The e-Trace internet based system is helping Mexican and U.S. authorities track the flow of guns between the U.S. and Mexico in an effort to stem the tide of drug cartel violence.
The e-Trace system is an electronic tracing system connecting U.S. databanks to Mexico’s databank to study trends in gun purchases and traces guns that are seized in Mexico but came from the U.S. Approximately 70 percent of all guns seized in Mexico come from the U.S. with 80,000 firearms seized in Mexico from 2006 through February of 2010.
The goal is to identify the “first purchaser” of that weapons and hold them accountable. If the e-Trace system identifies a lot of guns coming from one U.S. source the Justice Department can open up an investigation.
