Mexico detains South Africans trying to buy guns

Federal agents have detained two South African men on suspicion of trying to buy weapons and explosives from a Mexican drug cartel.

The attorney general's office says the suspects had a briefcase filled with 20 bundles of $100 bills. It did not give a total amount for the cash.

An anonymous tip received by police says the money allegedly comes from a source in France.

The two South Africans were captured at a Mexico City hotel on Tuesday after the tipster said the men were arranging to buy weapons from the violent Gulf drug cartel.

While Mexican cartels have long used powerful weapons smuggled from the United States, the bust suggests they also may be supplying other criminals with guns.