Colombian authorities discovered a weapon capable of shooting down airplanes being sent through commercial mail in the southern part of the country, reported local media Thursday.
Authorities said they found the 50 calibre rifle in a commercial package sent through a messenger service in Cali, Colombia’s third largest city. Military officials said the package was intended for Colombia’s largest guerrilla group, the FARC.
Army General Ricardo Jimenez told local media, “The weapon has a range of 1,800 meters and is capable of bringing down airplanes. What we know so far is this modern weapon and its munition belong to Manuel Cepeda Vargas Urban Front of the FARC. They were trying to send it through a courier service in Cali. […] We have not arrested any suspects, but we do have a series of recordings.”
Authorities said they would maintain strict control over mail and package services to prevent the delivery of further weapons.