Mexican officials aren’t even trying to hide the fact that the highest ranks of their federal government is rife with narco-terrorism corruption. That’s not new, but it is rather bold, given that the U.S. Supreme Court will consider a petition to dismiss their frivolous case claiming U.S. firearm manufacturers are responsible for violent crime that’s plagued that country for decades.
If Mexican officials are trying to prove their case, their lawyers’ arguments aren’t matching what their own government is showing the world. Criminal drug cartels – which foment the murderous and illicit drug trade – continue to be comfortably embedded in their government, right up to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, a protégé of former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Mexican President Sheinbaum invited former Mexican Secretary of Defense Salvador Cienfuegos to the stage with her during a military ceremony commemorating the 112th anniversary of Mexico’s Loyalty. This is the same Cienfuegos who was arrested in 2020 by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for his ties to narco-terrorist drug cartels. He was the highest-ranking Mexican official arrested by U.S. authorities for drug trafficking, which has gone hand-in-hand with illegal firearm smuggling.
Mexico’s ‘Godfather’
The DOJ accused him of using his position as the head of Mexico’s military to benefit drug cartels. According to a Breitbart report, he was even referred to as the “Godfather.” The “Godfather” Cienfuegos even showed up to the ceremony this week wearing his old military uniform, taking his place among the other senior-ranking Mexican authorities and politicians, just feet from Mexican President Sheinbaum.
The DOJ celebrated Cienfuegos’ arrest in 2020, issuing a press release that he was arrested in Los Angeles “on U.S. charges of conspiracy to manufacture, import, and distribute narcotics into the United States and money laundering.” In the same press release, the DOJ announced it made the decision to seek dismissal of the charges and turn him back over to Mexican authorities for investigation and charges under Mexican law.
Except, that never happened.
One Associated Press report alleged Mexico threatened to expel the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) regional director and agents unless the case was dropped. Officially, the decision was based upon “the broader interest in maintaining that relationship in a cooperative way” with Mexico.
Mexico’s attorney general’s office released Cienfuegos after saying they found no ties to narco-terrorist drug cartels. Mexico’s then-President López Obrador hailed the charges being dropped, saying the DEA made it all up. President López Obrador even went as far as to give Cienfuegos a military award in front of representatives from Russia, Cuba, Venezuela and other South American and Asian countries.
This was the same Mexican president who is believed to have taken bribes from narco-terrorist drug cartels for his own election and used a soft approach toward the cartels. Mexican government corruption was embodied through President López Obrador’s “hugs, not bullets” campaign. That effort was labelled a failure by the Council on Foreign Relations.
That’s not unexpected with corrupt Mexican officials running the show. The Brookings Institution reported, “Although serving as Mexico’s highest military official and, given the role of the Mexican military policing, also a top law enforcement official, Cienfuegos allegedly directed Mexican law enforcement actions away from the H-2 cartel and against its drug rivals. As per the U.S. indictment, he promoted and enabled drug trafficking of the H-2 cartel, not put off even by its highly murderous ways.”
Day in Court
It’s clear that Cienfuegos didn’t quietly slip into the Mexican countryside. He’s just yards – literally – from the Mexican president even as her nation’s lawyers are set to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court that U.S. firearm manufacturers are to blame for violent crime in Mexico. They’re suing several firearm manufacturers for $10 billion. That case, Estados Unidos Mexicanos v. Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc., et al., was petitioned to the Supreme Court by Smith & Wesson after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit revived the case after it was dismissed by a lower federal court. NSSF has filed an amicus brief supporting Smith & Wesson’s argument that the frivolous lawsuit is barred by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA).
NSSF warned that nothing changed in Mexico’s approach to curbing narco-terrorist drug cartels with a new Mexican president. It’s more of the same, and apparently that includes close ties to known drug traffickers that fuel the rampant, murderous crime south of the border.
The White House concurs. In President Donald Trump’s Fact Sheet regarding tariffs on Mexico, it was noted that “… Mexican drug trafficking organizations have an intolerable alliance with the government of Mexico. The government of Mexico has afforded safe havens for the cartels…” adding, “… this alliance endangers the national security of the United States…”
Mexico’s lawyers will stand before the justices of the Supreme Court on March 4 to argue their case that firearm manufacturers are somehow responsible for lawfully made and lawfully sold firearms in the United States being illegally trafficked through criminal drug cartel networks into Mexico. They’ll do it even as Mexico’s president cozies up with corrupt government officials known to foster the very violent crimes of which they deflect from themselves and to American firearm manufacturers that follow the law.
Making drugs legal doesn’t make crime go away. And drug dealers are not paying their far share of taxes.
But the tobacco and beer companies are paying their far share of taxes.
Bootleggers or moonshiners did not or do not pay there fair share of taxes either.
Legal marijuana dispensaries pay their fair share if not more in taxes.
Everyone whom purchases legal marijuana from a dispensary pay their fair share if not more in taxes.
No black market item dealer or customer ever pay their fair share in taxes.
Be it a container of oatmeal or 20lbs of Hunter Biden brand cocaine.
What is truly a fair share for alcohol companies and marijuana dispensaries? Given how much their products contribute to death and destruction on the highways and in families, and life in general, could they ever really pay enough?
This! ☝
The anti gunners feel the same way about guns. They will never think gun companies or gun owners will pay enough.
What about junk food sellers? Their products probably kill more people than alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana, via diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
I think there is something off about your mindset.
This is why I propose a tax on guns. Is there any amount that could reimburse society for the harm and destruction they cause?
Americans use guns to protect life and deter crime between 300k and 3M times per year, far more than the criminal misuse of firearms. Arms should not be taxed because without acquiring them there is no keeping and bearing them.
“Shall not be infringed” isn’t just a catchy slogan.
Do we have to remind you that the guns don’t have agency, and therefore don’t cause anything? Really, do we?
It’s pretty much proven history that people live better, more freely and more safely when the civilian population has ready access to affordable and functional firearms.
“Given how much their products contribute to death and destruction on the highways”
While I completely agree with your sentiment regarding alcohol, I’m not sure I’ve seen that many deaths attributed to marijuana use, on the highway or elsewhere.
“What about junk food sellers? Their products probably kill more people“
So you are in favor of Michael Bloomberg’s tax on overly sugary drinks that are merely empty calories with no nutritional value?
“Senate Bill S4602A
2021-2022 Legislative Session
Relates to imposing an excise tax on sugary drinks“
You are free to purchase legal products and consume them. Even if they aren’t very healthy.
Freedom is messy. But it comes with responsibility and consequences.
People who drive under the influence of marijuana should be arrested. Is there a tolerance level like alcohol consumption? There might be. Conduct driver tests for it.
But the people who want pot legal, are also the same ones who raised the tolerance level, for driving while intoxicated on alcohol.
And there have been many documented cases of marijuana intoxicated drivers killing people.
The thousands of street dealers should be arrested for not paying taxes. Just like any other person who operates a business and doesn’t pay their taxes.
The Judges that allowed this case to go forward should be impeached and removed from office. This is what you get with a globalist or internationalist mindset.
Or the judges were offered “the silver or the lead”.
This case should have been thrown out the moment it was filed. Mexico has no right to sue United States companies in our courts because they can’t control their own citizens.
Read bio of this bimbo Sheinbaum. Laughable.
It’s Valentine’s Day – and Also a Big Day in American Firearms History.
” …
Today, as it happens, is a big day in firearms history as well. On February 14th, 1911 — 114 years ago — the United States Patent Office officially published patent US984519A, titled “Mechanisms or systems operated by propellant charge energy for automatically opening the lock recoil-operated the barrel being tilted during recoil.” That patent was issued in the name of the DaVinci of firearms, John Moses Browning, and the mechanism in question was the recoil-operation mechanism for what may be the finest martial sidearm ever invented: the Colt-Browning 1911.
…”
h ttps://redstate.com/wardclark/2025/02/14/its-valentines-day-and-also-a-big-day-in-american-firearms-history-n2185588
Now that is a great example to 2A history. That should be part of elementary school education.
I have a couple of JMB’s sidearms, including a Colt that I carried in VN.
So you carried weapons of war just like me
Pretty sure he actually carried them in war, tampon Tim. 🤣
I thought I heard somewhere that Vietnam (and Korea, Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan) were “police actions” not “wars” since Congress didn’t declare war.
We haven’t had a “war” since WW2.
That’s 80 years of “peace”!
🤔
Or, on this day in firearms history, 7 were killed in the infamous St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Nowadays, with the gang in Chitcago, 7 in a day is “just getting warmed up.”
From News Nation.
“Ukraine selling arms to cartels? Tucker Carlson claims rebutted”
Forever I’ve heard people, libertarians liberals and leftists, complain about the “military industrial complex.”
Now suddenly they believe everything is just fine. And there is no corruption in the weapons business, regarding the Ukraine war???
I remember when the ATF was supplying guns to the cartels. And at least one of those guns ended up in the hands, of the Paris France terrorists bombers.
And I’m told by the “gun community” I don’t need a machine gun. I would like a flamethrower. I think it would make an outstanding deterrent to a rioting mob.
You can buy a flamethrower. My missus wants one for “fun”. 😀
If you want a WW2 vintage one they are for sale and are not considered firearms. They are however more intensive maintenance wise .
I would like a more modern version. Civilians use many different versions of a flamethrower all the time.
They could be an outstanding crowd control device. And you don’t need to kill anyone. Like fixed bayonets.
I don’t think you are hearing from libertarians. The VAST majority of us still don’t like the Military Industrial Complex. It exists through government corruption of the market and fuels governments’ callous waste of life.
The left, however, and especially the Democratic party loyalists, have become very pro-war and have stopped complaining. It’s been fun to watch their language change over the last 20 years.
The military industrial complex, which includes Ruger, Colt, Smith and Wesson, Magpul, and many other gun and accessories makers. They are all part of the thing you hate the most.
I am very happy this country has its own indigenous weapons industry. The military industrial complex supplies me with all the guns and ammo I can afford. And it has kept the civilian population free for over 200 years.
That term was created over 100 years ago because both sides in ww1 were using the same guns. So yes the gun business is very good business indeed.
The people who hate the military industrial complex, also hate the second amendment.
btw
The Left, the democrats, have always been pro war. It was President Kennedy who sent 16,000 “advisors” to Vietnam. It was President Truman who sent american soldiers to south Korea. Over 50, 000 of them died there.
For all the complaining about President Reagan people make. He never started a war. There are not thousands of dead soldiers while he was President.
But if it makes you happy you can talk about Beirut.
in all fairness JFK only sent advisers it was LBJ who started sending combat units.
How many of those “advisors” came back in body bags? Or a metal coffin?
JFK is not a hero. But yes he did lower taxes. And he was the last democrat who did.
So, what you’re saying is that mexican officials are progressive democrats.
I’m pretty sure all the Norinco AKs being fielded by the cartels didn’t come from the United States.
Do the cartels get a free crate of AKs with every container load of fentanyl precursors?
Nothing is free in Cartelworld.
They’re junior partners in the synthetic opioid business, China being the senior partner. China isn’t in that business to make money. It’s their roundabout way of chipping away at us, just like our roundabout way of chipping away at Russia was to use the Ukrainians.
I get my rpg’s and grenades at Wal Mart.
The Gulf of America.
Wonder how much the Biden crime family received in kickbacks from the cartels.
Enough to keep their businesses open in Ukraine.
Ahoy, varmints.
In Mexico, it’s only corruption when somebody else is doing it.
The sad reality is that low-level corruption is widespread in many/most world governments. Unfortunately, Mexico is one such government.
On top of widespread low-level corruption in Mexico is corruption of the highest order, in some cases for personal gain and in other cases under duress. Tragically, Mexican drug cartels have grown to be so powerful that they can press any government official to comply with their demands “or else”. And said cartels have the ability to carry out their threat of “or else” upon everyone, no matter how high of an office a government official holds.
In many respects, I feel sorry for Mexico’s government officials: how are they supposed to resist cartel demands when cartels can literally kidnap, rape, torture, and execute every single family member and friend of a government official who dares to defy them?
How far have the “or else” threats made their way into US guvmint? Police depts, border patrol, etc. What can you do when they threaten your family? Elevate the brutality beyond what cartels employ? Gnarly.
Is this a trojan horse to get inside a sensitive US location(s)?
Trump needs to give Mexico an ultimatum, because they won’t do anything if we don’t give them a kick in the pants. Tell them they have six months to clean up their country, end the corruption, shut down the cartels, and secure the border for good. They can ask for help and we’ll provide it but if they do nothing then we’re going to come in and do things our way and they won’t like it.
Sheinbaum was elected as a consensus Queen of the South for the cartels. She is not going to like anything that Trump does with eliminating her support.
One could substitute “Democrat” for Mexican in most of this article, and one would not know the difference.
Bingo!
The Left has SCOTUS in their back pocket. Now it remains to be seen if the cartels will too.
not any different than the US d3m0nrat party
$10 billion? That is small potatoes compared to that eh cartels pay them.
Send in Delta and clear them hot.
If Mexico doesn’t want to clean up their problems, we’ll have to do it for them. The cartels are going to find out that there’s someone bigger and badder.
What is the “fair share” of taxes anyone should pay? And who decides the question?
I’ve had way too many conversations with people who answer, “More”.
It’s only fair when you pay more, I pay less, then I get back some of what you paid. But I still want you to have even less because I’m envious. Yet, I don’t notice the select few politically connected people who get rich off of deficit spending. (Democrat mindset)
Also known as the so_shall_list mindset.
You gotta be careful playing around in that mindset. It becomes so easy to do, and the fun can be addictive.
TJB.
Park a single unarmed cruise missile on the door steps of the Mexican presidential palace (AKA now known as ‘The National Palace’), courtesy of the U.S. Navy operating in the Gulf of America, and Claudia Sheinbaum will get the message.
Gotta cut the illegals a little slack. After the 13th Amendment, illegals working for pennies is the only thing keeping us from doing our own heavy lifting, and menial jobs. And there is always the danger of budget cuts to reduce govt jobs programs for the peasants.
Pot meet Kettle
plata y plomo rears it’s ugly head yet again it appears…