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Project Gunrunner
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<p>Project Gunrunner is a project of the <a href="/facts/Bureau_of_Alcohol%2c_Tobacco%2c_Firearms_and_Explosives/orftTb48">U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives</a> (ATF) intended to stem the flow of <a href="/facts/Firearms/GuHx4aGE">firearms</a> into Mexico, in an attempt to deprive the Mexican drug cartels of weapons. </p><p>The primary tactic of Project Gunrunner is interdiction of straw purchasers and unlicensed dealers to prevent legal guns from entering the black market; between 2005 and 2008, 650 such cases involving 1,400 offenders and 12,000 firearms were referred for prosecution. However, other tactics ("gunwalking" and "controlled delivery") have led to controversy. </p><p>In early 2011, the project became controversial when it was revealed that <a href="/facts/ATF_gunwalking_scandal/TJxowS6w">Operation Wide Receiver (2006–2007) and Operation Fast and Furious (2009–2010)</a> had allowed guns to "walk" into the hands of Mexican drug cartels. </p>