Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized a cache of weapons this week that were likely headed to a Mexican cartel. The weapons discovery comes amid increasing concern about violence in Mexico as well as the large number of migrants attempting to cross into the United States.
CBP members announced that they seized 25 AK-style weapons in Blythe, California. The seizure came after a service K-9 detected the weapons, as well as two handguns and magazines. Two men were arrested after the attempted smuggling effort and face federal charges.
Yuma Sector Chief Sean Patrol agent Sean McGoffin said “Transnational Criminal Organizations traffic weapons to fuel their illicit activity on both sides of the border. This weapons seizure clearly demonstrates the importance of our Border Security mission and commitment of keeping our communities safe.”
The seizure occurred about 100 miles north of the Mexican state of Sonora, which is controlled by parts of breakaway factions of the Sinaloa Cartel. There have also been a series of gunfights in the state between the Sinaloa and Juarez Cartels.
The discovery of the weapons also comes as the Biden administration has received increasing criticism over the flow of migrants and drugs across the border. That includes the end of the Title 42 asylum policy implemented by former President Donald Trump.
The end of the program last year played a significant role in an increase in attempted crossings by illegal immigrants.
The situation reached a peak last December, when more than 300,000 illegal aliens attempted to cross into the country, the highest on record. The increased numbers also capped off the highest rate of attempted crossings in the country’s history. Last year there were more than three million attempted crossings into the United States.
The greatest threat to democracy today is Joe Biden.
He is responsible for a botched Afghanistan withdrawal, a wide open southern border, complete weakness on the global stage, and the weaponization of our justice system. pic.twitter.com/ag7EbRvZpV
— Tim Scott (@votetimscott) June 16, 2024
Furthermore, since President Joe Biden took office in 2021 there have been about seven million estimated illegal alien crossings.
Some states have taken action to try and halt or slow the flow of illegal aliens and illegal drugs into their jurisdictions. This includes Texas’ Operation Lone Star, which uses state resources to help secure the Rio Grande.
