Suriname, Tobago, Guyana, Canada, Germany, Bahama, Jamaica, Dominican Republic,

Barbados, Anguilla, Antigua, Barbuda, Aruba, Curacao, Dominica, Grenada, St. Vincent, Grenadines, St. Lucia,

Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, St. Kitts, Nevis, Britain, Australia, Japan, and Belgium.

==Budget==

These countries have access to American gun owner identities and information (first purchaser only) as a result of traces of recovered firearms contained in the database.<ref name='Privacy'> {{cite news | title = Privacy Impact Assessment for the eTrace | date = 2006-05-30 | publisher = BATFE | url = http://www.atf.gov/publications/download/pia/privacy-impact-assessment-etrace.pdf | work = BATFE | pages = 19 | accessdate = 2010-12-16}}</ref>

In 2009, the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]]<ref>[{{cite web|url=http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1/text?version=enr&nid=t0:enr:232 |title=H.R.1 -: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009] - U.S. Congress - OpenCongress|work=OpenCongress|access-date=26 December 2014}}</ref> provided $40 million to state and local law enforcement agencies. This money was primarily slated for competitive grants to provide assistance and equipment to local law enforcement along the southern border; and, in high-intensity drug trafficking areas, to combat criminal narcotics activity stemmmingstemming from the southern border. $10 million of the money was to be transferred to the BATF for Project Gunrunner to hire personnel and open facilities in 6 new locations. The use of "stimulus" money to fund Project Gunrunner is controversial, given the ATF Phoenix Field Division's reported initiative of allowing known criminals to purchase guns in an effort to gain intelligence on the cartels ([[Operation Fast and Furious]]).

<ref name=JPFO >{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= |authorlink=

| title=An Open Letter to B.A.T.F.E. Head Kenneth Melson (Acting Director)

| date=October 22, 2009

| publisher=Jewsfor the Preservation of Firearms Ownership

| url =http://www.jpfo.org/articles-assd/melson-open-letter.htm

| work = | pages = | accessdate = 2009/12/29| language = }}</ref> In GAO Report 09-709, ATF reports the National Tracing Center, “conducts the gun traces, and returns information on their findings to the submitting party”.<ref name=autogenerated1 />

In addition, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act provided the ATF with an additional 5 million for Project Gunrunner.<ref>{{cite web|title=Statement of William Newell, Special Agent in Charge, Phoenix Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Before the United States House of Representatives 24 March 2009 |archive-date=26 December 2014 |access-date=1 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226191230/http://www.judicialwatch.org/ff/DOJ-FF-02968%20-%20DOJ-FF-03027.PDF |url=http://www.judicialwatch.org/ff/DOJ-FF-02968%20-%20DOJ-FF-03027.PDF|page=7|quote=In addition, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act provides ATF with an additional $5 million for Project Gunrunner}}</ref>

ATF has commissioned approximately 100 special agents and 25 industry operations investigators to the initiative,<ref name=Hoover /> and is increasing its intelligence activities with other EPIC law enforcement partners stationed at the border, including the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI), the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] (DEA), [[Immigration and Customs Enforcement]] (ICE), [[Customs and Border Protection]] (CBP) and the Texas Department of Public Safety. ATF also works closely with these agencies’ task forces which operate along the Southwest border, sharing intelligence, and conducting joint investigations.

==Participants==

Countries have access to American gun owner identities and information (first purchaser only) as a result of traces of recovered firearms contained in the database.<ref name='Privacy'>{{cite news | title = Privacy Impact Assessment for the eTrace | date = 30 May 2006 | publisher = BATFE | url = http://www.atf.gov/publications/download/pia/privacy-impact-assessment-etrace.pdf | work = BATFE | pages = 19 | access-date = 16 December 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101110001318/http://www.atf.gov/publications/download/pia/privacy-impact-assessment-etrace.pdf | archive-date = 10 November 2010 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=JPFO >{{cite news |title=An Open Letter to B.A.T.F.E. Head Kenneth Melson (Acting Director)|date=22 October 2009|publisher=Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership|url =http://www.jpfo.org/articles-assd/melson-open-letter.htm|access-date = 29 December 2009}}</ref> In GAO Report 09-709, the ATF reports the National Tracing Center, "conducts the gun traces, and returns information on their findings to the submitting party".<ref name=autogenerated1 />

The ATF has commissioned approximately 100 special agents and 25 industry operations investigators to the initiative,<ref name=Hoover /> and is increasing its intelligence activities with other EPIC law enforcement partners stationed at the border, including the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI), the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] (DEA), [[Immigration and Customs Enforcement]] (ICE), [[U.S. Customs and Border Protection|Customs and Border Protection]] (CBP) and the Texas Department of Public Safety. The ATF also works closely with these agencies’agencies' task forces which operate along the Southwest border, sharing intelligence, and conducting joint investigations.

==Operations==

By early 2009, Project Gunrunner had resulted in approximately 650 cases by the ATF, in which more than 1,400 defendants were referred for prosecution in federal and state courts and more than 12,000 firearms were involved.<ref name=fbi >{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= |authorlink= | title=FBI Fact Sheet: Department of Justice efforts to combat Mexican Drug Cartels | date=2 April 2, 2009 | publisher=Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | url =httphttps://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fact-sheet-department-of-justice-efforts-to-combat-mexican-drug-cartels | work access-date=4 | pages = | accessdate =April 2009-04-04 | language = }} </ref>

According to the [[U.S. Government Accountability Office]] (GAO), during FY 2007 and 2008, the ATF conducted twelve12 [[eTrace]] training sessions for Mexican police (over 961 Mexican police officers) in several Mexican cities, including the same cities where corrupt police were disarmed and arrested: [[Mexico City]], [[Tijuana]], [[Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas|Nuevo Laredo]], and [[Matamoros, Tamaulipas|Matamoros]].<ref name="09-709">[http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d09709.pdf GAO Report 09-709 (PDF)]</ref> Despite the [[GAO]] report, the ATF nowclaimed claimsin (October 2010) only about 20 people have been trained to use [[eTrace]] in Mexico.<ref name='New Accord'> {{cite news | first = KATHERINE | last = CORCORAN | title = ATF: New accord with Mexico will boost gun traces | date =6 October 2010-10-6 | publisher = Yahoo News | url = httphttps://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101006/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_mexico_weapons_trafficking | workagency = Associated Press | accessdateaccess-date =17 December 2010-12-17 | quote = About 20 people have been trained to use [[eTrace]] in Mexico.}}</ref> This discrepancy has not been explained. With the assistance of ATF’sthe ATF's Mexico City office and the Narcotics Affairs Section of the U.S. Department of State, the ATF anticipatesanticipated conducting numerous additional courses in these subject areas in 2009.<ref name=fbi /> According to Mexican government officials, corruption pervades all levels of Mexican law enforcement—federal, state, and local.<ref>GAO Report 09-709, June 2009</ref>

The ATF reported they analyzed firearms seizures in Mexico from FY 2005-07 and identified the following weapons most commonly used by drug traffickers. <ref>[http://www.atf.gov/publications/factsheets/factsheet-project-gunrunner.html ATF Fact Sheet - Project Gunrunner<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015050830/http://atf.gov/publications/factsheets/factsheet-project-gunrunner.html |date=15 October 2011 }}</ref> However this conclusion is seriously flawed and not supported by ATF statistics, which only includes guns successfully traced and these are not necessarily connected to drug traffickers. The number of trace requests from Mexico has increased since FY 2006, but most seized guns in Mexico have not been traced as only guns originally from the United States are traced.<ref name='OIG' > {{Cite documentweb | first author1= U.S. Office of the Inspector General (OIG) - Evaluation and Inspections Division | contribution quote= OIG Review of ATF’sATF's Project Gunrunner | title = Review by the Office Inspector General (OIG) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’Explosives' (ATF) implementation of Project Gunrunner | publisher = U.S. Department of Justice | place = U.S.A. | date = November | year = 2010| id = | contribution-url = http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/ATF/e1101.pdf | formataccess-date =21 PDF | accessdate =November 2010-11-21 | postscript = <!-- Bot inserted parameter. Either remove it; or change its value to "." for the cite to end in a ".", as necessary. -->{{inconsistent citations}}}}</ref>

*[[9×19mm Parabellum|9mm]] pistols

*[[.38 Super]] pistols

*[[FN 5.7×28mm|5.7mm]] pistols

*[[.45 ACP|.45]] ACP pistols

*[[AR-15]] type [[rifles]]

*[[AK-47]] type [[rifles]]

==Controversy==

{{See mainalso|ATF gunwalking scandal }}

[[ATF]] Project Gunrunner has a stated official objective to stop the sale and export of guns from the United States into Mexico in order to deny Mexican drug cartels the firearms considered "tools of the trade".<ref name='Gunrunner'> {{cite news | title = Project Gunrunner | date = 17 February 2011-02-17 | publisher = BATFE | url = http://www.atf.gov/firearms/programs/project-gunrunner/ | work = BATFE | accessdateaccess-date = 26 February 2011 | url-02status=dead | archive-26url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110220033714/http://www.atf.gov/firearms/programs/project-gunrunner/ | archive-date = 20 February 2011 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> However, since 2006 under Operation Wide Receiver (2006-2007), Hernandez Case (2007), Medrano Case (2008) and [[Operation Fast and Furious]] (2009-2011), [[Operationthe WidePhoenix Receiver]]offices andof others,the ATF and itUSAO did the opposite by permitting, encouraging and facilitating '[[straw purchase]]' firearm sales to traffickers, and allowing the guns to 'walk' and be transported to Mexico.<ref>[http://democrats.oversight.house.gov/images/stories/minority_report_13112.pdf Fatally ThisFlawed: hasFive resultedYears of Gunwalking in theArizona] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216124118/http://democrats.oversight.house.gov/images/stories/minority_report_13112.pdf |date=16 February 2012 }} death(Report of USthe borderMinority agentStaff, BrianRep. TerryElijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member; Committee on Oversight and considerableGovernment controversyReform, U.S.<ref name="npr1"House of Representatives, January 2012).</ref><ref>[http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20120731222048/http://1.usa.gov/OH2Vbm name='CBSPart News'>I {{citeof newsIII: |Fast firstand =Furious: AttkissonThe |Anatomy lastof =a SharylFailed |Operation], titleJOINT =STAFF GunrunningREPORT scandalPrepared uncoveredfor atRep. theDarrell ATFE. |Issa, dateChairman =United 2011-02-23States |House publisherof =Representatives CBSCommittee Newson |Oversight urland =Government http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/02/23/eveningnews/main20035609.shtml?tag=channelMore;popReform |& workSenator =Charles CBSE. NewsGrassley, |Ranking accessdateMember =United 2011-02-25}}</ref><ref>States {{citeSenate newsCommittee |on titlethe =Judiciary, CCRKBA112th toCongress, Holder31 onJuly ATF2012.</ref> Scandal:The 'Investigategun-rights andgroup Fire,[[Gun orOwners Resign'of |America]] dateaccused =the 24ATF Februaryof 2011attempting |to url"boost =statistics http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ccrkba-to-holder-on-atf-scandal-investigate-and-fire-or-resign-116840913.htmlof |seized workfirearms =with PRAmerican Newswirecommercial |provenance accessdatefrom =Mexican 2011-02-26}}crime scenes."</ref><ref name='FF Timeline'>{{cite news | first = FredHugh | last = LucasHolub | title =More Gun-Runningcalls Timeline:for Howan DOJ’sinvestigation ‘Operationinto FastATF's andProject Furious’Gunrunner Unfoldedscandal | date =24 February 2011-07-07 | publisher url= CNS Newshttp://tucsoncitizen.com/view-from-baja-arizona/2011/02/24/more-calls-for-an-investigation-into-atfs-project-gunrunner-scandal/ | archive-url = httphttps://wwwarchive.cnsnewstoday/20120714204302/http://tucsoncitizen.com/newsview-from-baja-arizona/article2011/gun02/24/more-runningcalls-timelinefor-howan-dojinvestigation-sinto-operationatfs-project-gunrunner-scandal/ |url-status=dead work |archive-date=14 CNSJuly News2012 |work=The accessdateTucson =Citizen |access-date=2011-0702-0926 }}</ref>

In October 2011, documents were released that indicated Justice Department officials were sent memos in regard to Operation Fast and Furious in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2014-03-19 |title=Emails show top Justice Department officials knew of ATF gun program |url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-atf-guns-20111004-story.html |access-date=2023-06-14 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> According to ATF agents, Mexican officials were not notified, and ATF agents operating in Mexico were instructed not to alert Mexican authorities about the operation.<ref name='Mexico Responds'>{{cite news | first = Sharyl | last = Attkisson | title = Mexico responds to CBS News investigation | date =24 February 2011 | publisher = CBS News| url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mexico-responds-to-cbs-news-investigation/ | access-date =25 February 2011}}</ref> Under Fast and Furious, the ATF attache at the Mexico City Office (MCO) was not notified (unlike Wide Receiver and most other cases).<ref name="DOJOIGOFF">[https://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/2012/s1209.pdf A Review of ATF’s Operation Fast and Furious and Related Matters], U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, September 2012.</ref>

Senator [[Charles E. Grassley]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]]-IA) initiated an investigation with a letter to [[ATF]] on 27 January 2011,<ref name='Grassley 1'> {{cite news | first = Charles | last = Grassley | title = Grassley Letter | date = 2011-01-27 | publisher = scribd.com | url = http://www.scribd.com/doc/47909152/ATF1-1 | work = U.S. Senate | accessdate = 2011-02-26}}</ref> and again on 31 January 2011. ATF responded through the [[United States Department of Justice|Department of Justice]] by denying all allegations.<ref name='DOJ'> {{cite news | first = Ronald | last = Weich | title = DOJ Letter | date = 2011-02-04 | publisher = DOJ | url = http://www.scribd.com/doc/48448953/atf-2 | work = DOJ | accessdate = 2011-02-26}}</ref> Senator Grassley responded with specific documentation supporting the allegations in letters to [[U.S. Attorney General]] Holder on 9 Feb 2011<ref name='Grassley 2'> {{cite news | first = Charles | last = Grassley | title = Grassley Letter 2 | date = 2004-02-09 | publisher = scribd.com | url = http://www.scribd.com/doc/48549160/RosettaStone | work = U.S. Senate | accessdate = 2011-02-26}}</ref> and 16 Feb 2011.<ref name='Grassley 3'> {{cite news | first = Charles | last = Grassley | title = Grassley Letter 3 | date = 2004-02-16 | publisher = scribd.com | url = http://judiciary.senate.gov/resources/documents/upload/021611GrassleyToHolder.pdf | work = U.S. Senate | accessdate = 2011-02-26}}</ref> ATF refused to answer specific questions in a formal briefing to Senator Grassley on 10 Feb 2011.

IndictmentsSome filedATF inagents federaland court,supervisors documentation obtainedstrongly by [[Senator Grassley]]objected, and statementsgun ofdealers ATF(who agentswere obtainedcooperating by Senator Grassley and [[CBS News]], show thatwith the ATF) Phoenix Field Division allowed and facilitatedprotested the sale of over 2sales,500 firearmsbut (AK-47were rifles,asked FNby 5.7mmthe pistols,ATF AK-47to pistols,complete andthe .50transactions caliberto rifles)expose inthe '[[Strawsupply purchase|strawchain manand purchases]]'gather destined for Mexicointelligence. <ref name='CBS News'/><ref name='Avila Indictment'> {{cite news | titlefirst = US.v.Avila IndictmentAttkisson | datelast = 2011Sharyl | publishertitle = U.S.Gunrunning Departmentscandal ofuncovered Justiceat |the url = http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/press_releases/2011/US_v_Avila_Indictment.pdfATF | workdate =23 U.S. Department of Justice | accessdate = 2011-02-14}}</ref><ref name='Flores Indictment'> {{cite news | title = US_v_Flores_Indictment | date =February 2011 | publisher = U.S.CBS Department of JusticeNews | url = httphttps://www.justicecbsnews.govcom/usaonews/az/press_releases/2011/US_v_Flores_Indictment.pdf | work = U.S. Department of Justice | accessdate = 2011gunrunning-02scandal-14}}</ref><ref name='Broome Indictment'> {{cite news | title = US.v.Broome Indictment | date = 2011 | publisher = U.S. Department of Justice | url = http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/press_releases/2011/US_v_Broome_Indictment.pdf | work = U.S. Department of Justice | accessdate = 2011uncovered-02at-14}}</ref><ref name='Aguilar Indictment'> {{cite news | title = US.v.Aguilar Indictment | date = 2011 | publisher = U.S. Department of Justice | url = http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/press_releases/2011/US_v_Aguilar_Indictment.pdf | work = U.S. Department of Justice | accessdate = 2011the-atf-23-02-14}}</ref><ref name='Abarca Indictment'> {{cite news | title = US.v.Abarca Indictment | date = 2011 | publisher = U.S. Department of Justice | url = http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/press_releases/2011/US_v_Abarca_Indictment.pdf | work = U.S. Department of Justice | accessdate = 2011-02-14}}</ref>According to ATF agents, Mexican officials were not notified, and ATF agents operating in Mexico were instructed not to alert Mexican authorities about the operation.<ref name='Mexico Responds'> {{cite news | first = Sharyl | last = Attkisson | title = Mexico responds to CBS News investigation | access-date =25 2011-02-24 | publisher = CBS News | work = CBS News | url = http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20036061-10391695.html | accessdate =February 2011-02-25}}</ref> Some ATF agents and supervisors strongly objected, and gun dealers (who were cooperating with ATF) protested the sales, but were asked by ATF to complete the transactions to expose the supply chain and gather intelligence.<ref name='CBS News'/><ref> {{cite news | firstauthor1 = Hugh Holub | title = Inside ATF…an ugly picture …how many dead bodies are out there as a result of Project Gunrunner? | date = 23 February 2011 | url = http://tucsoncitizen.com/view-from-baja-arizona/2011/02/23/inside-atf-an-ugly-picture-how-many-dead-bodies-are-out-there-as-a-result-of-project-gunrunner/ | work = The Tucson Citizen | accessdate = 2011url-02-26}}</ref> However, there are accusations that the ATF was attempting to boost statistics to 'prove' that American guns are arming the Mexican drug cartels and to further budget and political objectives.<ref> {{cite news | first status= Hugh Holub | title = More calls for an investigation into ATF’s Project Gunrunner scandal | date = 24 February 2011dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120723090602/http://tucsoncitizen.com/view-from-baja-arizona/2011/02/2423/moreinside-calls-foratf-an-investigationugly-intopicture-atfshow-many-dead-bodies-are-out-there-as-a-result-of-project-gunrunner-scandal/ | workarchive-date = The23 TucsonJuly Citizen2012 | accessdateaccess-date = 20111 March 2017 | df = dmy-02-26all }}</ref> It has been established that this operation violated long-established ATF policies and practices and that it is not a recognized investigative technique.<ref> {{cite news | first = Mike M. | last = Ahlers | title = ATF officials admit mistakes in Operation Fast and Furious gun program | date = 26 July 26, 2011 | url = httphttps://edition.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/07/26/atf.fast.and.furious/index.html?iref=NS1 | work publisher= CNN News | accessdateaccess-date = 2011-07-26 July 2011}}</ref>

ManyIn 2011, [[KNXV-TV]] reported that weapons linked to the controversial ATF strategy were recovered in four police seizures of thesedrugs sameand guns arein beingthe recovered[[Phoenix frommetropolitan crimearea|Phoenix scenesarea]] (two in [[Glendale, Arizona|Glendale]], two in [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]]).<ref name='ATF Weapons'> {{cite news | first = Lori | last = Gliha | title = Weapons linked to controversial ATF strategy found in Valley crimes | date = 2011-07-01 | publisher = KNXV-TV, ABC15.com | url = http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/local_news/investigations/weapons-linked-to-controversial-atf-strategy-found-in-valley-crimes | work = KNXV-TV, ABC15.com | accessdate access-date= 2011-07-01}}</ref> and throughout Mexico,<ref name='Fast and Furious Map'>{{cite news | title url-status= Fast and Furious Investigationdead | year = 2011 | publisher = U.S. Department of Justice | archive-url = httphttps://wwwweb.justicearchive.govorg/usaoweb/az20110703035905/press_releases/2011/Fast_Furious_Map_ATF.pdf | work = BATFE | accessdate = 2011-02-14}}</ref> which is artificially inflating ATF's eTrace statistics of U.S. origin guns seized in Mexico. Two of these guns recovered at the crime scene are linked to the murder of [[Customs and Border Protection]] Agent Brian Terry on December 14, 2010.<ref> {{cite news | first = Alex Newman | title = ATF Linked to Border Agent’s Murder | date = 23 February 2011 | url = http://www.thenewamericanabc15.com/index.phpdpp/usnewsnews/crimelocal_news/6431-atfinvestigations/weapons-linked-to-bordercontroversial-agentsatf-murderstrategy-found-in-valley-crimes | work archive-date= New American | accessdate = 2011-0207-2603 }}</ref>

As of a 2011 report, total of 372 Fast and Furious firearms were recovered in the United States, and 195 were recovered in Mexico.<ref name='Fast and Furious Map'>{{cite news|title=Fast and Furious Investigation |year=2011 |publisher=U.S. Department of Justice |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao/az/press_releases/2011/Fast_Furious_Map_ATF.pdf |work=BATFE |access-date=2011-02-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220180218/http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/press_releases/2011/Fast_Furious_Map_ATF.pdf |archive-date=2011-02-20 }}</ref>

During Fast and Furious, ATF Phoenix did interdict 105 guns. However, at least 1,856 guns were allowed to walk. Other U.S. agencies, federal, state and local, recovered nearly 270 at crime scenes in the U.S. and 195 Fast and Furious origin guns were recovered by Mexican police at Mexican crime scenes.<ref name="DOJOIGOFF" />

In 2010, Border Patrol agent Brian Terry was murdered in a shootout in Arizona with drug cartel members. Cartel member Manuel Osorio-Arellanes pleaded guilty in 2012 to first-degree murder in the case and was sentenced in 2014 to 30 years in prison; according to Osorio-Arellanes, four other cartel members perpetrated the attack. Two rifles from the "Fast and Furious" operation were found at the scene of the crime, but there is no evidence proving that Terry was killed with either of those guns.<ref>{{cite news|author=Mary Kay Mallonee|title=Man arrested in 2010 killing of Border Patrol agent, DHS says|publisher=CNN|date=April 13, 2017|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/13/us/arrest-border-patrol-agent-killing/index.html}}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Mexican DrugMérida WarInitiative]]

* [[MéridaMexican Drug InitiativeWar]]

==References==

{{reflistReflist|30em}}

[[Category:United States federal firearms law]]

[[Category:Organized crime events in the United States]]

[[Category:Operations against organized crime in Mexico]]

{{Mexican Drug War}}

{{United States intervention in Latin America}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gunrunner, Project}}

[[Category:Arms trafficking]]

[[Category:Battles and operations of the Mexican drug war involving the United States]]

[[Category:Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives operations]]

[[Category:Drug Enforcement Administration operations]]

[[Category:Federal Bureau of Investigation operations]]

[[Category:George W. Bush administration controversies]]

[[Category:Obama administration controversies]]

[[Category:United States federal firearms law]]

[[Category:U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations]]