Are you saying that the Mexican Army uses US military small arms? Aren't all of those serialized? If in fact the weapons the gangs use do not (for the most part) have serial numbers, then the scenario you describe, while I am sure it happens, does not follow in most cases, unless of course they were removed. I just don't see why anyone in Mexico would bother removing them. It's easier just to buy a dispensation from the Federales.
Yes the Mexican Military uses U.S. weaponry and yes they are serialized. But for some weird reason the Mexican Government will not share the serial numbers with the U.S. Government or maybe they have... But none of it has been released publicly, Why?
I'm willing to bet a chunk of those U.S. made weapons came from the Mexican Military and/or the Zetas, both were armed with American weapons and "other" technology in the "War On Drugs". Unfortunately the Zetas, a former Mexican Military Para-Military Unit, decided the Cartels paid better.
The truth on this "American Gun running" lie is starting to get out and there will be some politicians with egg all over their faces. As it has been reported for about a week now, only about 17% come from the U.S. the rest are from the normal suspects... China, Russia, South and Central America, etc., a veritable smorgasbord of manufacturers.
The main arm of the Mexican army has long been the M-16.
Aren't all of those serialized?
Another example of coordination problems occurred this month. Mexican authorities in Reynosa across the border from McAllen, seized the country’s single largest stash of cartel weapons — nearly 300 assault rifles, shoulder-fired grenade launchers and a half million rounds of ammunition.But weeks later, Mexican authorities still have not allowed the ATF access to serial numbers that would help them track down the buyers and traffickers on the U.S. side.
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But in those same two years, according to the Mexican government, 29,000 guns were recovered at crime scenes. In other words, 68 percent of the guns that were recovered were never submitted for tracing.
It's easier just to buy a dispensation from the Federales.
The drug cartels are buying dispensations for full-auto rifles, grenade launchers and explosives?