Authorities have seen a surge of weapons and ammunition flowing from the United States to Latin America and the Caribbean, fueling conflict in regions already struggling with violence and unrest.
Last week it was American airlines hit by gunfire while flying over the skies of Haiti. While the origins of the firearms remain uncertain, Haiti has no domestic firearms manufacturing capacity, and aside from a small artisanal market, the majority of weapons fueling the violence are likely from the US.
A new report from research organization Small Arms Survey reveals a staggering nearly 120% increase in firearms shipments seized en route from the US to the Caribbean and Latin America since 2016.
“Available evidence indicates that US traffickers are a significant source of illicit weapons in the Caribbean and Latin America,” said Matt Schroeder, senior researcher at Small Arms Survey and author of the report. “The illicit acquisition and use of firearms in the Caribbean and Latin America are among the most pressing security threats in the hemisphere.”
Their analysis, based on previously unpublished border seizure data obtained through public records requests, points to a growing problem. These figures represent only the weapons actually seized, excluding the large number of weapons trafficked in the US or uncovered through criminal investigations. While it is unclear whether these increases reflect more thorough research, a increase in human trafficking or improved data collection, the trend unmistakably points to a continued demand for illegal firearms.
The black market in U.S. weapons and ammunition has been well established by U.S. and international law enforcement as a major source of weapons fueling humanitarian crises and violence in places like Mexico, Haiti and beyond. A 2023 Research CBS reports Up to a million firearms are smuggled across the border every year, including military-grade weapons such as grenade launchers and belt-fed Gatling-style miniguns.
The illegal flow of firearms is now also a major problem in the Caribbean. A recent report from the Government Accountability Office found that US firearms are responsible for the vast majority of violence in Caribbean countries. The report states that 73% of firearms recovered in the Caribbean between 2018 and 2023 were traced back to the US, with a significant portion of these weapons sold in Florida, Georgia and Texas. These firearms are responsible for 90% of murders in some of the most vulnerable countries in the region.
The latest findings from the Small Arms Survey reflect these broader trends, with a disturbing shift in the types of firearms seized in shipments bound for the Caribbean. While shipments to Latin America, particularly Mexico, continue to account for the majority of firearm seizures, the Caribbean has seen a notable increase in the interception of AK and AR style rifles, as well as warehouses with a high capacity.
Of the seized rifles headed to the Caribbean, 77% were AK and AR-style rifles, compared to 48% of shipments to Mexico and 61% to other Latin American countries – although the total number seized guns en route to the Caribbean is still present. are lower than the quantities seized during shipments to Latin America. In shipments to the Caribbean, 93% of magazines identified by capacity could hold more than 10 rounds, making them high-capacity magazines.
Anna Schecter contributed to this report.
