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Tag: gun smuggling

  • Three Men Sentenced For Smuggling Grenade Launchers

    Three men were sentenced this week in a California District Court for illegally importing high-powered military hardware into the U.S. The smuggled items included grenade launchers, machine guns, and ballistic vests.

    The three men, Sergio Syjuco, Cesar Ubaldo, and Arjyl Revereza, are all Philippine nationals from Manila. According to court documents, the men conspired to smuggle the powerful weaponry into the U.S. and then pass them on to Mexican drug cartels and the Mexican Mafia.

    The items the men attempted to smuggle included a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) launcher, a mortar launcher, a single-shot grenade launcher, and 12 Bushmaster machine guns. Mortars and grenades for the weapons were also part of the package, as were military-grade ballistic vests.

    Unfortunately for the men, the buyer they were importing the weapons for was actually an undercover FBI agent. The FBI in cooperation with the Philippine National Bureau of Investigation investigated the men and thwarted their smuggling attempt. According to court documents, Ubaldo served as a facilitator for the deal, meeting with the undercover agent and introducing him to Syjuco, the man who was able to acquire and supply the weapons. Revereza aided the smuggling from his position as a police officer in the Philippines Bureau of Customs, getting the items through customs in the Philippines. After the items were shipped the FBI tracked the packages and seized them when they arrived in the U.S.

    For his part in the scheme Syjuco has been sentenced to seven years in prison and a $15,000 fine. Ubaldo was sentenced to five years in prison and Revereza to four years, four months.

  • Panama Detains North Korean Ship, Finds Hidden Weapons

    A North Korean ship traveling through the Panama Canal on its way from Cuba has been detained, and Panama is claiming to have found undeclared weapons on board the ship.

    According to a Reuters report, Panama detained the ship on suspicion of drug running. Authorities then found the weapons hidden in containers that were labeled to carry brown sugar. The crew of the ship reportedly resisted Panamanian efforts to redirect the ship, and the ship’s captain attempted suicide.

    It is still unclear just what type of weapons were being hidden, though Reuters quotes a military intelligence consulting firm as saying some of the materials were for a fire control radar for surface-to-air missles. Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli tweeted a photo of the alleged weapons late Monday night:

    North Korea put the world on-edge this past spring after issuing threats against South Korea. The threats intensified shortly after South Korean protests during the 101st birthday celebration of Kim Jon-un, the first leader of North Korea and the grandfather of current leader Kim Jong-un. Communications between the Korean countries were cut off by the North, which issued numerous declarations of war before finally proposing talks with South Korea in June.

    (via Reuters)

  • Gun Parts in Stuffed Animals Found in Rhode Island Airport

    Gun parts in stuffed animals: No, it’s not the plot of the latest “Die Hard” sequel, though, as I’ve said countless times before, this sort of “odd news” item would certainly make for a great summer blockbuster starring Jason Statham, Bruce Willis, and/or Liam Neeson. I’m sure you’ll see this gimmick used before too long, if hasn’t been utilized already.

    Authorities at Rhode Island’s T.F. Green Airport discovered gun components and plenty of ammunition stuffed inside a child’s stuffed animals. Rumors are swirling that the incident was a direct response to a domestic dispute, though, at the moment, it’s unclear as to how it the two scenarios are connected. However, despite having all of the parts necessary to assemble a fully-loaded .40-caliber weapon, the child and his father were sent on their way.

    Rhode Island Airport Police Chief Leo Messier issued a statement shortly after the discovery, stating the situation “was jointly investigated by the RI Airport Police, FBI and the RI State Police and it was determined that there was no threat at any time to air safety.”

    The pair were reportedly headed to Detroit when a TSA officer discovered the “artfully concealed” components after sending their bags through an X-ray scanner. Three separate animals contained the weaponry: one held the gun frame itself, while the other two carried a firing pin and a magazine full of ammunition. Normally, this sort of scenario would raise a lot of red flags. However, apparently officials felt the pair posed no threat to security, as they were allowed to skip along their merry way. Kind of peculiar, if you ask me.

    Of course, the gun and all of its components were confiscated by police. An investigation into the incident is apparently still underway. How the father avoided going to jail is still kind of baffling, but I suppose RI police have their reasons for releasing him. Let us know what you think of the situation in the comments section below.