EXCLUSIVE — PHOTOS: Mexican Cartel Improves Weapons Manufacturing Capabilities

Intelligence reports indicate that one of Mexico’s most dangerous cartels continues to increase their capabilities by manufacturing weapons. The arms are built in clandestine factories with advanced technology and practices.

Despite being considered a younger cartel, Mexican intelligence information provided to Breitbart Texas labels the Cartel Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) as a violence-prone organization with higher operational capabilities than any other group. As part of their expansion strategy, CJNG supplies weapons to other armed organizations at war with the Sinaloa Cartel and Los Zetas.

It is estimated that CJNG has at least 40 armed cells spread out throughout the country which, in addition to having access to powerful weapons and artillery, are trained by former military forces. As Breitbart Texas reported, Mexican authorities sounded the alarm on CJNG gunmen for being trained by former members of the Colombian terrorist group FARC, an entity known for making of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

To maintain their growing power, CJNG is building clandestine arms factories in Colima and Jalisco, specializing in assault rifles. The weapons are clones of the popular AR-15 rifles and AK-47s in .223cal, 7.62x39mm, and .308cal. The weapons can be identified by their lacking factory markings and serial numbers. Additionally, some of the arms are metallic in color since some factories do not apply the matte finish to protect from rust.

Mexican authorities began discovering CJNG’s clandestine weapons factories as far back as 2014 in Jalisco, Michoacan, and Baja California. Since then, the cartel’s technology has increased to the point where weapons are mainly built in Mexico, they only need to source their ammunition abroad.

Using industrial machinery, presses, and other equipment, CJNG has been able to manufacture the various parts needed to make rifles. The criminal organization also built their own vehicle-armoring garages to outfit tactical SUVs.

Editor’s Note: Breitbart Texas traveled to the Mexican States of Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Nuevo León and other areas to recruit citizen journalists willing to risk their lives and expose the cartels silencing their communities. Breitbart Texas’ Cartel Chronicles are published in both English and in their original Spanish. This article was written by Jose Luis Lara, a former leading member who helped start the Self-Defense Movement in Michoacán.