Posted on 09/15/2012 1:10:27 PM PDT by marktwain
Guns that were trafficked into Mexico under the auspices of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives controversial gunrunning program, Operation Fast and Furious, have found their way into the hands of an infamous Colombian drug cartel, the El Tiempo newspaper reported on Monday.
The guns were recovered after Colombian police arrested two leaders of the Oficina de Envigado cartel in Medellín, Ericson Vargas, alias “Sebastián,” and his brother, alias “Frank.”
"Two rifles that were seized in February with 'Frank', the brother of Sebastian also are part of the tracking operations of the ATF, the same with 14 Five-seven guns we have found in several raids," an anonymous source within Colombia's National Police told El Tiempo.
As Fox News Latino noted in its own report, it was the discovery of the Five-seveNs that prompted Colombian authorities to investigate the origins of the guns (Five-seveNs are know for their special armor piercing abilities, for more on this click here).
Colombian authorities contacted the ATF who then sent down a team to investigate. The ATF then checked the serial numbers of the seized weapons and discovered that several of them matched guns that were “walked” as part of Fast and Furious.
Now, every time police recover a firearm in Medellín, the ATF will investigate, the unidentified source told El Tiempo.
Five-SeveNs have also been found in capital city of Bogata and the coastal city of Barranquilla, leading authorities to investigate the origins of those firearms as well.
El Tiempo speculated that the firearms were part of a trade between Oficina de Envigado and Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, perhaps as collateral for shipments of coca. In short, guns for cocaine.
With over 2,000 guns trafficked as part of F&F, the majority of which were “lost,” i.e. allowed to fall right into the hands of known Mexican cartel operatives, it should come as no surprise that these guns are surfacing in places like Colombia, which is a major player in the drug trade (considered to be the number one supplier of cocaine).
At this point, there’s little doubt that effects of this fatally flawed operation will be felt for years to come, all over the world.
The operation was only fatally flawed because they got caught. Otherwise, it operated as planned.
Perhaps being able to track the flow of these arms will serve some useful purpose to make up for the major F & F flaws.
Not sure what you mean. They only know about the guns involved when they are recovered, from a murder scene for example.
I'm also not sure what the 'major flaws' are. Many here think, myself included, that F&F was not a botched operation at all.
According to the article these guns were seized during raids, not at murder scenes. I had the impression from other FR posts that most FReepers were anti F & F, and anti Obama and Holder for having executed the program. I would be interested in hearing more information about the viewpoint you and other FReepers represent.
I used recovery from a murder scene as an example. They only know their whereabouts when they are recovered. The point being that the flow of these guns is not being tracked.
I had the impression from other FR posts that most FReepers were anti F & F, and anti Obama and Holder for having executed the program.
Well, yes. But that does not mean that it was a botched operation. IOW, Obama and Holder got what they wanted out of it, so it was not botched.
I would be interested in hearing more information about the viewpoint you and other FReepers represent.
What led you to think I might be supportive of F&F and those who carried it out?
You are pro F&F and believe these gun transfers PERMITTED for this bust?
Time for ATF to go!
They are corrupted by having a cause that is against the rule of law and freedom. People who legally own guns are their enemies and this is where they travel into the gutter of lawlessness as an agency charged with demonizing the second amendment and law abiding Americans.
DHS, ATF have got to go.
Colombian authorities contacted the ATF who then sent down a team to investigate. The ATF then checked the serial numbers of the seized weapons and discovered that several of them matched guns that were “walked” as part of Fast and Furious.
Is this something like the fox guarding the hen-house? What kind of idiocy is this?
It’s good to follow the guns; I believe it’d be even better to follow the money. What money? The DEA-Sinaloa narcotics cartel money for starters.
I’ll be surprised if the money doesn’t lead in any number of directions President You Didn’t Build That and Eric My People Holder would find uncomfortable.
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