Internal government documents obtained by Senate investigators reveal details about Project Thor, a secret intelligence project that successfully dismantled U.S. weapons smuggling networks into Mexico until it was abruptly shut down in fiscal year 2022. Whistleblower disclosures confirmed the existence and success of Project Thor, and Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley sent the documents to federal law enforcement agencies, demanding details about Thor’s operations and current efforts to target cartel firearms trafficking networks. Grassley questioned the Biden administration’s strategy to combat cartel firearms networks and how committed the U.S. government has been to stop the flow of American weapons into the hands of cartels.
The newly released documents provide internal charts detailing how traffickers across the U.S. smuggle firearms and ammunition into Mexico and the hands of drug cartels. This information follows an investigation that revealed Mexican drug cartels have been smuggling military-grade weapons from the U.S. with the help of American citizens. Despite knowing about these activities for years, the U.S. government has done little to stop these weapons trafficking networks. Grassley’s inquiry sought to uncover why the federal government canceled Project Thor, an interagency intelligence effort that was hailed for its success.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) provided investigators with over 700 pages of heavily redacted government documents related to Project Thor and Operation Southbound. The documents did not fully respond to investigators’ questions, and Grassley criticized the improper redactions and lack of transparency. Project Thor supported cartel trafficking cases from 2018-2020 and identified major weapons trafficking networks, estimating that cartels smuggled up to $503 million worth of weapons and ammunition annually. Despite the success of Project Thor, Justice Department officials claimed they were not familiar with it, raising questions about the government’s commitment to dismantling cartel gunrunning networks.
Grassley’s investigation also revealed evidence that American armed forces’ firearms were in the hands of Mexican narcos, prompting concerns about the mishandling of U.S. resources. Congressional Democrats introduced bills aimed at thwarting America’s illicit international weapons trade, and there are ongoing efforts to address gun trafficking from the U.S. to drug cartels. The Mexican government demanded a U.S. investigation into American military-grade weapons being trafficked to cartels, as a related lawsuit against gun manufacturers was revived. The Biden administration reaffirmed its commitment to stem the flow of American weapons into the hands of drug cartels, but questions remain about the effectiveness of current efforts.
Despite efforts to combat weapons smuggling, U.S. law enforcement seized only a fraction of the firearms being smuggled across the border. Grassley and other lawmakers are calling for increased oversight and action to address the flow of American weapons to cartels. The revelations from Project Thor shed light on the complexities of combating weapons trafficking networks and highlight the need for a comprehensive strategy to disrupt these operations.
