Weapons of diverse calibers, explosives and even and anti air missile are part of an arsenal in a gun trafficking operation that took place in Texas, Arizona, California, New Mexico and Florida, all of them where uncovered by the office of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) between 2007 and 2012, revealed by an investigation reported by the news paper "El Universal". Part of the loot had been requested by Joaquin " El Chapo" Guzman.

According to a report elaborated by the Department of Justice in the United States, before undercover agents managed to stop the gun purchases for a group of criminals, the cartels managed to obtain a lot of up to 400 pieces of weaponry, all of which would be sent to Mexico. The report details of 25 different relevant cases in a period of 5 years.

The main buyers where "El Cartel de Sinaloa", "Los Zetas" and "La Familia Michoacana". Undercover ATF agents spoke about the operations they have prevented by infiltrating the mexican cartels. They revealed that "El chapo Guzman" had requested an anti air missile as well as anti tank weaponry, as well as grenades, grenade launchers, machine guns and other weaponry, all of which would be paid for in cash and methamphetamine.

The report also details information of who were the ones behind the gun trafficking operations in the United States, some of which were trafficking individually and others were working with groups that bought small amounts of merchandise until they completed the requests.

Bullet proof vests, AK-47 rifles, armor piercing weaponry, night vision goggles, grenades, ammunition, sniper rifles as well as other equipment were some of the more requested items.

Brenda.Colon@sandiegored.com

Daniel.Aguilar@sandiegored.com