3 Filipinos Convicted of Smuggling Firearms to U.S.

LOS ANGELES—Three Filipino men were convicted here yesterday (Tuesday in Manila) of illegally importing a grenade launcher, mortar launcher, rocket-propelled grenade and other military-grade weapons to the United States, reports Inquirer.net. Sergio Syjuco, 26, Cesar Ubaldo, 27, and Arjyl Revereza, 26, were arrested January last year after they were caught selling the weapons to an undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent in a sting operation conducted in the Philippines. According to the evidence presented at trial, the defendants conspired to sell the weapons to the undercover FBI agent posing as a buyer who planned to arm drug dealers in Mexican drug cartels and Mexican Mafia gang members.