Mexico sues U.S. gun makers, eyes $10 billion in damages

Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard holds documents during a news conference to announce that Mexico sued several gun makers in a U.S. federal court, accusing them of negligent business practices that generated illegal arms trafficking which led to deaths in Mexico, in Mexico City, Mexico August 4, 2021. REUTERS/Luis Cortes

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexico sued several gun makers in a U.S. federal court on Wednesday, accusing them of reckless business practices that supply what it called a "torrent" of illegal arms to violent Mexican drug cartels, leading to thousands of deaths.

The lawsuit alleges that units of Smith & Wesson, Barrett Firearms, Colt's Manufacturing Company, Glock Inc, Sturm, Ruger & Co and others knew their business practices had encouraged illegal arms trafficking into Mexico.