An increasing number of weapons being smuggled out of Miami and into Haiti have put federal authorities in the region on alert.
Homeland Security Investigations said Friday it has seen a “substantial increase” in the number of weapons being illegally trafficked, including .50-caliber sniper rifles, more tha 300 rifles and a belt-fed machine gun, according to a news release.
The weapons smuggling is thought to be fueling a trend of violence by transnational criminal organizations.
“It’s been alarming and disturbing to see the spike of violence coincide with a spike in weapons trafficking out of Miami towards Haiti,” Anthony Salisbury, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations Miami, told ABC News.