BOURNE 05/19/23 A clip of 50 caliber machine gun bullets on display in a virtual firing range that was one stop as part of a tour of Camp Edwards for civilians Cape Cod Times Steve Heaslip
San Diego, California – A federal grand jury has indicted two men accused of attempting to smuggle five unassembled .50-caliber sniper rifles and high-capacity magazines into Mexico through the Calexico West port of entry, authorities announced Wednesday. The case highlights growing concerns over high-powered firearms being funneled south to fuel cartel violence.
The charges stem from a March 12 arrest when U.S. Border Patrol agents, conducting surveillance at a residence in Calexico, California, observed suspicious activity involving two vehicles. According to court documents, Oscar Sanchez Gonzalez and Arturo Martinez Aguilar were seen transferring multiple “bulky items” from a Chevrolet SUV into the trunk of a Volkswagen Jetta. The vehicles then drove off separately, with the Jetta heading toward the border.
Agents tracked the Jetta to the Calexico West port of entry and alerted U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers, who stopped the vehicle before it could cross into Mexicali, Mexico. When asked if they had anything to declare, Sanchez reportedly replied “no,” but officers proceeded with a search of the vehicle.
Inside the Jetta, officers allegedly found several packages wrapped in black tape. One partially unwrapped item revealed a firearm handle. A detailed inspection uncovered five unassembled .50-caliber Barrett rifles and four rifle magazines. The weapons, known for their long-range capability and armor-piercing bullets, are considered military-grade and have been linked to deadly cartel attacks — including a 2015 incident where such a rifle was used by the Jalisco New Generation Cartel to shoot down a Mexican military helicopter, killing nine personnel.
Both men were arrested at the scene. According to a federal complaint, Martinez initially claimed the pair had visited a Calexico residence, a cellphone store, and a McDonald’s — omitting any mention of the weapons transfer. No statement has been recorded from Sanchez.
Prosecutors are seeking the forfeiture of the firearms and magazines. A trial date-setting hearing has been scheduled for May 27 in U.S. District Court in San Diego.
The case underscores federal authorities’ ongoing efforts to curb illegal weapons trafficking across the southern border — a trade that continues to arm violent criminal organizations and destabilize regions across Mexico.
