A growing number of American teenagers are increasingly involved in supplying firearms to Mexican drug cartels, according to interviews with young weapons traffickers and U.S. law enforcement officials. These youths, many of whom are current or former high school students in the Phoenix, Arizona area, acquire handguns and high-caliber rifles to sell primarily to cartel operatives based in the United States.

The individuals interviewed, aged between 16 and 19, described their activities candidly, often discussing gun trafficking in terms similar to business operations, focusing on profits, suppliers, and logistics. Some obtain firearms legally once they turn 18, while others steal guns or buy them through connections with family or friends. They use encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram to coordinate sales and evade detection, frequently creating and deleting group chats and vetting new members by referral.

One 18-year-old trafficker who goes by the nickname El Flaco said that after his first sale, he saw gun trafficking as a reliable way to avoid poverty and make money quickly. Another, known as J.M., claims to coordinate a network of students from at least 20 Phoenix high schools, who collectively source guns that are mostly transported to cartel members, particularly those linked to the Sinaloa cartel. J.M. acknowledged that while his network is not aligned with any specific group, the majority of their weapons ultimately end up in cartel hands.

U.S. authorities say several factors contribute to this trend, particularly the permissive firearm laws in border states like Arizona. The state allows private gun sales without background checks or record-keeping, which facilitates easier access for traffickers. Federal data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) indicates that young people make up a substantial portion of gun traffickers investigated nationwide, with about one-third under 25 and 5 percent younger than 17, although specific numbers tied to Mexico-related trafficking are unavailable.

Law enforcement officials see the involvement of teenagers as partly driven by the lure of fast money and status, combined with their typically clean criminal records, shorter potential sentences, and vulnerability to criminal influence. A.J. Gibes, special agent in charge at the ATF’s Phoenix division, noted that criminals prey on youth susceptible to such opportunities, a phenomenon amplified by new technologies like encrypted messaging platforms.

The scale of gun trafficking from the U.S. into Mexico remains significant, with Mexican officials estimating that up to 500,000 firearms are smuggled annually. These weapons intensify the violent conflict between rival cartels and counter Mexican government efforts to combat organized crime, contributing to widespread violence and thousands of deaths.

While Meta, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, prohibits weapons sales on its platforms and claims to ban accounts involved in such activity, traffickers demonstrate how easily those restrictions can be circumvented. The young Americans involved in these networks also face risks, including arrest and threats from criminal buyers. Some report carrying guns for personal protection.

The trafficking pipeline often involves adults coordinating larger shipments across the U.S.-Mexico border, while teenagers serve as intermediaries acquiring and distributing weapons within the U.S. Authorities report emerging groups engaging in more violent criminal behavior such as kidnapping and extortion linked to this trade.

Despite hopes that increased gun control measures under current and future administrations may reduce the flow of weapons, officials warn the market shows no signs of slowing in the near term.