Military.com Investigation: CJNG and Mexican Cartels Source Weapons From U.S. Gun Markets

Military.com published an investigative report examining how Mexican cartels — particularly CJNG — acquire weapons from U.S. gun markets, fueling their paramilitary capabilities. The investigation documents how cartels use straw purchasers, gun shows, and corrupt licensed dealers to funnel weapons across the border. CJNG's military wing, Grupo Élite, has used .50-caliber rifles, RPG-27 rocket launchers, and commercially modified armored vehicles in operations. ATF data indicates tens of thousands of firearms recovered in Mexico are annually traced back to U.S. commercial sources. The report appears amid ongoing U.S. congressional debates over FY2026 counternarcotics funding — where the House Appropriations Committee proposed $175 million to counter fentanyl globally — and the Trump administration's threats of direct military action against Mexican cartels. The weapons flow issue complicates U.S.-Mexico security cooperation, as Mexico has repeatedly demanded the U.S. address domestic arms trafficking as a condition for further intelligence sharing.