Berlin Police Storm Headquarters of German Gunmaker Heckler and Koch
- Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:20am by
Buck Sexton
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HK G-36
(The Blaze/AP)- Some 300 police officers searched the headquarters of Heckler & Koch Thursday amid allegations the German arms maker bribed Mexican officials to boost its sales, prosecutors said.
The firm is under investigation on suspicion that it “bribed officials in Mexico using cash payments for several years” in connection with arms deliveries between 2005 and 2010, Stuttgart prosecution spokeswoman Claudia Krauth said.
A spokeswoman for Heckler & Koch GmbH confirmed the raid but declined to elaborate.
Prosecutors, who also ordered several apartments to be searched, are investigating whether German officials were also bribed.
The company is already under investigation for allegedly providing its G36 assault rifle to Mexican police in the states of Chiapas, Chihuahua, Guerrero and Jalisco, where Germany prohibits such exports over alleged human rights violations.
The company, whose headquarters in Oberndorf near Stuttgart was already searched by prosecutors in connection with that investigation in December, denies any wrongdoing.
It maintains it did not deliver weapons to those four states, but only to the country’s Mexico City-based central weapons purchasing authority, which is overseen by the Defense Ministry.
HK MP-7
Rights groups such as Amnesty International have accused Mexican government troops and police of abuses in the ongoing fight against drug traffickers. Germany’s tight weapons export regulations allow arms deliveries to Mexico, but only outside of the four states where the human rights situation is in question.
Heckler & Koch is also under investigation following the discovery of its assault rifles in Libya.
The company has said in that case it is fully cooperating with prosecutors and hopes that “light will be shed” on how the now defunct Libyan regime obtained those weapons. They were part of a 2003 government approved arms shipment bound for Egypt, it said.
Heckler & Koch also said it can neither deny nor confirm German media reports alleging that a son of the former Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi visited the company’s headquarters in 2003.
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Comments (126)
Atrocities
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:13amMore BS from anti-gun zealots. No matter where you are, the push toward disarming the civilian populations of the world is in full gear. I wonder what will happen to the world population when only the monsters have guns. (By monsters, I mean ******** in government.)
Report Post »ozchambers
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:23amI hope (and strongly suspect) that this is all BS. I certainly hope so, cuz H&K make some FINE product. I’d hate to see them go away.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:13amMexican officials take bribes?…I’m shocked. That’s how business is done South of the border, always has been. One of the reasons the country is such a mess.
Report Post »Ok-Sure
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:24amhttp://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/peter_eigen_how_to_expose_the_corrupt.html
Report Post »drybackinpi
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:25amThat kind of thing could never happen here, our politicians have too much integrety…
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:25amEthics??? We don’t need no stinking ethics!!!
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:36amI wonder how much Eric Holder got as a commission on getting Barry’s approval of “ Schnell und Zornig ”
Report Post »flhawgrider
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 12:18pmAlways has been here also, and that’s why this country is in such a mess.
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 12:54pmI’m sure Eric Holder has NO CLUE how those guns got into the wrong hands.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 1:26pmH&K= Great guns.
Report Post »LiveforFreedom
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 1:38pmSure they do their just American Officials!!!!
Report Post »TwoLazy
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:15pmIs Washington south of the border …. of course . .the Canadian border. Silly me
Report Post »Bluefish49
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:39pmThis smells like Hillary’s small arms treaty at work.
Report Post »WeDontNeedNoSteenkinBadges04
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:40pmHeh!
Report Post »We Don‘t Need No Steenkin’ Badges … to get no steenkin’ guns.
mjs6029
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:39pmSouth of the border? How about right here North of the Border. Same reason our country is in such a mess.
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 4:03pmThey do make a fine handgun…USP H&K in .40 Smith and Wesson, very smooth. Even my kids love to shoot that piece…..
Report Post »JRook
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 4:44pmHmmm they must be giving the drug cartel a better price than the Texas gun shops. See this is another reason why we need to relax regulations. American gun manufacturers should be allowed to bribe and sell guns to drug cartels without government intrusion.
Report Post »IceHawk00
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 5:17pmI think to make up for this, HK should do a public service and provide the good folks of the US border states with their choice of a free HK product… I’ll take a G36 or an XM8. Anyone else?
Report Post »rangerp
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 9:45pmsay what you want, but the krauts make a good weapon.
Report Post »jgary
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 1:57amHere too. In fact all over the world….
Report Post »WeekendAtBernankes
Posted on November 11, 2011 at 4:21pmG-36C plx
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:12amAnother slap by government at the top gun mfg folks to condition the rest of us that guns are very bad.
Report Post »RedneckJim
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:12amWell at least they weren’t using suspect ebony wood for furniture. If so, the US DOJ probably would have been in on the raid, also.
Report Post »affinnity
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:12amThey make great weapons so I doubt the bribes are the reason the countries made the purchase.
Report Post »Ok-Sure
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:25amThis may shed a little light on why the bribes occured. It seems to be common place in business dealings with foreign countries.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/peter_eigen_how_to_expose_the_corrupt.html
Report Post »hud
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:48amHell, I didn’t know that they could keep up with demand. Highly sought out weapons by those who know weapons.
Report Post »SnakeDoctor24
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 1:18pmI have an HK P-30 sitting in the console of my truck as we speak. Best handgun I’ve ever fired. HK’s weapons are second-to-none.
SnakeDoc
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:11amI’d really like to have a few of these.
Report Post »FEMALL
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:11am“More than 90 percent of the guns recovered in Mexico come from the United States, many from gun shops that line our shared border.” Obama, April 17,2009
Report Post »A MERICAN
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:33amuh – that would be o’blabla lying AGAIN.
Report Post »mdpaul
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:51amThat would be 90% of the TRACEABLE guns. In other words, of all the guns found only about 10% were TRACEABLE. Of that 10%, 90% came fro the U.S. So of the Total amount less than 10% came from the US…..
Report Post »AlmostaCowboy
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:00amHK P2000 SK in .40 S&W – one of the finest pieces ever made.
Report Post »Firebrand
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:49amagreed
Report Post »republic2011
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:55amThis is where we are headed, boys and girls. The government telling our businesses who they can sell to and who they can’t. Also, Amnesty International is concerned about human rights violations against the drug traffickers? Sound familiar? We put our own border guards in jail if they put the cuffs on too tight around the wrists of Mexican drug traffickers. What the hell is going on? The United Socialist States of America – you got that right..
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:01amI guess I’ll have to hand back my ammo one at a time and really, really fast.
Report Post »Ok-Sure
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:22amI guess that their is a campaign in Germany to eliminate bribery by businesses both foreign and domestic. I am no expert on the subject but from what i have heard most countries have no laws against bribing foreign Gov’t and companies and in many cases it is actually tax deductible. I would imagine much of our tax dollars are used to “grease the wheels” to get a lot of foreign business started. Peter Eigen gave a really good speech on the topic.
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/peter_eigen_how_to_expose_the_corrupt.html
Report Post »SimpleTruths
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:16pmI’m glad were heading in the right direction. Guns for hunting are one thing but nobody needs this kind of firepower for hunting.
Report Post »MooseyStuff
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:08pm@SIMPLETRUTHS Obviously you have no idea what you are talking about, because if you did you would know that HK is one of the most uptight gun-makers when it comes to civilians, not only that but the rifle the article talks about the ‘G36’ is not even available in civilian form, but I’m sure you already knew that!, only a small fraction of the firearms created by HK are available to civilians, and the ones that are available are NOT the same military counterpart, which is what HK is accused of selling. Why don’t you get yourself educated on the subject before commenting, oh wait that is the liberal way of life, my bad. The 2nd amendment wasn’t created for hunting, it was created to stop liberals such as yourself from taking rights away from the populace. If you want my 2nd amendment rights, can I have your 1st?
Report Post »jessieH
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:54amGermany’s fast & furious?
Report Post »SanDiegoCountyCitizen
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:52amFunny thing: Those 300 police were no doubt all armed with H&K weapons! Perhaps Germany would prefer to start using AK47′s?
If business dealings with the Mexican government is Germany’s biggest concern, they will no doubt be following Greece down the financial drain very soon. BUY GOLD AND GOODS NOW!
Report Post »drphil69
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:52amA shame. I own an HK 40 USP, very nice weapon. Navy Seals and other special ops use their 45′s as sidearms and the MP-5 and MP-7 submachine guns.
Report Post »Ok-Sure
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:49amHey Dr. Phil, I have been in the market for a good firearm, something simple but with solid performance. I would love a Saiga 12 but think i would like to start a little smaller, maybe a good med cal handgun. Any recommendations?
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 12:51pm@OK-SURE
Report Post »Most encounter happen in the 6′ range; it it shoots, your good to go!
Mort
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 12:52pmhi point .40 retails for about $139.00 us.
Report Post »SandTrout
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 7:40pm@OK-Sure
Glocks are about as simple and reliable as they come, and they’re not too pricey.
I personally use an HK p30 in .40, but it’s a significantly more complicated and expensive weapon.
Remember that you largely get what you pay for, and like a car, you should test-drive it before choosing. A lot of gun-ranges have rental hand-guns that you can use before you make a final decision.
Report Post »MUSE_FENDERTAMA
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:49amNOOOOOOO!
I love H&K!!!!!!!!
Isn’t this just like a real life Lord of War???????
Report Post »Sy Kosys
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:49am$100 to the Cain campaign for whomever guesses the first lib-tard troll to conflate this gun maker with the Koch brothers here in the ‘states….
My money’s on “Insuranceman”, although any variant of “Encinom” comes in a close 2nd
GTFO 2012 ;)
Report Post »drphil69
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:51amMy guess is JROOK.
Report Post »PATRIOTGRUNT
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:42am“ Bribebed Mexican officials to Boost sales ”. That must have been really hard. A. I. International is concerned with the abuse of rights , of the Drug Traffickers by Police and Military . WTF
Report Post »schroeder123
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:37amAS long as Mr Obamamama has an open door policy on our boarders between Mexico and the United States, there will be gun running from all over the world. to Mexico and Panama.
Report Post »BIGJAYINPA
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:41amRead the story, Dummy. This is a deal between a GERMAN company and MEXICO. We haven’t got a dog in this race and OUR policies and laws DO NOT APPLY….Just sayin’
Report Post »NOTAMUSHROOM
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:00am@Bigjay
@Bigjay
The Second Amendment, or expungement thereof, has to do with the UN Small Arms Treaty that our beloved little Hillary will sign onto, thereby throwing our sovereign nation into the arms of the NWO.
Wish we still lived in the world you think still exists.
Report Post »BIGJAYINPA
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:43amHilary can sign anything she wishes. It ain’t binding on us until the Senate ratifies it and then they have to come to my door and ask me nicely to turn in my guns. Good luck with that….Just sayin’
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 1:31pmRight to keep and bear arms is God given, not Un or even Senate given.
Report Post »schroeder123
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:34amEvery American should own one !
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:42amThose G36‘s are cool aren’t they? Not quite the stopping power of an M4A1 but still…nice.
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:45amThey certainly are some fine tools. I‘ve been a fan since mid 80’s.
Report Post »sgtlmj
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:48am@AVENGERK: G36 fires the same caliber and has the same capacity as the M4.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:48amSGTLMJ…my bad…I said M4A1 while picturing an M6 which takes a 6.8mm. Thank you for picking that up.
Report Post »OhioRifleman
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 12:29pmShown is the G-36C, roughly analogous to the M4A1, and there are also the standard version (effectively the same as the M-16) and an HBAR version for use as a squad support weapon.
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:34amGEE, I WONDER how those arms got into Mexico. Maybe the Berlin police should ask ERIC HOLDER…
Report Post »lel2007
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:34amBut Americans have been repeatedly told that the primary source of guns to Mexico is American border town gun retailers. WTF?
Report Post »chasbronson
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:32amUN small arms Treaty is now at work.
Report Post »ImChiquita
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:43amBeat me to it.
Report Post »Dahart
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:44amSilly rabbit….guns don’t kill people…..people kill Pepole
Report Post »Mr Caps
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:30amThis was the desired outcome of operation Fast and Furious. Good thing Obama and Holder failed.
Report Post »uncleherbert
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:49amGood thing Obama and Holder failed? They are neck deep in it, think golbal!
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:42amDon’t forget Obumbler told Sarah Brady that he was woeking behind the scenes to for stricter gun control.
OMG
Report Post »forthepeople
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:29amI own two of there guns, possibly one of the best gun makers . And as far as bribing officials, thats they way ours system seems to work for a long time now – Hell we do it daily in the US of A .
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:29amWell, look for Mr Obama the delusional, narcissist to use this as yet one more reason to crush the 2nd Amendment for “our guns going south of the border to inflict massive violence…” or some such manner of wording.
Report Post »BIGJAYINPA
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:38amSnow, Explain to me please, whisper in my ear. How in the heck does OUR 2nd Amendment factor into a deal between a GERMAN company selling arms to MEXICO or LIBYA??? We ain’t got a dog in this race and Odumbo and Holder better stay way far away from this one…..Just sayin’
Report Post »pjmarshake
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:46amBIGJAY,
the anti-gun agenda has seldom relied on facts to take away our rights. The fact that there is an allegation of fire arms illegally entering another country is good enough justification for this administration and others that think along those lines to clamp down on our rights to legally own them.
Report Post »NOTAMUSHROOM
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:50am@Bigjay
The Second Amendment, or expungement thereof, has to do with the UN Small Arms Treaty that our beloved little Hillary will sign onto, thereby throwing our sovereign nation into the arms of the NWO.
Wish we still lived in the world you think still exists.
Report Post »Bill Rowland
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 11:45amBigjay – the UN control/ban that is supposed to effect all members of the UN – Obumbler and Hilrod love it. It would supposedly supersede our national laws. Thats how
OMG
Report Post »KangarooJack
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:26amThere is WAAAAAAAAYYYYYY MORE TO THIS STORY than what is printed. My gut isn’t wrong on this one.
Report Post »madasblazes
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 3:41pmyeppers!
Report Post »Jaxco
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 10:25amH&K prices just ballooned I bet.
Report Post »WillG
Posted on November 10, 2011 at 2:05pmLets hope not! Hopefully they plummet they have alot of toys out of my price range.
Report Post »