Hand grenades becoming key weapon in Mexican cartels' arsenals, say authorities

Mexican drug cartels, whose trafficking efforts into the U.S. have grown bolder amid the border crisis, are increasingly utilizing a frightening weapon in their arsenal: the hand grenade.

Whether packed with explosives, hollowed out and filled with steel to give them authentic heft or even used to deliver handwritten death threats, grenades are turning up in greater frequency in encounters with suspected cartel members, according to law enforcement authorities and border experts. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials confirmed to FoxNews.com that they’ve seen a “trend increase” involving the devices along the entire southwest border, although details were not disclosed due to ongoing investigations.

“The reason you’re seeing so many more [grenades] this year is because much more heavily-armed drug shipments are coming into the United States,” said James Phelps, an assistant professor in the Department of Security Studies and Criminal Justice at Angelo State University in Texas. “With Border Patrol so heavily distracted doing paperwork and watching the mass flood of people coming into the country, they don’t have as much time to do what they used to do — drug interdiction.”

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These guys have it down. Nothing says keep your mouth shut, mind your own business, or we are untouchable drug dealers like a hand grenade being thrown through your window with your name on it. Intimidation tactics work, especially when there is a love letter attached to it.  These are nasty little things. The Mk II Iron Pineapples were phased out in the early 70's. I wouldn't doubt if they have a bunch of these surplus grenades. It also wouldn't surprise me if they have a few M67's, which is what is currently used as a frag grenade these days. An effective casualty radius of 5 meters usually gets the job done.