Mexican authorities arrested a 22-year-old American woman, identified as an Arizona correctional officer, for attempting to smuggle more than 5,400 rounds of ammunition into Mexico for a cartel faction. The woman, identified as Yanet ‘N’, was apprehended by security forces conducting surveillance in San Luis Rio Colorado, a municipality near the border with Arizona.
The ammunition was discovered concealed under the seats of her Jeep Wrangler during a traffic stop. Officials stated that the suspect served as a logistics operator for a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel, known as "Los Mayos." This faction is reportedly under the command of Ismael Zambada Sicairos, son of the cartel's co-founder Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada.
Mexican officials emphasized that such seizures disrupt criminal operations and prevent weapons and ammunition from being used to incite violence. The woman, who reportedly turned 22 on the day after her arrest, was identified by Mexican newspaper Excelsior as Yanet Dowden, and she was allegedly carrying an identification card from the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry, listing her as a Level II correctional officer.
Mexico has some of the strictest gun laws globally, with only one legal firearm retail outlet for civilians. Mexican authorities have long contended that a significant amount of weaponry and ammunition is illegally trafficked from the United States into Mexico. This has been a point of contention between the two nations, with Mexico filing a $10 billion lawsuit in 2021 against U.S. gun manufacturers, alleging their practices facilitated illegal trafficking. However, the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the suit in June 2025, citing U.S. law that shields gun companies from liability when their products are used in crimes.