Yarquimedes Rodriguez Hilario and Adison Lopez-Ramirez have been charged with dealing weapons to undercover agents posing as cartel members. Mexico is pushing to hold American gun companies responsible for cartel violence, with a lawsuit before the Supreme Court. Rodriguez Hilario and Lopez-Ramirez attempted to sell 90 rifles and one machine gun to the undercover agents, part of a broader effort to keep U.S. guns out of the country.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has emphasized the need to address gun smuggling to stop drug trafficking and violence. American firearms are a key part of the cartels’ operations, with leaked intelligence revealing a flood of U.S. guns into Mexico. The arms trade is linked to the cycle of narcotics heading north and contributing to violence in Central America.
The Cleveland men face charges of conspiracy to traffic firearms and money laundering, with potential sentences of up to 35 years in federal prison. The sting operation that led to their arrests involved agents posing as cartel members and negotiating the sale of AR-15-style rifles and other weapons. While Mexico is making efforts to combat gun trafficking, the issue of U.S. firearms in the country has been a longstanding problem.
The case against the Cleveland men is part of the broader efforts of the Panama Express Strike Force to disrupt international criminal organizations, including those involved in gun trafficking. The ultimate goal is to address the root causes of gun smuggling, rather than just targeting individual traffickers. Mexico’s lawsuit against gun manufacturers and dealers is seen as a key step in holding the industry accountable for the violence caused by American guns in the country.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
