 However, in February 2011, it brought about a scandal when the project was accused of accomplishing the opposite by ATF permitting and facilitating "straw purchase" firearm sales to traffickers, and allowing the guns to "walk" and be transported to Mexico.Allegedly, the ATF allowed to complete the transactions to expose the supply chain and gather intelligence.It has been established that this operation violated long-established ATF policies and practices and that it is not a recognized investigative technique.