Seizure of Armored Truck in Chihuahua
In El Paso, Texas, Mexican authorities have announced the seizure of a stolen armored truck equipped with a powerful machine gun capable of penetrating armored vehicles and aircraft.
Chihuahua police uncovered the vehicle—specifically a Ford F-450 reinforced with welded steel sheets—during a three-day operation in western Chihuahua, an area that has seen increased violence from cartel conflicts recently.
Utilizing a Bell 429 helicopter, police discovered numerous marijuana farms around Guerrero, Madera, and Rustinahas, resulting in the confiscation of over 410,000 marijuana plants and the identification of six suspected cartel camps. One of these camps contained the armored truck.
“Inside the truck, authorities found a brown .50 caliber machine gun and two ammunition boxes, with bullets ready to go. This type of weapon could pose a serious threat to the community,” a spokesperson explained.
After the discovery, officials transported the truck to a police station in a nearby city, accompanied by six police vehicles and drones, according to Aguirre.
No arrests have been made so far, and Aguirre did not disclose any suspicions regarding specific criminal organizations related to the truck. Reports indicate that the vehicle had been previously stolen.
The mountainous regions of western Chihuahua have experienced intense confrontations between the Sinaloa Cartel and groups linked to the old Juarez Cartel over the past five years.
There have been severe instances in the area, such as a 2020 ambush near Madera that resulted in the deaths of 19 people. Additionally, in July, farmers and residents from Indigenous communities raised concerns with a Human Rights Commission regarding the blatant activities of drug cartels, which included reports of shootings and forced disappearances.
“We are working to eliminate the threats that lead to catastrophic scenarios,” Aguirre asserted. “These actions demonstrate our commitment to enhancing public safety.”
Chihuahua’s Public Safety Director, Gilbert Roya, noted that in the last four years, police have found 45 vehicles armored with steel plates and have closed down three workshops that specialized in such modifications.
Along with the armored truck, authorities face the growing challenge of cartel drones, which have been used to drop explosives in attacks against rivals and law enforcement.
Roya pointed out, “This type of conflict is new for our state. Drones, initially seen in Michoacán, are now being weaponized against government forces. As we implemented new public safety strategies, we anticipated that criminal organizations would adopt drones for attacks.”
He hopes that the state police will acquire counter-drone equipment in the future, potentially receiving assistance from the U.S.
