11.Mar.2011
New Mexico Town Was Run By Gun Smugglers
Buy a city charter
The mayor, police chief and a village trustee in the New Mexico border town of Columbus have been charged along with eight other defendants with buying firearms for illegal export to Mexico, federal authorities said Thursday.
An 84-count indictment accuses the 11 of being what authorities describe as a gun-trafficking ring. The ring bought guns “favored by the Mexican cartels,” such as American tactical 9 mm pistols and the so-called “AK-47 pistols,” which are weapons resembling AK-47 rifles but with shorter barrels and without rear stocks, U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales of New Mexico told CNN.
• Read more at CNN.com - Crime
