Last month, authorities discovered and confiscated some unconventional weapons that were being transported across the Arizona-Mexico border.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents made a significant seizure at the Nogales Port of Entry on December 28. They discovered a rocket launcher and two rocket-propelled grenades concealed inside a vehicle that was destined for Mexico.
On Tuesday, CBP Port Director Michael Humphries made an announcement about the seizure of weapons.
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, further inspection revealed that the devices were inactive. However, the discovery raises a deeper concern for individuals like retired ATF Deputy Assistant Director Peter Forcelli.
“The cartels, as they move things north mostly humans and drugs. They use those same routes to traffic things south,” said Forcelli.
According to Forcelli, firearms and ammunition have been transported from the United States to Mexico for many years. Arizona’s Family has previously covered this issue, highlighting the common practice of straw purchases, where individuals purchase firearms and ammunition, subsequently selling or smuggling them out of the nation.
“In Arizona, the federal prosecutors there aren’t very aggressive at prosecuting cases and then number two is Aduana, which is Mexico’s customs does not inspect vehicles heading South,” said Forcelli.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona, the district frequently ranks at the top in charging offenders attempting to smuggle guns across the southern border.
“Where I think we have opportunity is to work more with our agency partners, that’s HSI that’s ATF to figure out which cases are good for long term investigations,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona Gary Restaino.
Between 2018 and 2023, the ATF claimed that the number of weapons confiscated in Mexico and traced to U.S. dealers increased year after year.
“This is a human life issue because you have people dying on both sides of the border,” said Forcelli.
Humphries stated that the weapons were most likely intended to defend cartels and fentanyl labs in Mexico, but because the devices were inert, the U.S. Attorney’s Office maintains there is now no chargeable offense.