Arms Smuggling

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – French naval forces in January seized thousands of assault rifles, machine guns, and anti-tank missiles in the Gulf of Oman coming from Iran heading to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, officials said Thursday, the latest such interdiction amid the Mideast nation´s long-running war.

Del Rio Sector Border Patrol agents teamed up with state and other federal agencies to stop a shipment of weapons to Mexico. The smugglers used an SUV to move at least 15 firearms out of Texas.

The EU has expressed concerns over weapons flowing from Ukraine to Europe, with a minister calling on the bloc to buy and destroy weapons.  

Swedish police have expressed concern that weapons being used in Ukraine may make their way to Sweden once the conflict ends.

McALLEN, Texas — A war hero who received the prestigious Bronze Star Medal will spend more than two years in prison for his role in obtaining illegal firearms for Mexico’s Gulf Cartel.

Israel is halting mail service to the Gaza Strip “in light of multiple attempts to smuggle banned items… used for terrorism against Israel,” Yoav Mordechai, the coordinator of government activities in occupied territories, posted on Facebook on Thursday.

Mexican authorities arrested five men who had were driving two SUV’s filled with weapons and tactical gear as they headed from a southern part of Mexico to this border city. Two of the men had forged documents that claimed they were members of the Mexican military.

Last month, there were reports of a joint effort between Eastern European countries, especially Moldova, and the FBI to crack down on nuclear smugglers. The deadly contraband for sale in those accounts was cesium, which could be used to create dirty bombs. The authorities were somewhat skeptical about these black marketeers possessing serious nuclear bomb fuel.

A Texas man has been charged in an ongoing Mexican cartel effort to buy guns in the U.S. The man is charged with having personally purchased at least 38 weapons for the cartel. Agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives recently arrested 31-year-old Carlos Alberto Zamudio on straw purchasing charges. Straw purchasing refers to the practice of U.S citizens with a clean background purchasing weapons for people who are not able to such as convicted felons, foreign nationals, and, along the Texas border, Mexican drug cartels.

Federal agents arrested a man from Mexico with a tourist visa during a sting operation. The man had been illegally purchasing thousands of rounds of ammunition.

A Texas border woman and a male associate received steep prison sentences for their role in an attempt to smuggle approximately 36 grenades into Mexico. The grenades were destined for the hands of waiting cartel gunmen.

MCALLEN, Texas—Federal agents arrested two suspected Gulf Cartel arms dealers who are accused of recruiting people with the ability to legally purchase weapons on their behalf so that they can have them shipped to Mexico.