We Traced How U.S. Guns Get to Mexican Cartels

A New York Times investigation, published March 17, 2026, traced the flow of firearms from the United States to Mexican drug cartels. Reporter Paulina Villegas and her team followed the trail of these weapons, revealing what sources describe as an unprecedented number of guns being trafficked across the border. The investigation details how gun traffickers are moving these weapons from the U.S. into Mexico. The video report highlights the "who, what, when, where, and why" of this gun trafficking route. The report aims to shed light on the movement of U.S. guns fueling cartel activity in Mexico.