A federal court in Baja California Sur sentenced two men to prison after state police caught them carrying a revolver and military-grade ammunition in Ciudad Constitución, a farming hub about 130 miles north of La Paz.
Ángel and Efraín, identified only by their first names, were stopped during a Baja California Sur State Police surveillance operation near the Chato Covarrubias neighborhood. Officers found a revolver and 37 rounds of military-caliber ammunition in their possession.
Federal Charges and Sentencing
Both men were arrested and transferred to the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR), Mexico’s federal attorney general’s office. The FGR’s specialized regional unit in BCS prosecuted the case under the Federal Firearms and Explosives Law, which governs the possession of military-caliber weapons and ammunition.
Each man received a sentence of two years and four months in prison. The court also imposed a fine of 8,685 pesos (approximately $435 USD) on each defendant. The revolver and all 37 rounds of ammunition were ordered confiscated.
Mexico’s Strict Firearms Laws
Under Mexican federal law, civilian possession of military-caliber firearms and ammunition is a serious criminal offense. Only the Mexican military is authorized to possess certain calibers and types of weapons. Unlike in the United States, there is no legal path for ordinary citizens to carry such arms outside a private residence, and even home possession requires a permit from the Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional (SEDENA).
Ciudad Constitución, the municipal seat of Comondú, is a common stop for travelers driving the Transpeninsular Highway (Highway 1) between Guerrero Negro and La Paz. The town serves as an agricultural center for the Magdalena Plain and has a visible state police presence along the highway corridor.
The case was first reported by Colectivo Pericú, a Baja California Sur news outlet.