A federal task force yesterday seized weapons, grenades and homemade bombs in Laredo, Texas, the scene of deadly border violence in the last year.

It was the second stash of weapons and explosives found by the team in the last week – a sign, Customs agents say, of a war between drug cartels vying for control of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Laredo law enforcement officials called the weapons' discovery – which apparently marks the first time such explosives have been found in the city – a worrisome development.

The feds captured more than 30 homemade bombs, grenade components, assault weapons, silencers, machine gun assembly kits, bulletproof vests, police scanners and cash, Julie Myers, assistant secretary of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said in a statement.

Two of the bombs had been completed and others were under assembly, said officials from the task force that involved Immigration and Customs Enforcement, FBI, local authorities and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Officials said they also found the weapons in homes during January 12, 26 and 27 searches.

U.S. authorities have said they increasingly fear violence in Mexico will spill over into the United States.

About 170 deaths have been attributed to the cartel battles in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, in the past year, officials said. Nuevo Laredo is across the Rio Grande from Laredo.

---

Related special offer:

Could Mexico retake the southwestern United States?

---

Previous stories:

Border Patrol warned: Brace for violence

Feds to border agents: Assassins targeting you

Armed standoff on Rio Grande

Border sheriff warns: We're overwhelmed

Mexican drug commandos expand ops in 6 U.S. states

It's war between cops in Mexico

The threat from Mexico

'It's a war' along Mexican border

Mexican commandos seek control of border

Mexican commandos new threat on border