San Salvador: The Salvadoran Army says it has arrested two officers and four soldiers for trying to steal 1,812 hand grenades to sell to drug traffickers.
Defence Minister General David Munguia says the months-long operation was a major blow to a deep-rooted criminal group that was stealing the country's weaponry.
Munguia did not release the names of the accused in a press conference on Friday.
The Salvadoran general said he was convinced the M67 grenades were destined to fall into the hands of organised criminals, but did not specify why.
The officers and soldiers were booked in a jail in western El Salvador and are facing theft charges in a military court punishable by up to eight years in prison.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, May 28, 2011, 09:45