THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Mexican Army and National Guard on March 3, 2022, said they found almost 3 million rounds of ammunition and at least 16 fully automatic, belt-fed machine guns in raids on several houses in the northern border state of Sonora.
The Defense Department said the seizure was the biggest haul of illegal ammunition in recent memory in Mexico.
The ammunition, more than enough to supply a battalion-size force, was found in Navojoa during raids. Navojoa is a crossroads city in the southern part of Sonora several hundred miles from the U.S. border.
Sonora has been the scene of bloody turf battles between factions of the Sinaloa cartel and gangs allied with fugitive drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero. (Pictured: This Mexican Army patrol on March 11, 2022, in the western state of Michoacan is evidence of the deadly turf wars between rival cartels. The patrols began after the mayor of Aguililla was killed by cartel violence.)
The total amount of material seized in the Sonora raids was 2.83 million rounds, 14,722 magazines and 128 rifles of different calibers, authorities said. There were also six .50-caliber sniper rifles and 19 machine guns, of which at least 16 appeared to be belt-fed, they said.
IMAGE CREDIT: AFP/GETTY IMAGES