Additionally, the investigation reveals that the Government of Mexico acquired ammunition from Lake City, although its exact caliber is unknown.
The Lake City Plant is the largest manufacturer of rifle ammunition for the United States Army, supplying ammunition to both the armed forces and civilian consumers in this country. The .50 caliber ammunition, which is the size of a medium cigar and is designed to destroy vehicles and light aircraft, is currently available for sale to civilians throughout the United States.
Although it is also documented that .50 caliber ammunition from companies in Brazil and South Korea reaches Mexican cartels, the report highlights that the Lake City Plant is an “important” source of these cartridges, used in military-style combats against Mexican authorities.
According to data from the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), since 2012 more than 40,370 .50 caliber cartridges have been seized in the states bordering Mexico, according to records obtained through public information requests. Of this figure, one-third comes from the Lake City Plant, a larger proportion than any other manufacturer.
The investigation also recalls that former President Donald Trump declared six Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations, but the same organizations continue to obtain ammunition from the Lake City plant. At least 16 online retailers sold “armor-piercing bullets” manufactured at the plant or with components from it.
