ATLANTA — U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives officials say metro Atlanta has turned into a hub for gun smuggling to Mexico, mainly to supply drug cartels there.
"Georgia is a source state for both guns going to other states in the U.S., but also down to Mexico," said ATF acting director Kenneth Melson. "It's probably, with respect to Mexico, in the top 10, but probably 8, 9 or 10."
The ATF listed Atlanta among seven "traditional and newly discovered firearms trafficking routes and hubs" in the country. Agents are working to fight firearms trafficking groups working in those locations.
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This week, gunrunners Vana Haile Jr. and Mark Anthony Beckford were convicted on drug and gun charges.
"These men arrived armed to the teeth to conduct a major drug deal on the streets of metro Atlanta," said Atlanta ATF agent in charge Gregory Gant in a prepared statement.
Prosecutors used undercover video that showed the men swapping drugs for guns to be sent to Mexico for use in the cartel wars. Unfortunately for them, their dealers were undercover ATF agents.
Melson said cartels in Mexico often turn their guns on the police and the military.
WSB-TV Gunrunning map
"There's a huge number of law enforcement and military soldiers that have been killed by the cartel," he said.
He said there's a good chance that some of those guns are coming from Georgia.
WSBTV
