La Paz Man Sentenced for Military Ammunition Possession

A federal judge in La Paz sentenced a man identified as Efraín “N” to three years and four months in prison for possessing ammunition and magazines restricted to military use. Authorities found the military ammunition possession evidence during a search of the man’s home in the Paraíso del Sol neighborhood, a residential area on the eastern side of the Baja California Sur state capital.

Magazines, Live Rounds, and Identity Documents Seized

During the search, investigators recovered three ammunition magazines of different calibers, 21 live rounds, and eight spent cartridges. Officers also found multiple identity documents belonging to various people, raising questions about potential identity fraud.

Under Mexico’s Federal Law on Firearms and Explosives, possession of ammunition or accessories designated for exclusive military use is a federal crime. Calibers reserved for the armed forces include those commonly associated with assault rifles and high-powered weapons. Because the offense falls under federal jurisdiction, a federal court in La Paz handled the case rather than a state tribunal.

Mexico’s Strict Firearms Laws Apply to All Residents

Mexico maintains some of the strictest gun laws in the Western Hemisphere. The country has only one legal firearms retailer, operated by the military (SEDENA, Mexico’s defense ministry) in Mexico City. Civilians may legally own certain low-caliber weapons for home defense, but only after obtaining a permit from SEDENA. Possession of any military-grade weapon, ammunition, or accessory without authorization carries mandatory federal prison time.

The three-year, four-month sentence Efraín “N” received is consistent with the penalties outlined in Articles 83 and 83 Bis of Mexico’s firearms law. Those articles prescribe sentences ranging from two to seven years for unauthorized possession of military-exclusive materials, depending on the quantity and type seized.

Paraíso del Sol sits southeast of La Paz’s city center, roughly a 15-minute drive from the Malecón waterfront. The neighborhood is primarily residential and home to Mexican working families.

The discovery of identity documents belonging to other people could lead to separate charges, though the source report did not specify whether additional investigations are underway. The case was reported by Colectivo Pericú.