Germany charges six over firearms deliveries to Mexico

German prosecutors have charged six former employees of weapons manufacturer Heckler & Koch with violating export laws in delivering firearms to Mexico between 2006 and 2009.

Prosecutors in Stuttgart said Thursday that the six are a former sales representative in Mexico, three other marketing officials and two former managers. They are accused of involvement in 16 deliveries to the nation between 2006 and 2009 despite knowing that guns and parts were being sent to Mexican states that weren't covered by German export permits.

Investigations against 13 other people were dropped.

Heckler & Koch said in a statement that it "takes note" of the prosecutors' decision. It noted that it commissioned an external inquiry into the case in 2012 and provided the results to investigators.