A United States Army ammunition plant has been identified as the source of nearly half of all .50-caliber rifle rounds seized in Mexico over the past decade, according to the country’s defense minister. This finding comes after an investigation revealed the leverage of this powerful ammunition by Mexican drug cartels in attacks against both government forces and civilians.
Ammunition’s Journey
Defense Minister Gen. Ricardo Trevilla Trejo stated that, “According to the records we have,” 137,000 cartridges have been seized since 2012, with 47% originating from the Lake City plant and sold in gun shops in the southern United States. The Lake City plant, located outside of Kansas City, Missouri, is the largest manufacturer of rifle rounds for the U.S. Military and has supplied ammunition to American consumers for over two decades.
Agreements between the U.S. Army and the contractors operating Lake City have allowed .50-caliber ammunition to enter retail markets, ultimately reaching Mexican cartels. This includes armor-piercing incendiary rounds, despite Congressional efforts to prevent their transfer to civilians.
Impact in Mexico
Mexican authorities have long acknowledged the role of illegal firearms flowing from the U.S. In fueling violence within the country. Cartels have used these weapons to launch military-style attacks. Since 2003, at least 121 people have been killed in 87 attacks involving .50-caliber guns, according to an ICIJ count.
These weapons have been used to target Mexican military and police helicopters – with at least seven attacks recorded as of spring 2022 – as well as to assassinate officials, attack police and military forces, and carry out massacres of civilians, such as the massacre of 13 policemen in Michoacán and an attack in Villa Unión, where 23 people were killed.
Under President Claudia Sheinbaum, the Mexican government has seized 18,000 firearms, 78% of which originated in the U.S., including 215 .50-caliber rifles.
U.S. Response and Future Steps
The U.S. Army allows the Lake City plant’s operators to sell excess production capacity, saving taxpayers around $50 million annually. Successive U.S. Administrations have pledged to address the flow of firearms into Mexico, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently announced a new initiative with the Mexican government to halt the trafficking of guns and ammunition. However, a recent Supreme Court decision blocked a lawsuit by the Mexican government against gunmakers, and another lawsuit against gun dealers in Arizona is ongoing.
President Sheinbaum has stated she will seek answers from the U.S. Government regarding how military-grade weapons are entering Mexico.
Frequently Asked Questions
What percentage of seized cartridges came from the Lake City plant?
According to the Mexican defense minister, 47% of the 137,000 cartridges seized since 2012 came from the Lake City plant.
What types of attacks have involved .50-caliber guns in Mexico?
These guns have been used to attack helicopters, assassinate government officials, and carry out massacres of civilians and police forces.
What is the U.S. Army’s relationship with the Lake City plant?
The U.S. Army requires the plant to be capable of producing up to 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition annually, and allows contractors to sell excess production capacity.
As the Mexican government seeks answers about the origin of these weapons, what further steps might be taken to address the flow of ammunition across the U.S.-Mexico border?
