The operation led to the discovery of a range of other crimes, from corruption to terrorist activities, and dismantled 20 organized crime groups in 15 South American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Mexico. In total, authorities in Central and South America made 14,260 arrests and seized 8,263 illegal firearms as well as nearly 306,000 rounds of ammunition in “the largest firearms operation ever coordinated by Interpol,” which codenamed Trigger IX.
Approximately 100,000 rounds of ammunition were recovered from Uruguay alone, “trafficked internationally by two European nationals, which represents the largest seizure of this type ever made in this country”. “The fact that an operation targeting illicit firearms has led to such massive drug seizures is further proof, if more were needed, that these crimes are linked,” Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock said.
Trigger IX also uncovered a range of other crimes, from corruption to terrorist activities, and dismantled 20 organized crime groups in different countries. Among those arrested are members of the Balkan Cartel, the powerful Brazilian organized crime network Primeiro Comando da Capital, and Mara Salvatrucha, a Salvadoran mafia operating in Central America and the United States, all involved in arms trafficking, according to Interpol.
Eleven victims of human trafficking were released in Paraguay following the raid. Fifteen countries in the region participated in the operation – unprecedented cooperation, as well as approximately 100 law enforcement agencies, such as the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), after law enforcement have reported an increase in drug-related violence in the past year, fueled by firearms trafficking, Interpol said.
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay participated in the operation. The operation took place in the context in which Mexico, supported by 16 American states and some Caribbean countries, appeals in a civil lawsuit against the US arms manufacturers, trying to hold them accountable for having facilitated arms trafficking across border.
More than half of the “murder weapons” recovered and traced in Central America come from the United States, according to the American weapons control agency ATF. This level approaches 70% in the case of Mexico and is around 80% in the Caribbean.
