Diaz is one of 360 suspects arrested so far duringOperation Without a Trace, an ongoingcrackdown launched nearly two years ago by Homeland Security Investigationsand U.S. Customs and Border Protection to intercept illegal guns, saidJoseph Lestrange, division chief of Homeland Security's Transnational Organized Crime. Total dead including common citizens, murdered politicians and cartel members was at 115,000 estimated for 2006 thru 2018. When he entered office in 2006, Caldern immediately moved on the cartels. They know how to pull the wool over your eyes.". Guns Drive Cartel Violence in Mexico. Cracked is up for TWO Webby Awards, for Best Humor Site and Best Video Entertainment! SHARE AK-47 favorite gun of A special investigative report in 2019 by TheCourier Journal warned of CJNG's ruthlessness in Mexico and its reach across the U.S. into small towns. We know theyre being illegally trafficked through California into Tijuana.. Mexico has very strict restrictions on weapon. Once inside the U.S., Century Arms converts the rifles into military-style AK-47s capable of holding 30-round magazines. We were placing special orders with Barrett because we couldn't keep up demand. 2- Declare Antifa a domestic terror organization. They have special loopholes that allow them to form their own government or something like that. Diaz, who pleaded guilty, and Vasquezareawaiting sentencing. Photo gallery: The top ten favorite guns of the Mexican drug cartels By Will Tucker on July 15, 2011 at 10:07 AM Texas on the Potomac reporter-researcher Will Tucker has compiled a photo. "And they're sending leads up to us to connect the dots.". Sincerely, I'm a projects reporter, examining key education topics and other local issues. Sinaloa Cartel A Mexico-based cartel famous largely because their long-term leader, El Chapo, was recently captured and imprisoned, the dangerous Sinaloa Cartel is also notorious for its extensive ties to the Mexican federal police and military. Pass red flag laws. Viewers see this group of teenagers create their own drug organization. Dear Mexico: clean up your own house before telling us how to take care of ours.. We've received your submission. Then, basic questions: Did you feel they knew what they were buying? Mexican Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan argued against doubts raised by the National Rifle Association that ninety percent of all assault weapons seized in . Gunmen battled on a beach near Puerto Morelos as tourists scrambled into a Hyatt . Mexico: 18 bodies found after suspected drug cartel gun battle The bullet-ridden bodies of 18 men were discovered in Zacatecas state after apparent confrontation between suspected. Well short answer. COPYRIGHT 2021, THETRUTHABOUTGUNS.COM. CDC reinstates mask recommendation for planes, trains, While U.S. hits new job quitting record, this man set his own record 84 years at the same company, The U.S. housing market is historically overvalued. If not, they should be left alone. In 2019, a record 68 such weapons were captured. Operation Without a Trace works in sync with efforts by ATF, which targetsstraw purchasers, and the DEA, whose agents piece together conspiracy cases by identifying drug networks and their links to specific cartels. A gold plated pistol and jewelry, allegedly seized from Manuel Alquisires Garcia, alias "El Meme," sit on display during his presentation to the press of in Mexico City, Monday Sept. 12, 2011. Answer (1 of 16): There a ton of AK and Russian type military machine guns (I've seen a Russian equivalent 12.6 MM of the .50 caliber machine gun mounted on a truck. The drug bust was a multi-agency effort involving the. Since the federal law banning assault weapons expired in 2004, so-called "straw purchasers" have flooded U.S. gun stores in the Southwest, mostly in Texas and Arizona, sweeping up these and other weapons. build the wall you promised us! Also FN57 pistols but, the Barretts were the big one. Agents launched 534 investigations, seized $29 million and intercepted more than 1,200 guns, 4,700 magazines for semi-automatic and automatic weapons and 700,000 rounds of ammunition headed to. Theyre American-made guns, Sotomayor told the Union-Tribune. Bushmaster describes the AR-15 rifle, a civilian version of the U.S. military's standard-issue M-16, as intended "for law enforcement, security and private consumer use." Barretts were basically the only gun the cartels wanted, and while they are both ridiculous and rich, we get the strange feeling these weren't meant as toys " it started to get more and more severe. I mean the cartels. To lose that many military, cops, politicians and citizens murdered by gangsters is phenomenal. Really, these propagandists have got to get on the same page. DEA agents say the cartel was trying to instill fear in its enemies and woo new members. Mexican security personnel eventually turned him over to cartel gunmen after the arrest prompted a raging gun battle with extremely heavily armed fighters, including some with American-made . In fact, according to Newsweek, cartel criminals view American guns as status symbols because, well, they work. We know theyre being illegally trafficked through California into Tijuana. No it could not be right. In Mexico, the weapon has disrupted the balance of power between criminal groupsand poorly equippedpoliceforces, according to Romain Le Cour Grandmaison, Program Director at the Mexico and Central America Office of Noria, a think tank. You took their 4473 and transcribed all that, then it asked what type of transaction it was, how many 100s, how many 50s, how many 10s, ones. Distraction. Those associatesarrange the purchase of several guns keeping them atstash houses or handing them off to transporters ingas station parking lots or other neutral locations, Lestrange said. In the absence of sane border security policies, Guerra said, drug cartels decide who crosses, and people in their organizations use the children to enter the U.S. Cant have all those firearms in the USA, so lets pipeline them to Mexico. ", Once the purchase was completed and the "customer" left the store, " the money was counted with the cameras watching it. The Democrats gave them the guns. Do it.' Acosta and others like him across the. He didn't know much about it beside the fact that he wanted it.". None of this is rocket science and all the slick lies and smoke and mirrors Barn Brain attempts to use only discredit anything else he panders to an unsuspecting right wing crowd eager to hear preaching from a Messiah to the choir of the uneducated. The M82 guns, often fitted with a scope to act as snipers weapon, can fire 70 rounds per minute with a maximum range of 2,500 meters. Of course, thats not primary the message Newsweek and the mainstream media (not to mention Mexican officials) want readers to take away from their report. Fast and Furious was a Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) "gunrunning" operation in which the Obama administration allowed guns to be sold to Mexican drug cartels in the hope the weapons would be recovered at crime scenes. In summer, a command intercepted a dozen tourists after being mistaken for members of a rival cartel. Why doesnt it stop guns from going through their border into Mexico? The Bureau Of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), despite sounding like the most fun bureau in history, generally frowns on that kind of thing. A museum in Mexico City has dozens of seized paraphilia on display. See I figured they were big fans of German guns, going back to that huge illegal arms contract HK won for the cartels awhile back. Now I cannot make this any more simple for you to understand. AP/Eduardo Verdugo. "Project Gunrunner" (at least they were honest with the name) kicked off in 2006. See any connections here? Of course, these same quoted Mexican officials made no mention of changing their own to laws to allow the little people to own some cold steel with which they could protect themselves and their families from corrupt federales and cartel predators. Accessories?". Here's what he told us. Frankly, Im rather impressed you are still standing at all. Military-style weaponry has enabled the drug trafficking organizations to match and sometimes overwhelm the firepower of Mexican law enforcement. Modern optics, including AimPoint types and the distinctive Vism ECO 434 model were seen. It costs between $8,000 and $10,000, and it can literally put a bullet through most light tanks. leaks of official weaponry bought by the Mexican military. Well, crap. He sent in the federal police along with army units in an attempt to eliminate high value . MEXICO CITY, Aug 6 The flow of high-caliber arms smuggled across the porousUS border has alarmedMexicanofficials and few weapons are as powerful as theUS-made M82 semi-automaticrifleincreasingly favored by the powerfuldrugcartels. All the illegal purchases followed the same basic pattern, "They would always call, because they always wanted to know the exact amount ahead of time -- usually same day -- and make sure we had one in stock. There must be a mistake. So CA is itself one of those neighboring States that is (cough) responsible for illegal firearms/use across a boundry? Damn Democrat Pipeline! The main character, Franklin is brilliant. And yes the California shooter did have a vetted gun but the point being made is that without uniform vetting laws funneling second hand guns into Mexico is a piece of cake. Obama supplied guns to mexican gangs, and were also used in Paris France terrorist attack. 24 of 29 25 of 29 A handgun covered with gold and money sized to alleged financial agent of the drug "Cartel . It depicts one cartel member dressed in a garish shirt, cowboy hat and belt buckle. Email us here. Somehow, gum made out of tree bark is still softer than Bazooka. Agents launched 534 investigations, seized $29 million and intercepted more than 1,200 guns, 4,700 magazines for semi-automatic and automatic weapons and 700,000 rounds of ammunition headed to. Gold-plated, diamond-encrusted weapons are shown to the press after they were confiscated when the army seized a ranch in Zapopan, Mexico, Sunday, May 2, 2010. A jury didn't believe him,convictingJose RafaelVasquez last month of attempting to smuggle goods out of the country. LMFAO. And he didn't want any ammo for it or any optics for it. Oh. Colt Super .38 pistol: Colt, based in West Hartford, Conn., is the corporate legacy of Samuel Colt, who popularized the revolver in the years before the Civil War. In Mexico City, the military has a museum used to train officials, diplomats, and cadets about the war on drugs. The recent California shooting was done by a maniac who drove for almost 12 hours to commit crime. A Draco, purchased in Joshua, Texas, near Forth Worth, was used in the attack and shooting death of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent Jaime Zapata in Mexico in February. "You put on a face, like any customer service job, and you try to build a rapport with these guys. A large-scale drug investigation in the Valley led to the seizure of millions of fentanyl pills, thousands of pounds of meth and more. (zero miles currently built 1 mo gov shut down trump heights built tho??? It was run by brothers Jorge Luis, Juan David, and Fabio Ochoa Vasquez; Pablo Escobar; Carlos Lehder; George Jung; and Jose Gonzalo Rodriguez. Serial numbers really do tell a story. American guns are ok, and many of the gun companies from the above countries have some US manufacturing. This story has been shared 164,095 times. Mexico is suing US gun makers, arguing that millions of American guns have illegally flowed across the border and fueled homicide rates. But in all honesty the article above does not tell the whole truth about illegal guns in Mexico or South America as drug gangs also get guns from international arms traffickers as well, especially factory made full auto weapons. Besides, the Belgian five-seven was supposed to be the ultimate status symbol], Tijuanas Director of Public Safety, Marco Antonio Sotomayor, says most of the guns flowing into his city come from north of the border. Blaming Californias laws for failing is about as stupid as blaming Blaming Democrats for inter city crime but thats another story thats way over your head. An NSSF survey last year found that 44 percent of owners of these weapons are active-duty or former military or law-enforcement personnel, and the typical owner is 35, married and has some college education. . is on the streets after a gun battle between Mexican security forces and suspected cartel gunmen, in Villa Union, Mexico . Mayor: HISD has two optionsclose school or be taken over, Rare photos show 2 ocelots crossing South Texas road, Willie Nelson pays lovely tribute to another country legend. Follow reporter Beth Warrenon Twitter: @BethWarrenCJ. Pre-order it now! MEXICAN drug cartels are using high-powered sniper rifles which fire bullets the size of cigars to take down police helicopters. Eighty-seven percent of traceable firearms seized by the Mexican government have been traced back to the U.S. We've inadvertently "gifted" Mexico with more than 64,000 firearms over the last five years. We had four or five come in that first guy came in five or six times, saying he was starting a collection. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexican_Drug_War. And how many bad guys did they get? It makes Americas 1930s Gangster Era a minor skirmish by comparison, and it has lasted much longer too. From the finest gems, to gold-plated weapons, law enforcement officials say these accused drug dealers have a passion for flashy things. Known as CJNG, the billion-dollar cartel boasts of more than 5,000 members, an army larger than its key rival, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Send any friend a story As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to . The raw power of therifle, which weighs about 31 lb and is 4.9 feet long, was on show in mid-2020 during a military-style assassination attempt on Mexico Cityspolicechief that was captured by surveillance cameras. So, the ATF was like, "We'll show you! GREENVILLE, S.C. . Gunmen who left behind at least one M82riflewere seen spraying the armor-plated car ofpolicechief Omar Garcia Harfuch with high-velocity rounds. 1 Make rioting in public while wearing a mask a felony with mandatory prison time. . filed a lawsuit in theUS District Court in Massachusetts against the company and 10 other gun manufacturers. Scarface stars Pacino as the indelible gangster and charts his rise as a Cuban immigrant-turned-cocaine cartel captain . For our source, who did nothing but exactly what the law told him, watching the bloody aftermath of the scandal was traumatic: "Our initial thought was how many of these can be pointed across the border at our guys? , Mexican Drug Cartels Say Americas Gunms The Best , , , , , , fck n A ,HiPoint told yah so. But it has expanded operations in the majority of Mexico's states. In addition to weapons from the States working better, Mexico cartels view firearms as status symbols, retired DEA agent Jack Riley told The San Diego Union-Tribune: It is really important to these criminal organizations, who stay in business by the threat of violence and through the use of violence; and the tools that they prefer to do that with are American-made guns.. I think thats pretty fair. Tell you what, you let me have what the Cartels are able to get from the Mexican Military and Ill let you have what I have now. There were undercover agents in the store, sometimes. Every once in a while, a dolt drops a gem. ATF agents say almost 100 of those weapons have turned up at cartel-related crime scenes in. It is also one of the weapons of choice fordrugcartels, according to theMexicangovernment, which this week filed a lawsuit in theUS District Court in Massachusetts against the company and 10 other gun manufacturers. Not many, but America and Mexico arent the only countries making guns. The majority of U.S. states allow citizens to buy .50-caliber weapons, something Mexico reserves for its military. Cartels:As Mexican drug groups cut in on avocado sales by extorting growers, armed locals fight back. I'm like, 'makes sense, he's a military kid.' When the Coen Brothers needed someone to show The Dude how to really roll, they could turn to only one man: Hall of Fame professional bowler Barry Asher. View of gun butts made of gold, diamonds, emeralds and rubies to form the Mexican flag, in Culiacan, Sinaloa state on July 12, 2011. Moodys says these cities may see prices drop up to 10%. Ban assault weapons, high capacity magazines, body armor, silencers. Further investigation revealed that from Jan. 21, 2020 to July 11, 2022, Hernandez had purchased 231 handguns 9mm's, .380's and .22's which officials suspect he smuggled into Mexico. Since joining the Tulsa World in 1999, I have been a three-time winner of Oklahoma's top award for investigative . What i believe is that If i want to sale you ballons ,i give you a good price nd you will greatly say my ballons are the best .. quoteTijuanas Director of Public Safety, Marco Antonio Sotomayor, says most of the guns flowing into his city come from north of the border.quote. Vasquez'sattorney, Silverio Martinez, said he plans to lobby for leniency, even probation, arguing this is his client's first arrest. But, one boy was a white boy who told me he had served. In May 2008, Mexican federal police raided a suspected trafficker house in Culiacan, a long-standing drug hotbed in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. blames CJNG and the Sinaloa Cartel for the bulk of America's illicit fentanyl, U.S. Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. If Diaz had sneaked his arsenal past U.S. Customs officials, he would have had to pay a "piso," or fee, to members of the Crtel del Noreste,or CDN, which dominates this area of northern Mexico, Jonessaid. Or perhaps Newsweek went out of print before the Fast and Furious story broke. Now, he's militarized the country. *awkward shrug*, Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images News/Getty Images. This is another valid reason to vet second hand gun purchases because there often is no paper trail with second hand guns, especially guns that have been sold over and over again second hand. CJNG is based in Guadalajara, Mexico's second-largest city, in the state of Jalisco. By Ioan Grillo Bloomsbury: 400 pages, $28 If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org . Seriously, I feel your pain. These guys aren't stupid. The underground trade of weapons to Mexico is worth hundreds of millions of dollars annuallywith American guns used to kill tens of thousands of Mexicans each year. After his arrest, Diaz told agents with Homeland Security Investigations he was paid $5,000 upfront to smuggle "fierros," Spanish for "iron," which he understood to be guns,across the border. Tijuanas Director of Public Safety, Marco Antonio Sotomayor, says most of the guns flowing into his city come from north of the border. Once in the hands of cartel capos, however, the modern sporting rifle becomes very much an assault weapon. So Ive just one question for you. These agencies team withthe U.S. Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco, Firearms and Explosivesto investigate the financing, transportation, and communications methods of smuggling networks. American firearms power a brutal conflict that has claimed more than 100,000 lives. "Almost all guns recovered at crime scenes in Mexico 70% to 90% of them were trafficked from the U.S.," the Mexican government claims in its complaint. We sat down with "James," who worked at one of the gun stores the ATF ordered to sell firearms to drug cartels. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., pressed Garland regarding the opioid epidemic, highlighting that fentanyl is responsible for more deaths than guns and car accidents. Sorry, man -- at least 150 Mexican civilians have been hurt or killed by weapons the ATF let enter Mexico. Agreed. The M82 can easily penetrate bulletproof vests, concrete walls and even tanks, says its manufacturer Barrett Firearms. And that region continues struggling with. Even though CDN is a rival of CJNG, its members accept payments to allowdrugs or guns to passthrough their territory. And follow Robert on Twitter. Sorry not in todays world American guns have some of the shittyist workmanship that I have ever seen compared to the U.S. guns that were made in the distant past and even those were often nothing when compared to finely made European guns. Roger Clemens makes surprise appearance at Astros' Spring Training, Hiker captures 'once-in-a-lifetime' photo of wildlife at Brazos Bend State Park, Houston Rockets poised to reap benefits from Eric Gordon trade, Texas congressman's breaks with GOP could lead to censure, Proposed Texas bill gives tax cuts to heterosexual families only, These bites won big at the Houston rodeo's foodie awards, Heres how you can watch 'Daisy Jones and the Six', Here's what Lina Hidalgo carb-loads before a long run, Houston police ticket man for feeding homeless people. The Mexican government claims that more than 68% of illegal guns smuggled across the border are made by those companies, along withBarrett and Witmer Public Safety Group, which acquired Interstate Arms. Working together across 18 different countries over the course of 10 months, the consortium investigated the global networks of Mexican drug cartels and their political connections around the world. Why was President Biden talking about Utahs 2002 Winter Games at the White House? it would help a great deal if the U.S. had much tighter gun control and drug enforcement.. What ARE you waiting on? Of those murders, at least 20,005 were carried out with guns. [and I wonder what fraction of those murders were carried out at the behest of federal authorities by their cartel buddiesthe same Federales that prohibit citizens from arming up to defend themselves against the cartels.]. The bridge connectsEagle Pass, Texas, to the Northern Mexicocity of Piedras Negras in the state of Coahuila. Are insane ticket costs pricing Astros fans out of Opening Day? In any case, "the trace itself doesn't tell you anything,"' said Lawrence Keane, general counsel for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the Newtown, Conn.-based firearms industry trade group. Top ATF officials have said in congressional testimony that 90 percent of the guns submitted for tracing by Mexican authorities are from the United States. The Barrett M82 was a serious problem for security forces because its armor-piercing bullets can knock out the motors of reconnaissance vehicles and endanger helicopters, said aMexicanofficial, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Men claiming to speak for Mexico's most powerful drug cartel have released a video threatening to murder . Comparing it to Belgium and Czech and German Model 98s made the M70 look like a piece of trash.