Original subtitles

PAYBACK: Money, cars, weed, women, power, respect,

this is my ATM card.

It's just a little heavier.

NARRATOR: GUNS THE ESSENTIAL TOOLS FOR CRIMINALS WORLDWIDE.

MIDNIGHT: If you can't pump fear into them,

you can pump a whole clip.

NARRATOR: COLT 45S, AR15S, M4S, MAC10S.

ALL EXAMPLES OF WEAPONS TRAFFICKED ILLEGALLY

ACROSS THE GLOBE.

DET. BRIAN PIERCE: A gun will be passed amongst

15 or 20 gang members.

NARRATOR: BUT THERE'S ONE GUN THAT POLICE FEAR,

AND ALL CRIMINALS WANT.

A COMPLETELY UNTRACEABLE GUN.

THE GHOST GUN.

MALE: Colt 45, 1911.

NARRATOR: A POWERFUL WEAPON FOR STICK UPS, DRUGS DEALS...

...AND MURDER.

CROSS: This gun right here tells the rest of your

neighborhood you run it.

You put 12 of these together in your neighborhood,

you're the militia.

NARRATOR: PHOENIX ARIZONA, CROSS RUNS A BUSINESS

THAT'S INVITATION ONLY, HIS TRADE ILLEGAL GUNS.

NIGHTMARE: This 44 Magnum, your typical Dirty Harry gun,

Go ahead, punk, make my day with one of these.

NARRATOR: CROSS SPECIALIZES IN DEALING TO ONE SECTION

OF SOCIETY, CRIMINALS.

CROSS: I have somebody right now who I'm actually waiting for.

NARRATOR: HE SELLS TO A SELECT CLIENTELE.

CROSS: As long as they'll pay, they get them.

Because they're the bigger and better customers,

because they buy more than one at a time.

NARRATOR: THIS SET UP IS A ONE OFF DEAL IN A BACK ROOM

SELLING TO CUSTOMERS IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT.

CROSS: You looking for anything in particular?

Yeah we can do that one right there for you,

with a gold clip and all.

Seven racks.

You pick up two of them I'll do them for a G.

NARRATOR: EAGER TO MAKE A SALE, CROSS CUTS HIM A DEAL.

Gun Buyer Yeah I'll take two.

NARRATOR: FOR THIS CLIENT, IT'S AN EASY PURCHASE.

CROSS: Happy customer.

NARRATOR: PROHIBITED FROM BUYING GUNS LEGALLY, FOR FELONS,

THIS IS THE ONLY SHOPPING OPTION IN TOWN.

CROSS: Well the idea is if you're going to do a crime,

and you need a gun involved in it,

you surely wouldn't do it with your registered gun.

So they come get it from people like us.

NARRATOR: BUYING A FIREARM THAT WON'T LINK A VIOLENT CRIMINAL

TO HIS CRIME IS NOT EASY.

THE REASON, GUNS CAN BE TRACED.

CROSS: Go to a gun store to purchase a gun you gotta use

identification, pass a background check,

so if the sole purpose of owning a gun was for no one to know

you owned it, you just .

NARRATOR: BUT GUNS COME WITH AN IDENTITY ALL THEIR OWN.

CROSS: If I were to walk into a store,

and purchase any one of these, serial number of that firearm

is going to be recorded.

That firearm can be traced back to me.

NARRATOR: GUNS ARE ALSO TRACEABLE

WHEN THEY LEAVE VITAL CLUES BEHIND.

NIGHTMARE: When a projectile leaves the chamber,

and it twists inside the barrel, there are certain discrepancies

that will leave gashes, marks and scrapes on the bullet

on its way out, causing a sort of signature distinct

one of a kind fingerprint.

That is how ballistically a round can be tied to a firearm.

NARRATOR: SOURCING FROM ILLEGAL SUPPLIERS,

CROSS SELLS WHAT CRIMINALS REALLY WANT,

A GUN THAT'S NEVER BEEN ON RECORD.

NIGHTMARE: It's a Colt, 45 caliber round, model 1911.

These are for somebody who knows what they want.

NARRATOR: THIS MODEL 45 CALIBER IS A GHOST GUN.

IT HAS A FAKE SERIAL NUMBER AND NO BALLISTIC RECORD.

IT'S INVISIBLE TO LAW ENFORCEMENT.

WITH THIS GUN CRIMINALS COULD GET AWAY WITH MURDER.

ACCORDING TO TRAFFICKERS THERE'S ONE PLACE WHERE HIGH QUALITY

GHOST GUNS ARE READILY AVAILABLE.

THE CITY OF DANAO IN THE PHILIPPINES.

DANAO HAS BEEN A HUB FOR GUN MANUFACTURE FOR OVER A CENTURY.

BUT LEGAL GUN INDUSTRY FACES PERIODIC DOWNTURNS.

MANY FAMILIES BELIEVE THAT THEIR SURVIVAL DEPENDS ON DOING

WHAT THEY KNOW BEST, MAKING ILLEGAL GUNS.

HIDING IN A WORKSHOP DEEP IN THE JUNGLE MR. AMADO AND HIS SONS

MAKE GUNS TO ORDER.

AND THEY'RE ALL HANDMADE.

DEVELOPED AND USED DURING THE PHILIPPINE AMERICAN WAR,

THIS GUN EARNED ITS NAME,

AND IT WAS ADOPTED BY THE US MILITARY IN 1911.

RELYING ON SCRAP METAL AND SIMPLE TOOLS,

THEY USE A SERIES OF TEMPLATES TO HAND CRAFT

EACH PART OF THE GUN.

NARRATOR: WORKING 12 HOURS A DAY TOGETHER THEY MAKE

FIVE HAND GUNS A MONTH.

NARRATOR: GUNS HELP PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE,

BUT THEY STILL LIVE IN POVERTY.

IN THE JUNGLE WORKSHOP, IT'S EVERY MAN FOR HIMSELF.

AMADO AND HIS FAMILY ARE ON CONSTANT ALERT.

THEY FEAR THE JEALOUS NEIGHBORS, THE COMPETITION,

ARE OUT TO GET THEM.

NARRATOR: WEEKLY RAIDS BY THE POLICE MEAN AMADO AND HIS FAMILY

ARE FORCED TO RUN AND HIDE IN THE JUNGLE,

RATHER THAN FACE ARREST.

NARRATOR: FOR THOSE SUCKED INTO ILLEGAL GUN MAKING,

OPTIONS ARE LIMITED.

TO MAKE MONEY THE GUNS HAVE TO MOVE ON.

NARRATOR: THIS 45 IS READY TO TEST FIRE,

BUT IT HAS TO WORK PERFECTLY FOR LUMABAN.

NARRATOR: ANY IMPERFECTION IN THE GUN COULD MAKE IT JAM.

NARRATOR: LUMABAN TESTS HIS OWN GUN WITHOUT PROTECTION.

IF IT MISFIRES, IT COULD KILL HIM.

LUCKILY, HIS CRAFTSMANSHIP IS RIGHT ON TARGET.

NARRATOR: THE MECHANICS OF THE CLONE COLT 45 APPEAR TO WORK

PERFECTLY.

IT'S READY FOR ITS NEXT PHASE.

NARRATOR: HIS BUYER WILL PUT THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE GUN.

BUT TO GET PAID LUMABAN HAS TO DO TWO THINGS,

GET OUT OF THE JUNGLE AND INTO TOWN WITHOUT GETTING BUSTED.

NARRATOR: LUMABAN GETS A WARNING.

THERE HAS JUST BEEN A POLICE RAID NEARBY.

SO HE'S FORCED TO TAKE A DETOUR.

NARRATOR: WITH THE BUYER ONLY WILLING TO WAIT UNTIL SUNSET,

HE NEEDS TO HURRY.

IT'S A NERVE RACKING BUSINESS.

SPIES ARE EVERYWHERE.

HE'S MADE IT JUST IN TIME.

THE 45 HAS EXCHANGED HANDS IN ITS FIRST TRANSACTION,

BUT NOT ITS LAST, IF THE GUN TRAFFICKERS DO THEIR JOB.

THIS GHOST GUN'S OPENING PRICE, $115.

WHEN THEY COME THIS CHEAP, FOR BUYERS,

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE PROFIT.

NARRATOR: EDWIN IS THE FIRST LINK TO A LARGE INTERNATIONAL

DISTRIBUTION NETWORK THAT WILL SEE CLONED 45 CALIBER GHOST GUNS

ALL THE WAY TO THE USA, BUT THE SMUGGLING CAN ONLY BEGIN

WHEN HE'S GOT ENOUGH OF THEM.

NARRATOR: EDWIN DEALS IN A VARIETY OF UNTRACEABLE GUNS,

BUT HE BUYS THEM ALL UNFINISHED.

THEY ARE MISSING ONE VITAL THING, A SERIAL NUMBER.

NARRATOR: HE SENDS THEM TO A NETWORK OF HIGHLY SKILLED

BACKYARD WORKERS, WHO SPECIALISE IN MAKING CLONE GUNS

LOOK LEGITIMATE.

MOST IMPORTANT,

ORIGINAL BRAND MARKINGS AND MADE UP SERIAL NUMBERS.

GUNS INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM THE ORIGINALS GET THE HIGHEST PRICE.

NARRATOR: ON EACH SALE, EDWIN DOUBLES HIS MONEY.

WITH CUSTOMERS PAYING EDWIN TOP DOLLAR HE CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE

ANY IN TRANSIT, SO HE SELECTS HIS GUN MULES CAREFULLY.

NARRATOR: A SHIPMENT OF GHOST 45S MAKES ITS WAY OUT OF DANAO.

SMUGGLERS USE A METHOD THAT IS SLOW,

BUT MORE LIKELY TO GET THE GUNS THROUGH UNDETECTED.

NARRATOR: LEAVING DANAO CLONED 45S WILL ULTIMATELY BE DELIVERED

INTO THE HANDS OF AN INTERNATIONAL SMUGGLING RING.

TRANSFERRED INTO SHIPPING CONTAINERS,

THIS HIDDEN HAUL OF ILLEGAL FIREARMS IS ON ITS WAY

TO AMERICA'S WEST COAST.

WHEN ONE OF THESE GHOST GUNS HITS CALIFORNIA,

ITS VALUE RISES FROM $230 TO AROUND $800.

PAYBACK: Go right.

NARRATOR: NORTH OF OAKLAND A RIP OFF CREW IS ON THE HUNT.

THEY'RE GETTING READY TO HIT A DRUG DEALER'S HOUSE.

PAYBACK: I really like jacking people for their weed.

I like the risk it takes.

It gives me a rush.

NARRATOR: BUT THEY ALSO DO IT FOR THE COLD HARD CASH.

PAYBACK: I have the team, I have the treasure map.

NARRATOR: EVERYTHING IS IN PLACE.

BUT THEY'RE MISSING ONE ESSENTIAL TOOL.

PAYBACK: You need the guns.

NARRATOR: FOR ARMED CRIMINALS EVERYWHERE THERE'S ONE TOOL

THEY CAN'T DO WITHOUT.

PAYBACK: This gives me money, cars, weed, women, power,

respect, this is my ATM card, it's just a little heavier.

NARRATOR: PAYBACK IS PICKING UP A BRAND NEW DELIVER

FROM HIS GUN DEALER, FOR HIS NEXT HIT, A GHOST GUN.

NIGHTSCOPE: Here it is a Colt 45, 1911.

Big gun.

No matter what.

This things going off without a hitch.

This thing never jams.

NARRATOR: NOT ONLY DO NIGHTSCOPE'S CUSTOMERS DEMAND

SOMETHING RELIABLE, THEIR GUNS HAVE TO BE UNTRACEABLE.

NIGHTSCOPE: As far as I know I bought it from an Asian.

A Filipino.

I don't really ask too many question about where it came

from, as long as I can get them for the right price

and get them off to guys like this, I can double my money.

He's happy.

I'm happy.

NARRATOR: THANKS TO CALIFORNIA'S RESTRICTIVE GUN LAWS,

NIGHTSCOPE HAS NO SHORTAGE OF CUSTOMERS.

THIS MEANS HE CAN SELL HIS RANGE OF GUNS AT TOP DOLLAR.

NIGHTSCOPE: It costs a lot more here on the street,

because people that can't find them, can't get them,

and there's a market for them that you won't believe.

NARRATOR: THESE GHOST GUNS ARE IN HIGH DEMAND

BECAUSE SECOND HAND FIREARMS COME WITH A HEAVY RISK.

PAYBACK: Every gun comes with a serial number and

if it's knocked off, you know that that's a dirty gun.

NIGHTSCOPE: If this looks like it killed a whole bunch

of people it probably has.

You hold on to it, you don't know what you're holding onto.

You might be holding one of two or three murders.

NARRATOR: WITH EVERY SHOT FIRED AT A CRIME SCENE,

EVEN A GHOST GUN BEGINS TO BUILD UP A DETECTIBLE TRAIL.

BUT WHILE STILL FRESH ON THE STREETS,

A GHOST 45 CAN FETCH $2000.

PAYBACK: Try to stay away from the hot pieces

because they're... I'm a hot boy,

I don't need a gun that's gonna get me in trouble,

because I'm causing the trouble.

NARRATOR: HE SPENDS UP TO TEN GRAND A MONTH ON NEW FIREARMS.

WITH TWO GRAND INVESTED, PAYBACK NEEDS A PAYOFF.

NARRATOR: AN HOUR LATER, HIS INVESTMENT HAS MORE

THAN COME GOOD.

NARRATOR: PAYBACK'S JACKED EIGHT POUNDS OF WEED.

NARRATOR: HE SELLS THE WEED FOR 25 GRAND.

HE SELLS THE GUN, STILL UNUSED FOR $2200,

TO A DEALER WITH ACCESS TO A BIGGER GANG MARKET IN FRESNO.

MIDNIGHT: They want guns.

Big guns.

Makes you want to just duck, crawl under your bed.

Things that go boom!

If there are hoods going at it with another hood,

they're buying guns for everybody.

They're buying at least a little hand gun for them.

NARRATOR: HANDGUNS ARE THE MOST BASIC FIREARM FOR CRIMINALS

AND GANG BANGERS.

GANGS TEND TO GO FOR MAXIMUM FIRE POWER AND THE BULL DOGS

ARE NO EXCEPTION.

USING THE SERVICES OF DEALERS LIKE MIDNIGHT,

THEY RACE TO ARM THEMSELVES.

MIDNIGHT: Long clips, fully automatic,

a lot of people look for those.

And you could pass by in a car and not even step out

and still hit like four or five houses.

NARRATOR: MIDNIGHT RECKONS THAT GANGS LIKE THE BULLDOGS,

WITH SCORES TO SETTLE, USE BIG GUNS TO GAIN THE UPPER HAND.

MIDNIGHT: It's the means of being able to accomplish

what you wanna accomplish, without having to call the cops

or having to sit there and talk it out.

As long as you got the guns,

you've got the means of pumping fear into somebody.

If you can't pump fear into them, you can pump a whole clip.

NARRATOR: MIDNIGHT SEES A GUN AS AN ESSENTIAL TOOL.

MIDNIGHT: Not every person is smart enough to know

what a gun's for.

A gun to me is like a hammer to nail walls

and build stuff.

A gun, there's no, no difference.

You just gotta find out how you can use it to your advantage.

NARRATOR: FOR MIDNIGHT, COLD HARD STEEL HAS JUST ONE PURPOSE.

TO LINE HIS POCKETS WITH GOLD.

STARTING WITH GHOST GUNS LIKE THE CLONED 45.

HE SELLS HARDCORE FIRE POWER THAT'S ILLEGAL IN CALIFORNIA.

MIDNIGHT: You talk, hey, check this out,

I know what old boy over there got.

And he got a brand new 45 man, a 1911.

You need these two Tech9s here bros, extended clips,

I got them.

This is gonna run you this much.

You go to the next guy.

Hey, home boy over there he got two Tech9s bros,

what do you need?

I, I can get it, it's gonna run you this much though.

NARRATOR: HE ENGINEERS IT SO HIS CUSTOMERS KEEP COMING BACK.

MIDNIGHT: Usually you're gonna shoot some up.

It's better for me.

These guys are gonna run out of ammo,

they're gonna need more clips, I'm right there.

NARRATOR: MIDNIGHT IS RACKING UP THE CASH,

SELLING EVERYTHING FROM AUTOMATICS TO 45S.

BUT THE ONLY WAY THE GHOST GUN WILL STAY IN BUSINESS

IS BY STAYING OUT OF THE COPS HANDS.

DET. BRIAN PIERCE: Oh that gun will be passed amongst,

you know, 15 or 20 gang members,

you know and it'll be used in a multitude of crimes.

NARRATOR: COMPACT AND EASY TO HIDE,

GUNS LIKE THE 45 CAN MOVE UNDETECTED IN CRIMINAL CIRCLES.

BIGGER GUNS ARE HARDER TO HIDE, AND DRAW MORE ATTENTION.

FOR THIS RAID BRIAN GOT A LEAD FROM SPOTTING PHOTOS

ON FACEBOOK.

POLICE OFFICER: Yeah all our conversations should be

on channel three now.

DET. BRIAN PIERCE: Now we're gonna go serve a search warrant

at a location, a guy that is supposed to be in possession

of some illegal assault rifles.

NARRATOR: CALIFORNIA LAW BANS OVER 50 TYPES OF ASSAULT RIFLES.

ON BUSTS LIKE THESE POLICE ARE UP AGAINST SOME SERIOUS

FIRE POWER.

DET. BRIAN PIERCE: Problem is these weapons are usually

high caliber rifle rounds which can cause significant

amounts of damage. And they're very accurate.

If they're going to you know,

shoot a firearm at a police officer out front,

that's going to change everything for us.

Best case scenario is the individuals give up,

they come out.

Worst case scenario would be, you know,

they start shooting at police officers.

POLICE OFFICER: Open the door and come out with your hands up.

POLICE OFFICER: .

NARRATOR: FRESNO PD GUN CRIMES UNIT IS ON A GUN RAID.

THE COPS SUSPECT THE TARGET IS HEAVILY ARMED.

THEY HAVE THE HOUSE SURROUNDED.

BUT NO ONE'S COMING OUT.

THEN THE TARGET'S WIFE APPEARS, SHE'S NINE MONTHS PREGNANT.

DET. BRIAN PIERCE: Where is he?

TARGET'S WIFE: .

POLICE OFFICER: .

He's at his... he's at his auto body shop.

NARRATOR: THEIR TARGET ISN'T HOME,

BUT TO GET TO THE GUNS OFFICERS FIRST NEED TO SECURE THE HOUSE.

DET. BRIAN PIERCE: We good

NARRATOR: THE RAID HAS UNEARTHED AN ARMOURY OF BIG GUNS

IN THE BACK ROOM.

DET. BRIAN PIERCE: He's used a 1022 rifle.

It's not illegal to possess.

I mean it's totally legal.

He can have it.

However, some of the stuff that we have here,

when in combination with other guns here,

are illegal in California.

This is a 30 round high capacity magazine, you can't have them.

You can't have those in combination with this gun.

It makes it illegal because you have the tools to manipulate

the magazine release, the magazine falls right out.

NARRATOR: A MAGAZINE RELEASE MEANS RIFLES CAN BE RELOADED

FASTER, MAKING THEM EVEN MORE DEADLY.

BUT GUNS LIKE THESE ARE HARD TO KEEP OUT OF SIGHT.

DET. BRIAN PIERCE: Shot gun, I pick it up...

he's obviously chopped the front of the barrel off

and then cut the... stalk of it off as well.

They do this in current...

so they can actually hide it or conceal it relatively easily,

like underneath a coat, or, you know,

in some kind of large baggy clothing.

NARRATOR: A GUN LIKE THIS HAS ADDED BLACK MARKET APPEAL.

FOR PERSONAL PROTECTION A PORTABLE HANDGUN

IS EVEN MORE ESSENTIAL.

POLICE OFFICER: I don't think he's coming back Brian.

DET. BRIAN PIERCE: Yeah I don't think so either.

I think he is high tailing it out of here.

NARRATOR: WHEN CRIMINALS GIVE THE COPS THE SLIP,

HAND GUNS LIKE THE GHOST 45 DISAPPEAR WITH THEM.

BUT GUNS CONFISCATED FROM GANGS

STILL OFTEN COME WITH THEIR PRICE TAGS.

BRICE MCCRACKEN: This rifle was stolen from a...

sporting goods store.

Some of them even still have a price tag on them.

NARRATOR: THE ATF HANDLES MAJOR GUN TRAFFICKING CASES,

AND IS CRACKING DOWN ON LOCAL GANGS.

BRICE MCCRACKEN: We executed a number of search warrants

and recovered these stolen firearms, and all told,

all 56 firearms are stolen by

members of the Bulldog Street Gang.

NARRATOR: BECAUSE GHOST GUNS ARE HARD TO COME BY,

THE BULLDOG'S STEAL FROM GUN STORES,

SOME OF THEM THEY KEEP BUT NOT ALL.

BRICE MCCRACKEN: The intention was for them to be sold

on the streets.

NARRATOR: ANYONE IN POSSESSION OF A STOLEN GUN CAN BE LINKED

TO THE THEFT BY THE GUN'S SERIAL NUMBER,

BUT THAT DOESN'T STOP CRIMINALS FROM TRYING TO COVER

THEIR TRACKS.

BRICE MCCRACKEN: This firearm has had the serial number

removed from it...

before it was recovered by law enforcement.

And serial numbers are usually removed in an effort to

make it difficult for law enforcement to trace

the firearm, to determine where the firearm has come from.

NARRATOR: A GUN WITH A SCRATCHED OUT SERIAL NUMBER MEANS

A DROP IN PRICE.

ANYONE CAUGHT WITH ONE CAN GO AWAY FOR ALONG TIME.

GHOST GUNS LIKE THE PHILIPPINO 45 MAY NOT IMMEDIATELY FLAG

AS ILLEGAL.

WHEN STOLEN FIREARMS ARE TOO HIGH RISK,

AND PRIZED GHOST GUNS ARE OUT OF REACH,

SOME CRIMINALS HEAD ACROSS STATE LINES TO ARIZONA.

JESSE HANSON: This is the 1911, this one is a Springfield

Armoury MC Operator.

Most popular firearm in America.

It's been around since 1911, in service to the US Military

to this day.

Wonderful gun to shoot.

NARRATOR: SHOOTER'S WORLD IS A GUN STORE

WITH ONE OF THE LARGEST FIRING RANGES IN ARIZONA.

HERE STATE LAW MEANS GUNS ARE MORE READILY AVAILABLE

THAN IN OTHER AMERICAN STATES.

JESSE HANSON: Arizona is considered one of the more

liberal states when it comes to gun laws,

you can own pretty much everything that's available

to the civilian market.

This is the AR15, it's running a holographic sight, on top,

makes aiming a little bit easier,

little bit faster to actually get on your target.

People love them... very little recoil,

I've seen eight year olds shoot this rifle

with no problem whatsoever,

obviously under adult supervision.

NARRATOR: THE AR15 IS BASED ON A MILITARY DESIGN

AND IS AVAILABLE TO ANY CUSTOMER

WHO FILLS OUT THE RIGHT PAPERWORK.

JESSE HANSON: To purchase a rifle in Arizona

you do have to have a valid Arizona State ID

with a current address on it.

If you cannot prove a current address we legally cannot

sell you a firearm, nor will we sell you a firearm.

NARRATOR: BUT CRIMINALS STILL TARGET STORES LIKE THESE

FOR LEGITIMATE GUNS.

JESSE HANSON: We're also looking for what's called a

straw purchase.

A straw purchase is when someone will come in and purchase

a firearm for someone else, and just give it to them,

which is incredibly illegal.

We are the first line of defense to stop

illegal firearm purchases.

NARRATOR: WITH GUN STORES LOCKING DOWN SUPPLY,

ARIZONA GUN CREWS ARE MILKING OTHER LEGAL SOURCES,

TO MAKE MONEY ACROSS STATE LINES.

CROSS: The States that have the strictest gun laws,

actually become States full of clients for us.

Their laws have created that economy that makes the gun here

so much more profitable there.

You could buy the gun here and maybe make three times

your money just by transporting it up there.

NARRATOR: SOURCING HIS GUNS IN ARIZONA,

CROSS IS EYEING LUCRATIVE MARKETS HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY.

CROSS: But the real money is moving these things to places

like Chicago, New York, California.

NARRATOR: TO PROFIT BY MOVING PRODUCT ACROSS STATE LINES

NATIONWIDE, CROSS PREFERS DEALING IN BULK.

CROSS: If you have an order, you do a pack of stones,

you could easily take it out of town,

and get three times your money on it.

You might make five six Gs on them.

NARRATOR: SELLING GUNS BY THE DOZEN,

MEANS CROSS NEEDS ACCESS TO A SERIOUS ARSENAL.

AND ONE SOURCE MEANS GUNS ON TAPS.

CROSS: At a gun show you have your choice of hundreds

of thousands of guns.

NARRATOR: WHEN CROSS NEEDS TO GET GUNS IN A HURRY

HE HEADS FOR ONE PLACE.

CROSS: You could pretty much get anything at a gun show

12 gauges, 25s, 22s, M4s.

NARRATOR: WITH A MASSIVE WAR CHEST AT HIS DISPOSAL,

CROSS IS EXPLOITING ALL THE RULES.

CROSS: Oh we're definitely over working the system,

if there's a loop hole, it's called a gun show,

you don't have to show ID or fill out paperwork.

NARRATOR: CROSS ISN'T THE ONLY ONE ON THE PROWL.

CROSS: This is why the Cops are in plain clothes looking for...

what they consider criminal elements.

What we'll usually do is send in as many people as we can

that look square.

NARRATOR: CROSS' ARMY OF MOM AND POP BUYERS TARGET

LOCAL GUN SHOWS LIKE THESE,

WITH CLEAN RECORDS THEY RAISE NO SUSPICIONS.

THEY CAN BRING HIM UP TO 30 GUNS.

BUT HE'S GOT ONE FINAL DEAL TO PULL OFF.

AND HE'S IN DANGEROUS TERRITORY.

BURNER SELLER: ...You come here by yourself?

CROSS: Yeah.

BURNER SELLER: Come on...

CROSS: Right on...

BURNER SELLER: Alright, follow me this way man...

CROSS: Alright cool.

NARRATOR: THIS ILLEGAL STASH CONTAINS GUNS THAT, FOR CROSS,

ARE HOTTER THAN THE FOURTH OF JULY.

CROSS: Would you do 350 for these two?

CROSS: Alright, sounds good.

BURNER SELLER: 350.

CROSS: It's all there.

Much appreciated man.

NARRATOR: THE MORE BALLISTIC EVIDENCE LEFT AT CRIME SCENES,

BY GUNS LIKE THE 45, THE EASIER THEY ARE FOR THE COPS TO TRACE.

THIS MEANS THE LONGER THE TRAIL OF BULLETS

THE MORE ITS VALUE NOSEDIVES.

CROSS: Burner's gonna be a cheaper gun,

but I mean seriously, how many people really wanna buy a gun

that they honestly know was tied to a crime?

NARRATOR: THIS 45 IS LOADED WITH YEARS OF CRIMES

AND HAS BECOME DANGEROUSLY TRACEABLE.

ITS POTENTIAL SALE PRICE PLUMMETS FROM $2200

TO JUST $175.

CROSS: There's always somebody who's gonna buy it

south of the border.

They have real intentions of why they need those guns.

There's a war south of the border.

NARRATOR: BURNERS HEAD MORE THAN 2000 MILES SOUTH TO GUATEMALA,

A COUNTRY THAT BRIDGES MAJOR SMUGGLING ROUTES

BETWEEN SOUTH AMERICA AND MEXICO.

HERE RIVAL CARTELS ARE LOCKED IN A BITTER FIGHT FOR CONTROL

OF THE DRUG CORRIDORS, AND WEAPONS ARE IN HOT DEMAND.

NARRATOR: MINISTER BONILLA HAS LAUNCHED NEW TASK FORCES

NATIONWIDE, HE'S ON A WAR PATH

TO STOP THE FLOW OF ILLEGAL GUNS.

NARRATOR: IN 1996, GUATEMALA'S 36 YEAR CIVIL WAR ENDED,

AND NOW THE COUNTRY HAS A NEW BATTLE ON ITS HANDS.

ITS UNIQUE GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION MAKES IT RIPE PICKINGS

FOR POWERFUL SMUGGLING CARTELS.

DRUGS FLOW NORTH TO THE U.S.

WHILE GUNS FLOW SOUTH.

NARRATOR: LANDING UNDER TWO MILES FROM THE MEXICAN BORDER

BONILLA ARRIVES AT ONE OF THE HOTTEST SMUGGLING SPOTS

IN THE COUNTRY.

HE'S UPPING LAW ENFORCEMENT'S GAME.

NARRATOR: BONILLA HAS BROUGHT TOGETHER MILITARY,

CUSTOMS AND POLICE TO STRIKE

AT THE HEART OF THE TRAFFICKING SUPPLY LINES.

NARRATOR: BUT WITH THE CARTELS EYES AND EARS ON THE GROUND,

ILLEGAL SHIPMENTS ARE BEING REDIRECTED.

JUST A MILE AWAY IT'S A FREE FOR ALL.

ON THE MEXICO GUATEMALA BORDER MINISTER OF THE INTERIOR BONILLA

IS INSPECTING ANTI SMUGGLING SECURITY MEASURES.

NARRATOR: SMUGGLING IS OVERWHELMING THE GUATEMALAN

FORCES THAT MEANS CONTRABAND REGULARLY MAKES IT IN.

A NEW CONSIGNMENT OF GUNS HAS JUST ARRIVED,

NON-STOP FROM THE U.S.

THIS DELIVERY HAS HAD A HELPING HAND.

NARRATOR: HE TURNS HIS BIGGEST PROFIT SELLING GUNS

THAT ARE DIRT CHEAP, BURNERS.

BURNOUT GUNS LIKE THE GHOST 45 ARE HIS BEST SELLERS.

NARRATOR: IT'S HARD FOR POLICE TO TRACE GUNS ACROSS BORDERS.

ONCE IN GUATEMALA A CLONED 45 IS EFFECTIVELY A CLEAN GUN

AND ITS PRICE RISES.

NARRATOR: THE GHOST GUN IS BACK IN BUSINESS,

CLIMBING IN VALUE TO $650.

EL NEGRO MAKES ALMOST PURE PROFIT ON HIS DEALS

BECAUSE HE USES A SPECIAL FORM OF CURRENCY.

NARRATOR: BY BARTERING WEED FOR GUNS,

DEALERS LIKE EL NEGRO KEEP PRICES DOWN.

NARRATOR: WITH GUNS CHEAP,

GANGSTERS CAN CHERRY PICK THEIR WEAPONS OF CHOICE.

NARRATOR: INTERNATIONAL DRUG CARTELS ARE INFILTRATING

LOCAL NETWORKS.

NARRATOR: SPECIAL INVESTIGATORS LIKE PABLO STUDY THE DIFFERENT

TYPES OF WEAPONS USED IN GANG WARFARE.

NARRATOR: BUT WITH COPS ON THE LOOK OUT FOR BIG GUNS,

GANGS TEND TO PREFER SOMETHING MORE DISCRETE.

HEAVY CALIBER HAND GUNS.

NARRATOR: FOR GANGSTERS A SMALL GUN COMES WITH BIG RESPECT.

NARRATOR: TO CARRY OUT EXECUTIONS,

GANGS LOOK FOR TWO THINGS, GHOST GUNS AND A GHOST KILLER.

AND WHO WOULD A VICTIM LEAST SUSPECT?

A CHILD.

NARRATOR: AT AGE 14, EL CHIQUITO IS A MEMBER OF BARRIO 18,

ONE OF GUATEMALA'S DEADLIEST STREET GANGS,

A VETERAN OF TWO YEARS.

HE'S BEEN GIVEN HIS OWN GUN, AND BY DAY COLLECTS EXTORTION MONEY.

NARRATOR: BUT FOR EL CHIQUITO THE JOB INVOLVES MORE

THAN EXTORTION.

NARRATOR: AS A HIRED KILLER FOR BARRIO 18,

EL CHIQUITO IS AT THE HEART OF A DEADLY TURF WAR

WITH THEIR ARCH ENEMY THE MS13 STREET GANG.

HE'S ON CALL 24 HOURS A DAY, AND HE HAS A JOB LINED UP.

NARRATOR: WITH NO FORMAL TRAINING EL CHIQUITO HAS LEARNED

TO SHOOT BY WATCHING OTHER GANG MEMBERS.

HE'S ALSO PICKED UP TRICKS OF THE TRADE.

NARRATOR: EL CHIQUITO IS IN DEEP ENEMY TERRITORY ON LA LINEA.

TODAY BARRIO 18 HAS A SCORE TO SETTLE.

EL CHIQUITO CLAIMS HE'S ALREADY USED THIS GUN,

HE CAN'T KEEP IT IF IT'S HOT.

HE WILL ONLY USE IT ONCE MORE.

PABLO HAS JUST RECEIVED A CALL

THERE'S BEEN A MURDER IN THE CITY CENTRE ON LA LINEA.

NARRATOR: THE FORENSIC TEAM IS ALREADY ON SITE

AND THEY HAVE CORDONED OFF THE AREA.

ALL SIGNS POINT TO A GANG KILLING.

NARRATOR: THIS HIT WAS DONE BY A PROFESSIONAL,

AND PABLO IS CERTAIN OF ONE THING.

NARRATOR: WITH BLOOD FLOWING ON THE STREETS

GUATEMALA'S GANG CULTURE HAS A STRANGLE HOLD

ON THE COUNTRY'S TEENAGE POPULATION?

TODAY'S MURDER WASN'T DONE BY EL CHIQUITO,

BUT FOR KILLERS LIKE HIM, WEAPONS ARE THE PRIORITY.

NARRATOR: IN THE TWO YEARS SINCE EL CHIQUITO JOINED THE GANG,

HE SAYS HE'S BEEN FORCED TO SHOOT OVER 20 PEOPLE.

THIS DUMP SITE IS WHERE SOME BODIES END UP.

NARRATOR: BUT IT'S NOT ONLY HIS LIFE ON THE LINE.

NARRATOR: THE BLACK MARKET FOR UNTRACEABLE GUNS LIKE THE 45

EARNS MILLIONS FOR TRAFFICKERS WHO SELL THEM.

BUT MANY ARE CAUGHT IN A DEATH TRAP.

FOR THOSE WHO MANUFACTURE OR SHOOT THEM IT ISN'T ABOUT PROFIT