ATF Tracing Leads to Overseas Seizure and Recovery of 44 Firearms

WASHINGTON - ATF's firearms tracing and international coordination efforts with INTERPOL led to the identification, seizure, and recovery of 44 U.S.-sourced firearms trafficked overseas June 17.

The firearms were originally seized by African authorities in 2024 and 2025 after being flagged as trafficked or smuggled by INTERPOL's Illicit Arms Records and tracing Management System (iARMS). ATF then traced the firearms and worked with FBI assets to return them to the United States. The return of these firearms will assist ATF in eight different ongoing trafficking investigations.

"These firearms recoveries demonstrate how coordinated international action directly disrupts the criminal networks that drive violent crime," said Justin Hoecker, Acting Chief of the National Firearms Trafficking Center. "ATF is proud to stand with our partners across the globe to identify traffickers, seize illegal firearms, and prevent their use in violence both overseas and here at home."

Since Jan. 1, INTERPOL Washington has received 51 "hits" or recovery notifications in iARMS, which currently places the U.S. first among all 196 INTERPOL member countries. By comparison, the U.S. National Central Bureau (USNCB) received a total of 46 hits for all of 2025 in iARMS.

This is the first known instance of firearms seized overseas due to iARMS being returned to the U.S.

"This successful recovery demonstrates the power of international information sharing and the value of leveraging INTERPOL's global databases to combat illicit firearms trafficking," said Dan Vizzi, Acting Director of INTERPOL Washington, U.S. National Central Bureau. "Through strong partnerships with our domestic and international counterparts, we are making communities safer and preventing weapons from remaining in the hands of criminals."

"Combatting the spread of illicit arms is not something that the FBI can do alone," said Assistant Director Heith Janke of the FBI's Criminal Division. "We are proud of the strong coordination and collaboration with our partners that led to our agent's role in the return of the weapons."

With more than 1.5 million records INTERPOL's iARMS is the only global database dedicated to tracking lost, stolen, smuggled, and trafficked firearms. Law enforcement and international security officials rely on it to uncover smuggling routes, map criminal networks, and identify firearms diverted into illicit possession. Police worldwide can record illicit firearms in the iARMS database.

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ATF protects American communities from violent crime driven by the illegal use of firearms, explosives, and acts of arson. Through crime gun intelligence, forensic analysis, and relentless investigation, we identify and arrest violent offenders and gang members, dismantle trafficking networks, and sever the supply chains arming cartels, prohibited persons, and terrorist organizations. We defend the rights of law-abiding citizens by safeguarding lawful commerce and upholding the Constitution of the United States. Learn more about what ATF is doing to reduce violent crime in your community @ATFHQ on X and Instagram, @ATF on LinkedIn, and @HQATF on Facebook.