Rep. Meeks, Sen. Durbin offer input on GAO Mexico firearms trafficking report

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) have offered thoughts regarding the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) update of its January 2016 report assessing firearms trafficking from the United States to Mexico.

Meeks and Durbin provided input regarding how the report determined trafficking of U.S.-sourced firearms into Mexico serves as a national security threat.

Additionally, the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) determined 70 percent of crime guns seized in Mexico and traced through ATF’s crime gun tracing program originated in the United States.

“Firearms trafficking from the U.S. to Mexico has spiraled out of control,” Meeks, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said.“We in Congress must move quickly to crack down on the illegal trafficking of American-made firearms through our southern border. Neither Mexico nor the United States can solve these challenges alone, and I look forward to continue working on these issues with Sen. Durbin and our partners in Mexico.”

Durbin, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he asked the GAO to update its analysis of firearms trafficking as a means of enhancing Congress’ efforts to address the matter.

“And clearly, there is much work to be done to stop the flow of weapons and laundered drug money out of this country and into Mexico,” he said. “The time to act is now.”