Young housewives and moms who bought assault rifles from Texas gun dealers have been charged in an alleged weapons smuggling ring that armed Mexican cartels. Federal agents announced the arrests Wednesday in San Antonio. From Phoenix, Al Macias reports. 

More than 200 weapons, including AK-47s and sniper rifles, were seized and 22 people have been arrested. Many are accused of being so-called “straw buyers'” - gun shoppers without prior criminal records who legitimately buy from licensed dealers, then hand the weapons to smugglers.

Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents made the arrests. The same agency was has been criticized for Operation Fast and Furious, a botched gun tracking operation in Arizona.

Nine of the Texas defendants have already been sentenced.

Not all the southbound weapons were intercepted. Agents say ringleaders successfully moved three shipments into Mexico before investigators caught wind of the operation.