RPG event in United States of America on Sat 28th December 2024

U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at the Nogales Port of Entry seized a rocket launcher and two rocket-propelled grenades that were hidden inside a vehicle headed to Mexico on Dec. 28.

CBP Port Director Michael Humphries announced the weapons seizure on Tuesday.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona says that the devices turned out to be inert upon further inspection. However, the discovery shows a deeper concern for people like Retired ATF Deputy Assistant Director Peter Forcelli

“The cartels, as they move things north mostly humans and drugs. They use those same routes to traffic things south,” said Forcelli.

Forcelli says for years, guns and ammo have been trafficked from the U.S. to Mexico. Arizona’s Family has previously reported on this issue, which in many cases is done through what are called straw purchases, where people buy guns and ammo and pass them off or smuggle them outside the country.

“In Arizona, the federal prosecutors there aren’t very aggressive at prosecuting cases and then number two is Aduana, which is Mexico’s customs does not inspect vehicles heading South,” said Forcelli.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona says it consistently ranks among the top districts in charging defendants who attempt to smuggle weapons through the southern border.

“Where I think we have opportunity is to work more with our agency partners, that’s HSI that’s ATF to figure out which cases are good for long term investigations,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona Gary Restaino.

Between 2018 and 2023, the ATF reported that the number of firearms recovered in Mexico that were traced to retailers in the U.S. grew each year.

“This is a human life issue because you have people dying on both sides of the border,” said Forcelli.

Humphries said the weapons were likely intended to protect cartels and fentanyl labs in Mexico, but because the devices were inert, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says there is no chargeable crime at this time.