**Over a Thousand Seized Firearms Destroyed in Second Military Zone**
More than 1,000 firearms, including both handguns and long guns, were destroyed on Thursday morning, August 8, at the Second Military Zone Command Headquarters. These weapons were confiscated during criminal activities.
A total of 1,347 firearms—comprising 386 long guns and 959 handguns—along with 1,333 magazines and 23,611 rounds of various calibers, were dismantled in the ceremony.
“The Tijuana Municipal Police, on a national level, seizes the most firearms because it’s a border city with a high number of homicides, most of which are related to gun violence,” stated Rafael Vázquez Hernández, Director General of Police and Transit Municipal of Tijuana.
He reported that, on average, they secure between 110 and 115 firearms per month, with approximately 70% being handguns and 30% long guns. Most of these are ghost guns, assembled from parts bought online in the United States.
“It’s important to understand that the country with the highest production of firearms is our northern neighbor; naturally, most guns that enter our country come from the north,” added the Baja California Secretary of Public Security, Leopoldo López Tizoc. He emphasized that the extensive border facilitates the influx of arms, which also arrive from Europe and Asia.
“About 3,000 guns are still in storage at the Second Military Zone’s war materials depot,” he mentioned. Additional armaments are stored across various deposits in the Republic, destined for destruction once investigations conclude.
The event was attended by Brigadier General Diplomat State Major, commander of Baja California’s Military Region, José Roberto Montes de Oca; Chief Commissioner Marco Antonio Hernández Chávez, coordinator of the National Guard in Baja California; David Aguilar Mendoza, chief of the CNI station in Baja California; Tijuana Regional Prosecutor Rubén Alfredo Maximiliano Ramos Jiménez; alongside military personnel, the National Guard, and various law enforcement agencies.
**Related News:**
Authorities in Baja California Combat Illegal Firearms Trafficking
In a continued effort to curb illegal firearms trafficking, Baja California officials have intensified actions against weapons entering the state. The collaboration between federal and local law enforcement agencies aims to intercept and confiscate firearms before they reach criminal networks.
Leopoldo López Tizoc, Baja California’s Secretary of Public Security, stressed the significance of international cooperation, particularly with U.S. authorities, in addressing the flow of ghost guns and other firearms trafficking.
“There is ongoing cooperation with the United States to control and monitor the illegal firearms trade. Through coordinated operations and intelligence sharing, we have been successful in reducing the number of illegal guns entering our region,” stated Tizoc.
The recent destruction of over a thousand confiscated firearms highlights the persistent challenge and the government’s commitment to public safety. Ongoing operations are expected to continue as part of broader initiatives to ensure security and reduce violent crime.
Stay tuned for more updates on TJGringo.com.