Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today applauded the opening of a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) office in Roswell – a move that will ultimately help crack down on the smuggling of drugs into the United States and the illegal trafficking of guns into Mexico.  Many Mexican drug cartels obtain guns illegally from the United States; the guns are used to arm violent drug gangs.

The funding for the new office came from $10 million Bingaman secured in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for improved border security.

The new ATF office will have jurisdiction over a six-county area in the southeast quadrant of the state, serving Chaves, Eddy, De Baca, Curry, Roosevelt and Lea counties.  ATF agents will work primarily with local law enforcement in combating criminal activity involving the illegal use of weapons and explosives.

"This new satellite office will also play an important role in Project Gunrunner, ATF's successful initiative to stop the smuggling of weapons into Mexico in an effort to help address the violence wreaking havoc on Mexican border communities," Bingaman said.

The funding Bingaman secured is also is funding a new Project Gunrunner team (7 new agents) in Las Cruces, as well as agents in U.S. consulates in Mexico and other U.S. border states.  "Project Gunrunner Initiative" is a successful initiative that targets gun trafficking networks.