Marines Among 13 Arrested in Weapons Theft

Six Marines and seven civilians were arrested Thursday in a nationwide investigation into the theft of military weapons, including rocket launchers, machine guns, mines, mortars and grenades.

Federal undercover agents bought large quantities of weapons and ammunition during an 18-month operation, said William Perry, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Charlotte office.

Much of the ordnance was stolen from Camp Lejeune, the sprawling Marine base in eastern North Carolina.

“The military came to us a while back and said: ‘We have a problem,’ ” said Neil Robbins, special agent in charge of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

Investigators executed five search warrants Thursday morning before the arrests. Four of the searches took place in North Carolina. The fifth was at the home of a Marine in Millis, Mass., about 30 miles southwest of Boston.

Authorities cordoned off the area around the suspect’s home and seized at least 10 boxes and crates with military markings, said Jeff Morrow, assistant special agent with the NCIS.

The green metal boxes found in the basement were filled with mortars, grenades and other ammunition, Morrow said. The suspect, whose name was not released, recently moved to Millis with his wife and children after a transfer from Lejeune.

Neighbor Ellie Jarvis said she was told to leave her home after federal agents said they found explosives in the suspect’s house.

The seven North Carolina civilians who were arrested were charged with a variety of offenses stemming from the illegal manufacture and distribution of weapons, particularly automatic weapons. An eighth suspect was still being sought.

In Washington, Defense Secretary William S. Cohen said he has asked the armed services to review their security procedures and report back to him in 30 days.

“It is imperative that we be confident that military arms and munitions are tightly controlled and safeguarded,” Cohen said.