🇲🇽🇺🇸 Mexico's Defense Secretary says 80% of the weapons seized from cartels are of US origin

 

BREAKING:

🇲🇽🇺🇸 Mexico's Defense Secretary says 80% of the weapons seized from cartels are of US origin
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— Megatron (@Megatron_ron) February 23, 2026

The X post from @Megatron_ron

 (dated around February 23, 2026) shares a breaking claim:"BREAKING: Mexico's Defense Secretary says 80% of the weapons seized from cartels are of US origin"It includes a short video clip (likely from a press conference) showing Mexico's Secretary of National Defense, General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, presenting data during President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration's morning briefing ("mañanera").From reliable reports and the official statements:Since President Sheinbaum took office in October 2024 (up to early February 2026), Mexican authorities have seized approximately 18,000 firearms (long guns and handguns combined).

Of those, around 77–80% were traced back to the United States (figures vary slightly by source: some say 77%, others nearly 80%, and recent updates mention up to 80% of around 23,000 total weapons in some contexts).

These weapons are often purchased legally in U.S. gun shops (especially in border states like Arizona and Texas) and then trafficked south across the border to Mexican cartels.

In the same briefings, Trevilla also highlighted that of roughly 137,000 .50-caliber rounds seized since 2012, about 47% originated from the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (a U.S. government-owned facility in Missouri that produces ammo primarily for the military but allows surplus/civilian sales through contractors).

This has reignited bilateral discussions on gun trafficking, shared responsibility for cartel violence, and U.S. gun laws. Mexico has long argued that lax U.S. firearm regulations fuel cartel firepower, while some U.S. voices point to Mexico's corruption, weak enforcement, or military desertions as factors in how weapons reach criminals.The replies to the post reflect polarized views:Many blame past U.S. operations like Fast and Furious (under the Obama administration, where ATF allowed guns to "walk" to track cartels, but some ended up in crimes, including the murder of a U.S. Border Patrol agent).

Others note similar issues in Canada (where a high percentage of crime guns are also U.S.-sourced).

Some defend U.S. gun rights, arguing Mexico's corruption and cartel control are the root problem, not American civilian ownership.

The statistic appears credible and widely reported by outlets like The New York Times, El País, Xinhua, and others, based on forensic tracing presented by Mexico's defense ministry in early-to-mid February 2026 press conferences.If you'd like more details (e.g., the full video context or related updates), let me know!