The Tamaulipas State Prosecutor's Office, governed by Américo Villarreal, is investigating how weapons connected to the official use of United States government personnel came into the hands of criminals in the entity, according to exclusive information shared with LA OPINIÓN.

The weapons were confiscated by elements of the National Guard, State Guard and the Mexican Army in different operations, indicate documents reviewed by this newspaper, which have the following information: investigation folder number for each weapon, date of seizure, town or city where the weapon was found, what authority secured it and what is the result of the tracking.

Of the weapons, four would have belonged to US State Department personnel, according to the tracking carried out by the Tamaulipas Prosecutor's Office, which is still continuing with the investigations, which is why it was not allowed to cite the number of the investigation folder nor to publish the photographs that are part of the evidence.

On October 10, 2024, in Nuevo Padilla, the investigation area of ​​the State Guard found a “firearm [that] was traced to a government agency (Diplomatic Security Service of the Department of State),” says one of the reports, which contains an image of the high-caliber weapon.

On November 21, 2024, in San Fernando, the Mexican Army secured another firearm whose investigation and tracing connects it with the Diplomatic Security Service of the US State Department.

On March 20, 2025, in Ciudad Victoria, the State Guard seized a “firearm [that] was traced to a government agency (State Department),” another document indicates.

On April 5, 2025, in Miguel Alemán, the State Guard seized another similar firearm, which was also tracked to the US State Department.

Two of the weapons would have been found during the government of President Joe Biden and another two already with the administration of President Donald Trump, although it is not specified since when these equipment would be in the hands of criminals or to which criminal organization they belong.

All files include photographs with the weapons that contain the legend: “Property of the Government of the USA”, in addition to other information that was not authorized to be published, due to the ongoing investigation.

A high-level source from the Villarreal administration in Tamaulipas indicated that the entity's security and investigation work has led to the seizure of these firearms, amid pressure from Mexico on the United States to increase actions against arms trafficking that empower cartels.

The source, who preferred anonymity for security reasons, noted that the state government has had “very good conditions now for seizing weapons,” as well as the possibility of connecting them with the US government, including the registration number.

The ambivalence of the Trump administration

The State Department ruled out confirming or denying to this newspaper the loss of at least four weapons belonging to US diplomatic personnel in Mexican territory in the last two years, although a spokesperson indicated that any property in government custody is being investigated.

“The Department takes its responsibility to safeguard government property, including firearms, very seriously and has established protocols for tracking, reporting and investigating any loss or theft,” the spokesperson said.

The Trump administration was asked about at least four weapons that Tamaulipas authorities are investigating, in addition to reporting how many firearms have been lost in the possession of State Department officials abroad, as well as the protocol. A figure for lost or stolen weapons was not offered.

“When an official firearm is reported lost or stolen, personnel should report the incident immediately through established Diplomatic Security channels, resulting in an internal investigation and, where appropriate, coordination with law enforcement authorities in the host country or the United States,” the spokesperson said. “For security reasons, we do not publicly release specific figures related to firearm loss.”

Other police weapons

Other weapons that the Tamaulipas government is investigating include one found by the State Guard in the Río Bravo region on October 13, 2024 and whose trace connects it to the Battle Creek, Michigan Police Department.

On February 17, 2025, in San Fernando, the National Guard also confiscated a weapon whose tracking from the Tamaulipas Prosecutor's Office leads to the Darien, Connecticut Police Department.

One of the weapons, seized on March 3, 2025 in San Fernando by the Mexican Navy, was related to a “federal licensee” in the United States, but there is no further information in the shared file.

On March 4, 2025, in Valle Hermoso, the Mexican Army confiscated a gun linked to a buyer in Feasterville, Pennsylvania.

On May 1, 2025, in Guemez, the State Guard Investigations Area tracked down a gun from a buyer in Honolulu, Hawaii.

That is, in total, of the nine files reviewed, six deal with US weapons seized during the Trump administration and three from the Biden administration.

The government of President Claudia Sheinbaum has criticized the US for not increasing its fight against arms trafficking, after a January 2025 report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) confirmed that 74% of weapons trafficked from the United States to cartels in Mexico come from the states of Texas, Arizona and California.

The government of Tamaulipas has reinforced its fight against organized crime with positive results, since the July 14 report of the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System (SESNSP) indicated that the state is ranked 13th nationally with 97 intentional homicides – 1.1% of the national total –, far from states such as Guanajuato, where 789 cases were registered – 8.8% nationally – and Chihuahua with 704 homicides (7.8% nationally). % of the national total).