Law enforcement arrests 5 in Texas for allegedly trafficking weapons to drug cartel

Law enforcement arrested five people in three Texas cities last week for alleged trafficking military-grade weapons to a Mexican drug cartel.

The arrests took place in the cities of Laredo, Hebbronville, and Falls City, the Department of Justice confirmed. Prosecutors alleged that Laredo's Gerardo Rafael Perez Jr. organized the operation, which included the procurement of more than 100 guns in Texas for delivery to the Mexican cartel.

Francisco Alejandro Benavides and Mark Anthony Trevino allegedly acted as straw purchasers to secure the weapons. Antonio Osiel Casarez allegedly transported the guns to Mexico while Luis Matias Leal allegedly financed the operation.

All five face charges of conspiracy to smuggle goods from the U.S., though most of the group face additional charges related to their specific roles in the alleged conspiracy.

"Stopping the trafficking of high-caliber and military grade firearms to Mexico is a top priority for the Justice Department — and especially the ATF agents and Department prosecutors that lead Operation Southbound," Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a press release. "Working with our Mexican partners, we will disrupt and dismantle the drug cartels responsible for so much destruction in both nations, and as demonstrated by these charges, we will bring to justice the alleged firearms traffickers who would arm those cartels."

Three other alleged co-conspirators, including two straw purchasers and one unlicensed firearms dealer, were arrested last year.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.