'Glock switches': Chicago customs agents seized over 1,500 illegal gun mods in 2024

Customs agents in Chicago said they seized thousands of illegal Glock switches shipped into the city last year, according to a statement Tuesday from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

What we know:

Officers in Chicago seized 473 shipments containing a total of 1,507 Glock switches from January 1 to Dec. 31, 2024, according to CBP officials. Most of the Glock Switches were shipped from China and were bound for various cities throughout the United States.

What we don't know:

CBP officials did not disclose the exact final destinations of the switches.

By the numbers:

From January to June, CBP officers stopped 155 shipments carrying 354 Glock switches. In the months of July, August, and September, officers seized a total of 241 shipments containing a 948 switches.

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  (U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

What they're saying:

"These seizures clearly illustrate how closely CBP examines import manifests and identifies items that could potentially harm our nation or our citizens," said LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director, Field Operations, Chicago Field Office. "Using their targeting experience, they’re able to consistently spot new shipping trends and keep these dangerous devices out of the hands of criminals. There are reasons these items are illegal."

What is a Glock Switch?

Why you should care:

A Glock switch, also known as an "auto sear," allows a semi-automatic firearm to fire multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger, thereby converting it into a fully automatic weapon.

The inch-long devices are made of metal or plastic, and can be ordered online or made by commercially available 3D printers.

The importation of these devices is restricted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

The Source: The information in this article was provided by CBP and statements from LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director, Field Operations, Chicago Field Office.

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