HEMISPHERIC SEMINAR ON IDENTIFICATION, COLLECTION, STOCKPILE MANAGEMENT AND DESTRUCTION OF SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT

WEAPONS

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS & EXPLOSIVES (ATF)PRESENTED MAY 12, 2004IN MANAGUA, NICARAGUA

iii

INTRODUCTION

SPECIAL AGENT CHARLES J. HOUSER,

CHIEF, FIREARMS TRACING

BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS & EXPLOSIVES

TELEPHONE: (304) 260-1500

EMAIL: charles.houser@atf.gov

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PURPOSE

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PRESENTATION IS TO PRESENT AN OVERVIEW OF FIREARMS TRACING AS CONDUCTED BY ATF TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE SEMINAR PARTICIPANTS AS THEY CONSIDER METHODS AND MEANS TO COLLECT IDENTIFY SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS.

AGENDA

(1)Definitions(2)The Utility of Firearms Tracing(3)Overview of the firearms trace

process and infrastructure(4)International Firearms Tracing

Efforts by ATF.

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DEFINITIONS

Firearms Tracing is the tracking of a firearm from manufacturer through each dealer, until the identity of the purchaser is obtained.

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UTILITY OF FIREARMS TRACING

Firearms Trace Information can be used for three purposes:

(1) To link a suspect to a firearm in a criminal investigation

(2) To identify potential traffickers, whether licensed or unlicensed dealers

(3) When sufficiently comprehensive tracing is undertaken by a given community, to detect in-state and interstate or international patterns in the sources and kinds of crime guns

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MISSIONATF is charged with enforcing US Federal Firearms, Arson and Explosives laws.

As such, the mission of the ATF National Tracing Center is to Accurately and Efficiently Conduct Firearms Traces for Local, State, Federal and International Law Enforcement to provide investigative leads..

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PRODUCTIVITY

This Chart shows the total number of trace requests received by ATF from International, Federal, State and Local law enforcement for FY-88 through FY-03

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PROCESS – Collection & Identification

INFORMATION COLLECTED TO CONDUCT A FIREARMS TRACE:

1. Firearm Description adequate enough to uniquely identify the weapon in question.

2. Identity of the person found in possession of the firearm.

3. The location where the firearm was recovered.

4. The crime the firearm was involved or used .

Law Enforcement

InternationalFederalStateLocal

To uniquely identify a firearm implies a requirement causing manufacturers or importers to markmark each firearm in such a way as to individually identify each one.

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PROCESS – Record Keeping

To track a firearm through the chain of distribution in order to identify a purchaser requires that a recordrecord of the distribution be maintained for each firearm .

Industry Records

Firearm Description

Manufacturer RecordsImporter RecordsDealer Records

Purchaser Identity

Law Enforcement

Firearm Description.Possessor IdentityRecovery Location.Crime.

InternationalFederalStateLocal

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PROCESS – Analysis

Analysis: Has this firearm been used in other crimes?Has the possessor, purchaser or dealers had other firearms traced to them?Have other firearms been recovered at the same location?What is the geospatial relationship of the data?

Analysis

Law Enforcement

Industry Records

Firearm Description

Manufacturer RecordsImporter RecordsDealer Records

Firearm Description.Possessor IdentityRecovery Location.Crime.

Purchaser Identity

InternationalFederalStateLocal

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PROCESS – Dissemination

Trace Results individually and in total are disseminated to the requesting agency:

To provide investigative leads for the specific investigations.

To identify regional illegal suppliers of firearms.

To identify sources and patterns in firearms trafficking.

InvestigativeLeads

Law Enforcement

Industry Records

Firearm Description

Manufacturer RecordsImporter RecordsDealer Records

Firearm Description.Possessor IdentityRecovery Location.Crime.

Purchaser IdentityAnalysis

InternationalFederalStateLocal

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AN EXAMPLEThe following is a general example of how firearms tracing as discussed in this briefing is being used to provide investigative leads to identify trafficking sources and patterns.

The example uses data from FY-2003 for US-sourced firearms traced by the government of Mexico.

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UNITED STATES

CANADA

ITALY

HONDURAS

PERU

MEXICO

GERMANY

THAILAND

AUSTRALIA

GUATEMALA

BELIZE

BELGUIM

SWITZERLAND

Disposition of Successfully Traced Disposition of Successfully Traced Firearms Recovered In Mexico Firearms Recovered In Mexico

This chart shows a geographic viewOf the disposition of firearms recovered and traced in Mexico in FY-03. White lines indicate legal exports, red lines indicate questionable exports.

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SAN DIEGO DALLAS

HOUSTON

SAN ANTONIO

LAREDO

MCALLEN

BROWNSVILLE

PHOENIX

TUCSON

EL PASO

PUEBLA

TIJUANA MEXICALI

CUIDAD JUAREZ

HERMOSILLOCHIHUAHUA

CULIACAN

DURANGO

PARRAL ESCOBEDO

NUEVO LAREDO

REYNOSAGUADALUPE

SAN LUIS POTOSI

TEPIC

ZAPOPAN

APATZINGAN

MORELIAMEXICO CITY

CUERNAVACA

DISTRITO FEDERAL

Comparison of Sources and Recovery Comparison of Sources and Recovery Locations Locations

This chart shows a geographic comparison of source cities and recovery cities. The size of the circle indicates relative quantity of firearms either purchased or recovered. Red indicates purchases, blue indicates recoveries from Mexico in FY-03.

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HOUSTON

TUCSON

EL PASO

TIJUANA

CUIDAD JUAREZ

HERMOSILLOCHIHUAHUA

CULIACAN

DURANGO

PARRAL

GUADALUPE

TEPIC

ZAPOPANMEXICO CITY

[42]

[29]

[8]

[12]

[8]

[22]

[57]

[19]

[9]

[7]

[7]

[56]

[23]

REYNOSA

[20]

SAN LUIS POTOSI

[10] [17]

[16]

CUERNAVACA

[6]

ESCOBEDO

MORELIA

[8]

[15]

Dispositions from Top Three Source Dispositions from Top Three Source CitiesCities

This Chart shows the disposition firearms from the top three source cities to their recovery locations in Mexico

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HOUSTON

TUCSON

EL PASO

TIJUANA

CUIDAD JUAREZ

HERMOSILLOCHIHUAHUA

CULIACAN

DURANGO

PARRAL

GUADALUPE

TEPIC

ZAPOPANMEXICO CITY

[42]

[29]

[8]

[12]

[8]

[22]

[57]

[19]

[9]

[7]

[7]

[56]

[23]

REYNOSA

[20]

SAN LUIS POTOSI

[10] [17]

[16]

CUERNAVACA

[6]

ESCOBEDO

MORELIA

[8]

[15]

Dispositions from Top Three Source Dispositions from Top Three Source CitiesCities

This Chart shows the disposition firearms from the top three source cities to their recovery locations in Mexico with major roadways in yellow

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INTERNATIONAL

ATF is concerned with developing an international firearms tracing infrastructure to combat illegal international arms trafficking.

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INTERNATIONAL – Trace Volume

FY-2003: 17,026 trace requests received from more than 40 countries.FY-2004: 27,195 trace requests received from more than 50 countries.(As of May)

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INTERNATIONAL - Investigations

In FY-2003, ATF investigated and convicted more than 900 persons involved in arms trafficking. Of that group, 44 were involved in international arms trafficking. There are a number of on-going investigations.

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INTERNATIONAL

In order to assist the international community to develop a firearms tracing infrastructure, ATF has:

(1) International Firearms Tracing Section(2)IWETS in conjunction with INTERPOL(3)Partnerships(4)UN Program of Action on Small

Arms/Light Weapons(5)DEVELOPED E*TRACE – Tested/

Operational within 90 days

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E*TRACE

E*Trace is an Internet-based system that allows for the submission of firearms trace requests to the ATF National Tracing Center, transmission of trace results back to the requesting agency, and provides for analysis of those results.E*Trace can be used by any authorized agency that has access to the Internet.

There is no cost associated with they system by the requestor, requires no special software or hardware, and requires little training to operate.

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SUMMARY/CONCLUSION

•ATF is the only agency authorized to trace firearms in the US.•ATF has amassed expertise in the firearms tracing arena.•ATF is working to combat illegal arms trafficking.•ATF stands ready to assist the international community.

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