Nearly half of the .50-caliber rifle ammunition seized in Mexico over the last decade has been traced back to a U.S. Army ammunition plant, according to the Mexican defense minister. The revelation, reported Tuesday, underscores the complex flow of arms across the U.S.-Mexico border and raises questions about how military-grade ammunition ends up in the hands of powerful drug cartels. The issue of ammunition trafficking has long been a point of contention between the two countries, with Mexico consistently calling for greater U.S. Efforts to curb the illegal weapons trade.
Defense Minister Gen. Ricardo Trevilla Trejo stated during a presidential news conference that 137,000 cartridges have been seized since 2012, with 47% originating from the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Missouri. The plant, the largest manufacturer of rifle rounds for the U.S. Military, too supplies ammunition to American consumers. This arrangement, facilitated by agreements between the U.S. Army and private contractors operating the plant, allows .50-caliber ammunition and components to enter the commercial market, ultimately reaching criminal organizations in Mexico, according to investigative reporting by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and its partners.
Cartel Use of .50-Caliber Ammunition
The .50-caliber rifles, nearly five feet long and weighing around 30 pounds, have become a weapon of choice for Mexican cartels, who have used them in increasingly brazen attacks. According to an ICIJ count based on news reports, academic studies, and government records, these powerful weapons have been linked to at least 87 attacks since 2003, resulting in the deaths of at least 121 people. Cartels have deployed the ammunition to down helicopters, target government officials, and carry out massacres of both civilians and law enforcement. Specifically, cartridges bearing the “L.C.” inscription from the Lake City plant were found following attacks including the 2019 massacre of 13 policemen in Michoacán and an attack on the town hall in Villa Unión, where 23 people were killed.
As of spring 2022, authorities had documented at least seven attacks on Mexican military and police helicopters using .50-caliber guns, according to an ATF briefing. The ability of cartels to acquire such powerful weaponry highlights the challenges Mexico faces in combating organized crime and maintaining security.
The Flow of Firearms from the U.S.
The issue of illegal firearms flowing from the United States to Mexico is not new. Mexican authorities have long maintained that the easy availability of weapons in the U.S. Fuels violence within their borders. Under President Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office in late 2024, the Mexican government has seized 18,000 firearms, with 78% originating in the U.S., according to Gen. Trevilla Trejo. Of those seized, 215 were .50-caliber rifles.
Although the trafficking of firearms has received significant attention, the flow of ammunition across the border has been less scrutinized. In the U.S., there are currently few federal restrictions on the purchase of ammunition by citizens and legal residents. This lack of regulation allows for the relatively easy acquisition of large quantities of ammunition, which can then be smuggled into Mexico.
U.S. Response and Legal Challenges
Successive U.S. Administrations have pledged to address the flow of illegal firearms to Mexico. In September, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new initiative aimed at stopping the trafficking of guns and ammunition. But, efforts to stem the tide have faced legal hurdles. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked a lawsuit brought by the Mexican government against several U.S. Gun manufacturers, alleging they were negligent in allowing their weapons to fall into the hands of cartels. A separate lawsuit against gun dealers in Arizona remains ongoing.
The U.S. Army’s arrangement with the Lake City plant, which allows for the sale of excess ammunition production, has also come under scrutiny. The Army argues that this arrangement saves taxpayers approximately $50 million annually. However, critics contend that it inadvertently contributes to the problem of arms trafficking by making powerful ammunition readily available on the commercial market.
President Sheinbaum stated Monday that she is reviewing the findings of the ICIJ investigation and plans to formally request information from the U.S. Government regarding how military-grade weapons are entering Mexico. She asked, “how these weapons, which are for the exclusive use of the United States military, are entering Mexico.”
The situation underscores the need for continued cooperation between the U.S. And Mexico to address the complex issue of arms trafficking and its devastating consequences. The next step in this ongoing situation will be the response from the U.S. Government to President Sheinbaum’s request for information, which is expected in the coming weeks.
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