Точка Синхронізації

Mexican Defense Secretary Luis Cresencio Sandoval reported during a high-level security meeting in Mexico City recently that nearly half of the high-caliber ammunition seized from violent drug cartels since 2012 has been traced back to a specific U.S. Army manufacturing plant in Kansas City, Missouri. The disclosure highlights a significant breach in the security of the international arms supply chain, as these heavy-duty .50-caliber rounds—capable of piercing armored vehicles and downing helicopters—are being channeled from American military production lines into the hands of organized crime syndicates across the southern border. This data was released as part of an ongoing effort by the Mexican government to pressure the United States to stem the flow of illegal weaponry fueling the country's deadly cartel wars. According to the detailed findings presented by Mexican military officials, authorities have confiscated approximately 137,000 rounds of .50-caliber ammunition over the last twelve years. Of that massive stockpile, 47 percent was identified as originating from the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Missouri. This facility is a massive government-owned but contractor-operated site that produces over a billion rounds of ammunition annually. While the plant primarily services the U.S. Department of Defense, it also sells surplus and commercial ammunition, creating a complex trail for investigators attempting to determine exactly how military-grade supplies are being diverted to criminal organizations like the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels. The implications of these findings are profound for diplomatic relations between the two neighbors, as Mexico has long argued that American gun laws and lax oversight are directly responsible for the violence on its soil. The .50-caliber round is particularly concerning for Mexican security forces because it is the ammunition of choice for heavy machine guns and sniper rifles used by cartels to challenge the Mexican army in open combat. By identifying a specific American military source, the Mexican government is shifting the conversation from general civilian gun sales to the accountability of U.S. military contractors and the oversight of government-produced munitions.