PGR claims no knowledge of Operation Fast and Furious

The Mexican Attorney General’s Office — known as the PGR — has distanced itself from a recent U.S. operation that allowed hundreds of guns to be purchased by gunrunners.

“The Mexican government did not have knowledge on an operation that included the controlled traffic of weapons in Mexican territory,” according to a statement issued Thursday by the PGR in reference to the operation carried out by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “The Mexican government has not and will not give any implied or formal authorization for this to happen.”

Reports show that the ATF’s Phoenix-based Operation Fast and Furious permitted weapons to land in the hands of suspected Mexican gunrunners in anticipation of nabbing and prosecuting major drug lords.

The operation has come under harsh scrutiny after it was revealed that weapons used to kill ICE Special Agent Jaime Zapata of Brownsville and Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry of Arizona might be linked to the operation.

Since the agency acquired knowledge of the comments made in the media, the PGR began an investigation aimed at clearing any crimes that may have been committed in Mexican territory.

The Mexican government will follow the investigation of U.S. authorities into the case and has formally requested detailed information on the matter, the PGR stated.

“The PGR has offered the support that may be needed in fully clearing these facts and in a given case to fully punish those who may have committed irregularities,” the document shows.

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Ildefonso Ortiz covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4437.