Munitions Found on Airliner Bound for Mexico; 7 Held

SAN FRANCISCO — Seven people heading for Mexico were arrested Sunday at San Francisco International Airport after security officers found guns and ammunition in their luggage, airport police said.

The officers became suspicious when they saw the outline of a handgun while X-raying a radio that was being carried aboard a Mexicana Airlines flight, said patrolman Alan Wurdinger. The radio contained a partly assembled gun and ammunition, he said.

Luggage that had already been placed aboard the plane also was searched, and authorities found four more handguns, patrolman Doug Kandetzki said. Three were found in radios and one was found in a television set.

Wurdinger said the seven people had no connection with each other. They were booked on suspicion of having a concealed weapon in their possession.

Kandetzki said two of the men, Jose Montoya and Adolfo Pineda, also were booked on suspicion of possession of a loaded weapon. The five others arrested were Fernando Barajas, Jesus Magana, Gumaro Ramirez, Rene Ceja and Jose Alvarez, Kandetzki said.