While it is well-known that the murders of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agent Jaime Zapata have been linked to the ATF’s Operation Fast and Furious, the downing of a Mexican military helicopter with assault weapons traced to the infamous program has received very little coverage.
In fact, outside of CBS’ investigative reporter Sharyl Atkisson, the story has not received even a mention from the mainstream press.
In May 2011, a Mexican military helicopter was forced down after sustaining fire from a .50 caliber rifle that was later traced back to the gun-running operation known as Fast and Furious.
In June, Atkisson reported that suspected drug cartel operatives shot at several helicopters in western Mexico, with the damage to one being so severe that its crew was forced to land. Mexican forces engaged the suspects on the ground and reportedly seized more than 70 assault rifles.
The serial numbers on many of those weapons were eventually traced back to the ATF operation.
An unnamed U.S. law enforcement source told Atkisson: “Shooting at an aircraft is a terrorist act. What does that say if we're helping Mexican drug cartels engage in acts of terror? That's appalling if we could have stopped those guns.”
According to the CBS report, weapons used in that attack were taken into Mexico by individuals already under indictment for allegedly selling arms to the drug cartels.
To date, the Department of Justice has not commented on this incident.
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