Thread: 194 Grenades seized by border fence in Mexicali

Grenades seized by border fence in Mexicali

Suspects say the bags were tossed over from Calexico

By Sandra Dibble

Originally published April 12, 2011 at 6:43 p.m., updated April 12, 2011 at 7:15 p.m.


Two suspects captured late Monday with nearly 200 grenades in Mexicali have allegedly told authorities that the ammunition came over the border fence from Calexico.

The incident occurred near the Calexico East border crossing shortly before midnight, according to a report by Mexicali municipal police. Two men were arrested in possession of a half-dozen bags that held 194 grenades, 34 firing mechanisms and eight bulletproof vests, authorities said.

Weapons purchased in the United States and smuggled across the border have been used to commit much of the drug violence in Mexico in recent years, according to Mexican authorities. The U.S. government has placed random checkpoints at border crossings with Mexico to inspect for weapons hidden inside southbound vehicles.

The suspects detained in Monday’s incident told authorities that the seized ammunition was simply thrown over the fence, according to a Mexican law enforcement source familiar with the incident.

Mexicali police discovered the grenades after responding to a call about suspicious activity just west of the Calexico East crossing near the border fence. Edgar Lopez, a police spokesman, said a witness had seen two men descending from a truck and entering the grounds of a medical clinic.

When police arrived, the truck fled, leaving behind the two suspects and the ammunition. The suspects were identified as José Eduardo Granados Rosales, 23 and Osvaldo Medina López, 22. Mexicali police have turned over the material to military authorities, Lopez said.

It was unclear whether U.S. authorities are investigating the incident; a spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms did not return calls.

The seizure comes nearly two weeks after Mexican military authorities announced the confiscation of five grenade launchers and more than 40 grenades during a operation in Mexicali. The operation also resulted in the arrests of ten suspects, including that of the alleged head of the Sinaloa cartel’s operations in Mexicali.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011 ... -mexicali/

Suitcases with grenades seized

They had been tossed over border fence from U.S. side

Por: SanDiegoRed 12 Abril 2011 @ 10:11 pm
Tamaño: Aumentar Tamaño de Letra Disminuir Tamaño de Letra

The Mexican military and Mexicali police chief announced the capture of two men who picked up suitcases hurled over the fence from the U.S. territory.

Mexicali.- Municipal police arrested Monday night two men who picked up two suitcases tossed over the border fence from the U.S. side containing nearly 200 grenades and parts of weapons, according to news reports.

Gen. Alfonso Duarte, the commander of Mexico’s Second Military Region, and Mexicali’s police chief, Alejandro Monreal, announced Tuesday that the men were captured at the border during a patrol.

The police chief said the arrests occurred near border crossing post No. 2 in Mexicali, “when the men were seen picking up the suitcases that had been thrown over the fence from the United States,â€