Mexican Man Sentenced To Seven Years In Prison For Seeking To Smuggle Dozens Of Weapons From The U.S.

A Mexican man was sentenced to seven years in prison in Texas for seeking to smuggle dozens of weapons from the U.S. and into Mexico.

The man in question is Martin Edgar Garza Pacheco. According to U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Justin R. Simmons, he worked with two accomplices to buy 36 weapons across different stores in San Antonio, Border Report noted.

He would travel through the Eagle Pass port of entry with the weapons concealed in his vehicle. He was arrested by law enforcement in one of those smuggling attempts in 2023 and pleaded guilty that same year. He will now spend 84 months behind bars.

Several such incidents routinely take place at the southern border. The same outlet reported last week that law enforcement officers in Arizona seized thousands of rounds of ammunition as an individual was trying to smuggle them into Mexico.

The vast majority of the bullets were those used in AK-47-style rifles, which are heavily used by Mexican cartels. Border Report noted that such weapons are banned in Mexico and those found in possession of them can face 10 years in prison or more.

In late December, a father and son pleaded guilty to attempting to smuggle hundreds of weapons and a cache of ammunition into Mexico.

The men, Emilio Ramirez Cortes and Edgar Emilio Ramirez Diaz, from Alabama, admitted the charges after being caught while seeking to smuggle more than 500 weapons and over 31,000 rounds of ammo, Border Report noted.

The incident took place as they sought to cross through the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in separate vehicles. Both of them were hauling utility trailers that had false walls with the weapons concealed behind them.

Overall, authorities found 534 firearms, 31,482 rounds of ammo, 535 magazines, 40 scopes, four lasers and 10 rifle slings. The men also admitted they smuggled such items in the past. They now face up to 25 years in prison: 15 for trafficking and 10 for smuggling goods from the U.S. The crimes can also land them a $250,000 fine each.

The topic has dominated the conversation over the past days, especially after the killing of Nemesio Oceguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho" and longtime leader of the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG).

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said earlier this month that if the U.S. wants to see a decrease in drug trafficking, it should stop the flow of weapons across the border.