Three Texas Men Arrested For Buying Assault Rifles For a Cartel

Three Texas men have been arrested for allegedly buying assault rifles and taking them across the border to Mexican cartels, authorities announced.

The apprehensions, they added, are part of a wider investigation involving at least three federal agencies: Bureau of Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI.

Authorities identified a person who organized "straw purchases" of weapons, which would then be smuggled. Some were seized at the Eagle Pass port of entry and crime scenes in Mexico.

ATF agents arrested two brothers who had bought rifles that would then be taken to Mexico, according to Border Report. They took authorities to a home where they allegedly received money to buy the weapons.

The outlet added that the suspects made an initial appearance before court last week, with a preliminary detention hearing scheduled for August 5.

There is abundant evidence about the flow of weapons bought legally in the U.S. to Mexico. The latter's Defense Secretariat said last month it had located 11 gun smuggling routes from the U.S. to Mexico.

In a report, the entity said it was able to spot the routes as a result of cooperation with the General Prosecutor's Office, and that most of them are used by criminal organizations. Overall, authorities were able to seize almost 6,000 guns between November 2024 and May this year.

The document adds that 43% of the guns seized come from Texas. An additional 22% come from Arizona and 9% from California.

Mexico's Security Minister Omar García Harfuch said earlier this year that 75% of the weapons recovered between February and May came from the U.S., a figure also acknowledged by U.S. officials.

The U.S. Supreme Court blocked in early June a $10 billion lawsuit filed by Mexico against U.S. manufacturers for allegedly helping fuel cartel violence in the country with their business practices. Mexico, in fact, has just one store where people can legally buy guns.

The Associated Press detailed that the ruling was unanimous. It followed appeals from manufacturers like Smith & Wesson, Berretta, Colt and Glock. Mexico had requested justices to let the case continue, claiming it was in its early stages.

The country accused the companies of knowing their guns were being smuggled into Mexico and seizing the opportunity to increase their profits.