Note: Uzi probably Mex. govt. issue.
Published: 18/04/2012 15:29 By: SUN
160 weapons and grenades seized in Juarez
CIUDAD JUAREZ, Chihuahua (SUN)
http://www.elimparcial.com/EdicionEnLinea/Notas/Nacional/
18042012/586171.aspx
Agents of the Municipal Public Security Secretariat (SSPM) seized
over 160 firearms, rifles, caliber and fragmentation grenades.
The Director of Public Safety Ciudad Juarez, Julian Leyzaola said
that after the intensification of the operations are managed to
secure 46 rifles, 120 pistols, two homemade weapons, five grenades
and more than 25,000 rounds of different calibers.
Noting the recent seizures in the municipality, Leyzaola said Public
Security personnel also found and secured two safe houses located in
the same area where a lot of concealed firearms.
He explained that even during one of the local operational police
managed to rescue a young man who was abducted by three men, who also
were in possession of several firearms.
The head of the Juarez police said that among the weapons locked in
so far this year include .50 caliber Barrett rifles, a grenade
launcher caliber 40, Uzi submachine type and two fragmentation
grenades and four 40 mm shells.
He reported that all weapons Municipal Police said were made
available to the Attorney General's Office (PGR) because it is a
crime under federal jurisdiction.
El Paso Border Patrol agent, girlfriend accused of gun smuggling
denied bond
By Adriana M. Chávez / El Paso Times
Posted: 04/18/2012 11:43:07 AM MDT
http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_20424409/el-paso-border-
patrol-agent-girlfriend-accused-gun
An El Paso Border Patrol agent and his girlfriend, who are both
charged with gun smuggling, will remain jailed without bond pending
their trial date, a federal judge ruled this morning.
Accused in the case are Border Patrol Agent Ricardo Montalvo, 28, and
his girlfriend, Carla Gonzales-Ortiz, 29. Federal agents arrested the
couple last week following their indictment on conspiracy, fire arms
and smuggling charges.They were the target of an investigation that
lasted more than a year, said officials with the U.S. Attorney's
Office in New Mexico.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Mesa made his ruling during a detention
hearing this morning. He determined both Montalvo and Gonzales-Ortiz
are both flight risks after reviewing the possible maximum punishment
of more than 10 years in prison.
The couple is accused of buying high-powered weapons and large
amounts of ammunition to be smuggled to Mexico. Their indictment
states Montalvo bought ammunition and firearms, such as AK-47-type
pistols favored by Mexican drug cartels, but the document does not
specify to whom the weapons were going to be sold.
Montalvo also bought about 20,000 rounds of ammo, 97 high-capacity
magazines -- including 10 100-round magazines for 5.56-mm rifles --
and four 37-mm flare launchers that drug cartels can convert to
grenade launchers, the indictment alleged.
Montalvo and Gonzales-Ortiz allegedly made the purchases knowing that
the guns and ammo were intended to be smuggled to Mexico. The indictment
does not disclose whether any of the weapons were actually taken into
Mexico.
During today's detention hearing, a Border Patrol internal affairs
agent testified that although investigators found indications that
the guns Montalvo purchased were destined for drug cartel members in
Mexico, the agent admitted he knew of no definite evidence that
exists to prove those allegations.
Gonzales-Ortiz was charged in the case after she attempted to
purchase two weapons in 2010, but was denied based on her expired
immigrant visa status at the time. She was later granted conditional
permanent legal residency.
The couple has a 6-month-old baby, whom Gonzales-Ortiz was breast
feeding when she was arrested, her attorney Leonard Morales said
during today's hearing.
268k rounds of ammo seizure leads to arrest of U.S. truck driver in
Juárez
by Daniel Borunda / El Paso Times
Posted: 04/17/2012 09:49:33 PM MDT
Reporter
Daniel Borunda
http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_20420162/268k-rounds-ammo-seizure-leads-
arrest-u-s?source=rss_viewed
A U.S. truck driver was arrested after 268,000 rounds of ammunition
were found in a semi-truck in Juárez by Mexican customs agents at the
Bridge of the Americas on Tuesday afternoon.
The case was one of the largest ammo seizures made by Mexican
authorities in Juárez since a vicious drug cartel war that has
claimed more than 9,500 lives erupted four years ago.
Mexican news outlets identified the arrested driver as Bogan Jabin
Akeem, 37, of Dallas.
Sources close to the investigation said Akeem will remain in custody
for at least 48 hours while a court determines if a criminal case
will go forward. Akeem was driving a tractor-trailer with Texas
plates with the logo "McKinney Trailer Rentals."
Sources said the ammunition is of the type used for AK-47 and AR-15
rifles. The rifles are often used by members of Mexican criminal
organizations. The bullets were being transported inside metal boxes
in a tractor-trailer that was stopped for a routine inspection as it
entered Mexico.
The bullets are legal to buy in the United States but the ammunition
is banned in Mexico, which considers those types of rifles and
bullets only for military use.
On the El Paso side of the border, signs warn travelers not to take
firearms and bullets into Mexico.
Mexican law enforcement officials said they could not discuss the
case. Mexican federal election law bars the official release of
information from government agencies during presidential campaigns,
but sources close to the
investigation confirmed the seizure.
The seizure was made on the same international bridge where Mexican
President Felipe Calderón in February gave a speech criticizing the
U.S. for the consumption of drugs and for the availability of high-
powered firearms that can be legally purchased in the United States.
During his speech, Calderón unveiled a sign in English stating, "No
More Weapons."
The sign, which is visible from El Paso, is made of parts of firearms
seized by the Mexican military and welded together.
U.S. authorities have increased enforcement to try to stop the so-
called "Iron River," or flow of weapons into Mexico. It is not
uncommon for U.S. agents to search vehicles heading to Mexico for
weapons and bulk cash shipments from drug proceeds.
There have also been increased efforts to stop gun smuggling.
Last week, a U.S. Border Patrol agent from El Paso and his girlfriend
were arrested by U.S. federal agents. They were accused of lying on
federal forms to buy firearms and ammo intended for Mexico.
Agent Ricardo Montalvo, 28, and his girlfriend, Carla Gonzales-Ortiz,
29, are scheduled to have a detention hearing before a U.S.
magistrate judge this afternoon in the federal courthouse in Downtown
El Paso.
Montalvo and Gonzales-Ortiz are accused of conspiring to buy high-
powered weapons and more than 20,000 rounds of ammo intended for
Mexico. The issue of weapons and ammunition from the U.S. heading
into Mexico has become a major topic in recent years as the Mexican
government deals with a wave of drug violence in various parts of the
country.
Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com; 546-6102.
No comments:
Post a Comment