Three Texas Men Arrested For Buying Assault Rifles For a Cartel

The arrests were part of a years-long investigation on the illegal export of firearms to Mexico
Demian Bio Demian Bio @bio_demian / Published Aug 04 2025, 9:43 AM EDT



Three Texas men have been arrested for allegedly buying assault rifles and taking them across the border to Mexican cartels, authorities announced. The apprehensions, they added, are part of a wider investigation involving at least three federal agencies: Bureau of Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI.

Authorities identified a person who organized "straw purchases" of weapons, which would then be smuggled. Some were seized at the Eagle Pass port of entry and crime scenes in Mexico.

ATF agents arrested two brothers who had bought rifles that would then be taken to Mexico, according to Border Report. They took authorities to a home where they allegedly received money to buy the weapons. The outlet added that the suspects made an initial appearance before court last week, with a preliminary detention hearing scheduled for August 5.

There is abundant evidence about the flow of weapons bought legally in the U.S. to Mexico. The latter's Defense Secretariat said last month it had located 11 gun smuggling routes from the U.S. to Mexico.

More:
https://www.latintimes.com/three-texas-men-arrested-buying-assault-rifles-cartel-587983