Anti-Air Missile Launcher Captured From Mexican Drug Cartel

A member of a Mexican drug cartel poses with two kalashnikov rifles, and a photo of a captured Redeye MANPADS system are shown side-by-side. The images were recently released by the Mexican attorney general. For Public Distribution/via Small Wars Journal

A new weapon seized in a series of raids on the Mexican drug cartels in Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua, shows a concerning addition to the arsenals of the powerful gangs.

Between April 15 and April 19, agents of the Mexican attorney general carried out raids on the cartels, under what they called operation “For The Safety Of Casas Grande.” They seized drugs, a high-caliber sniper rifle, thousands of rounds of ammunition, 19 luxury vehicles, and five tigers.

But the main catch of the operation wasn’t the drugs or the exotic animals. The biggest find was a shoulder-fired anti-air missile launcher.

Mexican authorities released a photo of the Redeye (infrared) man-portable air-defense systems (MANPADS). They also released a photo of a cartel enforcer holding the weapon backwards.

A La Linea cartel enforcer poses with the captured Redeye MANPADS system in Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua. The shoulder-fired anti-air missile system was recently seized in a raid by Mexican authorities. For Public Distribution/via Small Wars Journal