Filed Under:  Cartels, Drug Trafficking, Los Zetas

Gun-smuggling ring leader sentenced in Los Zetas scheme

July 25th 2012   ·   2 Comments

Marino Castro to serve 22 years in federal prison

SAN ANTONIO – A San Antonio man was sentenced to 20 years in prison Tuesday on charges he led a gun smuggling operation to Mexican drug dealers, U.S. Attorney Robert Pittman said.

Marino Castro, Jr. 27, of San Antonio, along with 21 others, conspired to illegally purchase firearms from San Antonio-area gun dealers and then smuggle them into Mexico to members of the Los Zetas drug trafficking organization, court records stated.

Authorities intercepted five different shipments attributed to this trafficking cell and seized more than 200 firearms, including handguns, AK-47 and AR¬15-style assault rifles and one .50 caliber Barrett sniper rifle, between May and August 2010.

“This case illustrates the federal government’s commitment to stem the tide of firearms being illegally smuggled into Mexico, where they are frequently employed in the violent drug trade,” Pitman said. “The message here is that if you smuggle firearms or assist smugglers in obtaining firearms illegally, you are not only morally responsible for how these firearms are being used to commit atrocious crimes in Mexico, but you will face severe consequences under the law.”

 

A version of this column originally appeared in www.ksat.com.

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Readers Comments (2)

  1. Barbara Schlask Semonasky says:
    July 25, 2012 at 5:31 pm

    be nice if he would talk and tell us where he got the guns maybe holder

    Reply »
  2. Gregory Dodge says:
    July 25, 2012 at 6:20 pm

    If he was convicted why isn’t holder next on the list.

    Reply »




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