Pot-Firing Catapult Found at Arizona-Mexico Border
- Posted on January 27, 2011 at 6:02am by
Scott Baker
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HERMOSILLO, Mexico (AP) — Drug smugglers trying to get marijuana across the Arizona-Mexico border apparently are trying a new approach — a catapult.
National Guard troops operating a remote video surveillance system at the Naco Border Patrol Station say they observed several people preparing a catapult and launching packages over the International Border fence last Friday evening.
Tucson TV station KVOA says Border Patrol agents working with the National Guard contacted Mexican authorities, who went to the location and disrupted the catapult operation.
The 3-yard-tall catapult was found about 20 yards from the U.S. border on a flatbed towed by a sport utility vehicle, according to a Mexican army officer with the 45th military zone in the border state of Sonora.
The catapult was capable of launching 4.4 pounds of marijuana at a time, the officer said Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity for security reasons.
Soldiers seized 35 pounds of marijuana, the vehicle and the catapult device, the officer said. The smugglers left the area before they could be captured.
Naco is about 80 miles southeast of Tucson.
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Comments (134)
thorkyl
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:11amYet again we have a worthless reporter who cant check their facts.
Here is a pictorial history lesson for the brain cell challenged.
This is a catapult (kat-uh-puhl)
–noun
1. an ancient military engine for hurling stones, arrows, etc.
http://www.redstoneprojects.com/trebuchetstore/build_a_catapult.html
What they found is called a trebuchet (treb-yoo-shet)
Noun
a medieval engine of war with a sling for hurling missiles
See this picture, then retract and correct.
Report Post »http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/00627/chris_and_zach.html
green_manalishi
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:11amIf anybody ever doubts we are under attack from a third world country, just show them this story.
Report Post »Mr. Apathy
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:10amBoys and Girls, I believe that siege machine is called a trebeche’. Not a catapult.
Report Post »gulfstream41
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:07amAgree with Tower. All drugs should be legal. Actually, I think that the government should be the one selling it at rock bottom prices; one store per corner if possible. Lots of information about how bad it is to use them beginning in primary school. All these people around the world living and killing because of drugs will have to do something else. The ones that inisist on using the stuff, eventually will wipe themselves out or will change their miond. In one or two generations you will have the problem totally under ocntrol.
Report Post »RantNationDotCom
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:23amThe drug war is the excuse the government uses to bring about a police state, yet they can’t keep drugs out of prisons. Legalize them all, screw it.
Report Post »ADNIL
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 11:40amI remember posing this same argument with my father when he was alive in the 70s. He said “ but then there would be all of these stoned and wasted people driving cars around”. I told him they already are…… stoned, drunk, whatever. So he said “but people will stop working and just sit around doing drugs all day.” and I said not any more than they would be doing otherwise. So he said “but then a lot more people will start doing and taking drugs”, and I asked him “If they legalized heroin tomorrow, would you go out and get some?“ and he said ”of course not, I’m not interested in that stuff”. And I told him neither would I and neither would most everyone else, but it would enable the addict down the street to get a cheap fix without having to roll him (my dad) when he went out to get his mail or have his house broken into and valuables taken. (he was robbed three times) Not to mention the cost to taxpayers of this joke of a War on Drugs. He began to see my point. It‘s been a long time and they haven’t learned yet. Like I posted earlier, there’s too much money to be made and an industry to run.
Report Post »RobR
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:43amActually they were launching Mexicans with that contraption, only the wolves and cougars dragged the dead carcasses back to their young before the thing was discovered.
Report Post »reckless
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:42amThis is just a prototype. The next one will be much larger, capable of launching actual Mexicans across the border.
Report Post »drawls
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:34amWe need the catapult on this side of the border, put BIG SIS janets’ big but in it and sling her into mexico where she belongs. Idiots have put someone in charge of homeland security that could control her own border as gov., now she’s gonna protect us all? Well not all, not returning military, vets or republicans, tea partiers, you know the trouble makers are exempt form protecting.
Report Post »Tickdog
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:26amwhy cant we just nuke mexico?
Report Post »Cabo King
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:20amthey can start a new series in A & E—pot chunkin
Report Post »orcainohio
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:14amWe should be proud of the cartel going GREEN no electric wasted here or petro
Report Post »Lion420
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:10amOOh! They damaged the pot trade coming across the border. Meanwhile everything I buy and smoke is grown right here in the US…yet another example of the joke that is the war on drugs…and the other joke that is border security.
Report Post »Stratocaster
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:07amWhat’s in your wallet?
Report Post »Ialmostforgot
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:03amThe pumpkin chunkin crew needs to setup on the other side and return fire!
Report Post »Skewzie
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:03amWe should upgrade it to toss a hundred twenty five pounds and toss the illegals back over the fence into Mexico!
Report Post »csmatteson
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:54amThat’s a trebuchet NOT a catapult.
Report Post »bkmollen
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:08amWe are the only geeks to catch that. Ha!
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:53amI noted the same thing. Great minds… :)
Report Post »TrueGrit
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:05amIt’s a thingy throwy thingy.
El Torso Poto in latin.
Wolverine
Report Post »adjams
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:19amwell said true grit. I wish I could give you internet points.
Report Post »Enuff Zenuff
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:53amLet’s build one on our side for returning any illegals we catch picking up the bags of dope.
Report Post »Ken
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 2:34pmI’m “down” with that! LOL
Report Post »ronmorgen
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:49amThe choice of what you eat, drink, or smoke is our individual responsibility, not the government’s.
Report Post »betterthantv
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:09amAmen!
Report Post »ADNIL
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:15amI agree with you. Most of the charm in these activies to the younger generation is in the fact that it IS illegal and that it flies in the face of authority to partake. It was for us, way, way, WAY back then. As for the crime involved, you would think that the Prohibition fiasco might have taught our government something. IT DID! That prohibiting something people want makes for very lucrative endeavors and builds personal fortunes. Let’s see……… Stop crime and protect citizens vs. make tons of easy money. What do you expect the lawmakers to choose?
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:53amAgreed. The caveat of course is as long as you’re not out breaking real laws while doing the drug. I could give two fetid dingo kidneys if somebody wants to sit at home or in a bar and smoke a doobie. Not my business. If he swerves on the road in a car or jaywalks however, nail him. It’s my opinion on alcohol as well, a class of beverage that I regularly partake of.
Report Post »Untameable-kate
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:03amOK but along that line of thinking should the more dangerous drugs also be made legal?? How about meth and heroin, should those be OK also?
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:19am@Kate
As long as you‘re harming nobody when you’re doing them, yes.
Keep in mind that the hardening effect takes place when something is prohibited. During prohibition is when we all first started to hear the word “moonshine” and learn how dangerous it was if you got ahold of a really bad batch (methyl alcohol blinds or kills ya). Moonshine became prominent because smugglers needed something they could transport in small batches for maximum profit, then mix on the “receiving” end to make something palatable. In a way it’s kind of the same reason that Port wine was invented, though in a different age and not due to the illegality of wine.
If “regular” drugs were decriminalized the incentive to go on crack would vanish. Why do hardened dangerous crack when you can get relatively safe blow down at the corner store?
The way I figure it, localities could easily deal with this like they did booze. Some dry towns, some wet towns, different rules for different locations. Let the market decide. Ultimately though, if they need an amendment to stop me from drinking, they need one to stop me from puffing a joint. There is no difference, Constitutionally. (not that I puff joins, mind you)
Report Post »Clive
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 12:24pmUntameable-kate, thats kind of like when people say “why legalize just handguns, why don‘t we all have AK47’s, Hand Grenades”.
There is a clear difference between pot , and heroin / cocaine….
The most important differencem, is that no one has ever died from an “overdose” of pot. ever. (while people literally drink themselves to death on a daily basis.) It also doesn’t have the same addictive properties of booze, hard drugs, or (especially) cigarettes.
This doesn’t mean you should be able to drive around smoking weed. It would be something that you’d have to consume at your house.
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 10:58pmAgree with most of the comments here, but CLIVE pot is very addictive, mentally and physically, more so now with the high THC content of modern verities.
Report Post »bkmollen
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:46amIt looks more like a Trebuchet than a catapult!
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:11amGreat observation! Trebuchets are far more accurate than other medieval catapults.
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:08amNow THAT is funny!!
Report Post »Pocono Countryboy
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 6:52amCould be worse.. they could be tossing illegals over the fence ;)
Report Post »streetrodder
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:04amYou know, if thats the case we could build one and toss them back.
Report Post »Buck Bagaw
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:04amGreat idea, just pitch them the other direction.
Report Post »Working Poor
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:22amYou may be on to something. We could set up a couple dozen on our side of the border a repatriate the illegals in mass.
Report Post »Vince Foster
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 6:40am.
Report Post »What’s Next…Carrier Pigeons?
.
bbdarthchris077
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:08amHey now do not give them any ideas
Report Post »The Patriot
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:00amthat’s already happened cant remember where?
Report Post »Ron Staiger
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 6:27amNow I understand the catapulting of pot into the US, it’s the catapulting of AK-47‘s to Mexico that’s confusing!
Report Post »Psychosis
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 6:32amover 95% of all weapons confiscated from drug smugglers and gangs have no history from the U.S. most have come from mexican military, and other 3rd world countries………….but you wont here that from the lame stream media
Report Post »jimmythebullet
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:18amdon‘t forget the frags and RPG’s-
Report Post »which reminds me,i need to get down to wal-mart and grab a few before they run out.
GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:53amWhy would drug lords want over priced, semi auto gimped versions of a weapon, when they can get the select fire (full auto) version for 1/10th the cost on the black market outside of these united States?
The “guns into Mexico” thing makes no sense on any level and is sheer, utter propaganda, created for and consumed exclusively by ignorant people who don’t know details of, or understand gun markets.
Report Post »Paleo Archer
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 6:13amThe Cartels must be watching either “Myth Busters” or “History” channel..WWWAAAYYYY TOO Much!
Report Post »ADNIL
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:58amPossibly, but I thought they might have gotten the idea from the roadrunner/cyote cartoons or maybe Cheech and Chong movies. Hilarious! I can see a lot of room for comedy on this one ” OOPS, that was my lunch” etc. If they make it big enough, the illegals could be launched wearing those flying suits and slamming into the fence when the launch “miss-fires once in a while. I also wonder if they send the money back the same way. Better wrap it up good.
Report Post »TheBMT
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:29amahhh this is too funny to be mad about.
Report Post »Scotty481
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 11:08amNo, they’ve been watching the “Pumkin‘ Chunkin’” contests!!
Report Post »Damifiknow
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 6:12amBeautiful… And my friends in Tucson wonder why they get the nickname too stoned Arizona
Report Post »tifosa
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 6:10amThe Roloff’s did it first!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb5RCbmRbOM
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 6:16amJust legalize it and throw the bad illegals out for good.
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:07amLOL! Low tech comes full circle.
Report Post »Buck Bagaw
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:08amTower, you are onto something here!! We should just ‘legalize’ everything, then there would be no “crime”.
Report Post »anOpinion
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:24amIf only this was our worst problem on the border … Its innovative if nothing else.
Report Post »Jackers
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:44amToo funny… How many decades have we, the taxpayers, been paying for this so-called War on Drugs? What a joke!
GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:47amCatapult? Isn’t it more like a Trebuchet?
This is actually quite amusing. It‘s too bad I wasn’t able to get the idea of my cocaine firing ballista patented before this came out.
Report Post »dutchtouch
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:48amAgree with Tower. It is very interesting that none of my nephews and nieces back in The Netherlands smoke any of that stuff, yet it is readily available. Or maybe BECAUSE it is readily available. The same goes for underage binge drinking. You don’t see much of that over there either. I am, according to my friends, rather conservative, but have always allowed our children to have a glass of wine with dinner. They hardly ever wanted it and all drink with moderation.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 7:48amLet’s get a bunch of them on the US side and give illegals a free ride back home!
Report Post »GEW
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:08amWell,…all I can say is “will wonders never cease.”
Report Post »jbl8199
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:34amYou got to at least give them points for being creative. I got a chuckle when I saw this.
Report Post »Marcobob69
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:10amOh, throw me a key, Mr. Mexican drug-lord!!! :-) First they went “underground”, then they went “overland”, what will be next??? Leave it to your imagination!!!
Report Post »adjams
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 9:16amseriously, lets stop this silliness or start to stop this silliness with this drug war that only empowers the prison/law enforcement industry. At least legalize marijuana. Let american farmers grow it.
Report Post »Flagwaver
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:01amYou know… I have to give then some credit for ingenuity… I don’t like it, but still…
Report Post »countryboy42
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 10:28amGhostofJefferson,
Report Post »You are correct, it is a Trebuchet, which is a gravity or human powered launching device. The balance point is usually about 1/3 of the way up the arm from the weight, and there is a long sling connected to the long part of the arm. The term Catapult refers to a torsion powered devive.
Cemoto78
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 11:11amI wonder if there is a prescription attached to each flying bundle.
Report Post »MsMonsoon
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 11:21amDusty: I think you’ve got something there. Fire away!!!
Report Post »Clive
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 12:17pmlegalize it and tax it for christs sake. sick of employing mexican gangbangers in this country. we’ll take the jobs, take power away from drug dealers, tax it, pay down debt. the fact is, people are going to continue to smoke pot one way or the other, they can get it from the drug dealers, or we can profit from it, capitalism, lets deal with it.
Report Post »Clive
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 12:18pmPS GhostOfJefferson, thats the funniest post you’ve ever written.
Report Post »What-A-Joke
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 12:56pmLMAO, what’s next?
Report Post »TheLascone
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 3:46pmLooks like a new problem for the War on Drugs …. lol It must be the YES we Cannabis People.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23630227@N06/5275236451/in/photostream/
Report Post »Xcori8r
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 6:21pmJust watch.. their technology will progress and next thing they will be launching durgs over in Qassam rockets.
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on January 27, 2011 at 8:27pmGood comments here, you all said it all. Peace.
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on January 28, 2011 at 4:27amOh, but why didn’t Cheech and Chong think of this ?
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