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Goodman, Colby and Michel Marizco. 2010 ‘Types of Firearms Recovered in Mexico.’ US Firearms Trafficking to Mexico: New Data and Insights Illuminate Key Trends and Challenges; Working Paper Series on US-Mexico Cooperation, pp. 19-20. San Diego, CA: Trans-Border Institute, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, University of San Diego. 1 September

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Types of Firearms Recovered in Mexico

While there is a wide range of U.S.-origin firearms being seized in Mexico, from U.S.-made hand grenades to 12 gauge shotguns, semiautomatic assault rifles are the most sought after and widely used by Mexican DTOs [Drug Trafficking Organisations].

These military-style firearms are far superior to the typical firearms used by local and municipal police in Mexico and make confrontations with DTO members a much more risky endeavor. According to analysis presented by an ATF [US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms] Agent in August 2010, the top two firearms recovered in Mexico that had been purchased in the United States in the past three years were in order AK-47 type semi-automatic rifles (7.62x39mm caliber) and AR-15 semi-automatic rifle clones (.223 caliber).

The Romarms (Romanian manufactured) AK-47 rifle and the Bushmaster AR-15 rifle clone have been particularly popular.

While these firearms were likely purchased in the United States in a semiautomatic configuration before being seized in Mexico, many of them were converted to fire as select fire machine-guns.

Mexico seized a combined total of more than 4,400 firearms of .762 and .223 caliber in 2009.(112) The AK-47 and AR-15 respectively are common types of firearms for these calibers.

ID: Q2530

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