AK-47 bullet in Iraq costs between $0.15 to $0.45
Source: “Bullets ‘flooding Baghdad market’,”BBC News, June 15, 2006.
Rocket propelled grenade launcher available for $100 in Iraq
Grenades cost an extra $50 each.
Source: Ahmed Rasheed and Ross Colvin, ” Iraqi police selling weapons on black market,” Reuters, February 5, 2007.
Arms black market in Iraq during US Occupation
The Center for Defense Information (CDI) has reported on the thriving black market that has existed throughout the U.S. occupation. In a December 2006 report, the CDI stated that “weapons originally supplied by the U.S. and its allies to the Iraqi police have been showing up on the streets and on the black market, likely [...]
10,579 US guns seized in Mexico in 2006
According to the Mexican Department of National Defense, 10,579 guns were seized in Mexico that originated from the United States. This figure is up from the 3,214 guns that were seized in 2002.
Source: Chris Hawley, “Bush broaches U.S. gun smuggling,” Arizona Republic, March 15, 2007.
As many as 2,000 guns purchased in the US are smuggled into Mexico each day
Source: Manuel Roig-Franzia, “U.S. Guns Behind Cartel Killing in Mexico,” Washington Post, October 29, 2007.
Mexican Customs Officials can earn up to $1 million
According to the Washington Post, corrupt Mexican Customs Officials can earn up to $1 million for allowing large shipments of guns to be smuggled into Mexico.
Source: Manuel ROig-Franzia, “U.S. Guns Behind Cartel Killing in Mexico,” Washington Post, October 29, 2007, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/28/AR2007102801654.html?hpid=topnews (accessed: October 29, 2007).
