No, ICE (Probably) Didn’t Buy Guided Missile Warheads

On September 19, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement made a $61,218 costs for “guided rocket warheads and explosive components,” according to nan Product and Service Code (PSC) included successful nan payment record connected a national contracting database.

“This grant provides aggregate distraction devices to support rule enforcement operations and ICE- Office of Firearms and Tactical Programs,” nan record’s explanation conception reads.

The Substack Popular Information mentioned this costs successful a Monday article, which focused connected nan truth that ICE spending successful nan “small arms, ordnance, and ordnance accessories manufacturing” merchandise class accrued by 700 percent betwixt 2024 and 2025. (Spending accrued by astir 636 percent, per WIRED’s study of nan aforesaid class and clip periods Popular Information measured.) Word of nan costs besides circulated connected Tuesday aft a station connected BlueSky by Democratic Wisconsin authorities legislator Chris Larson went viral.

It turns out, interest complete ICE agents readying to usage warheads is apt based connected a mistake. Quantico Tactical, nan institution listed arsenic nan supplier of said warheads successful nan national costs records, does not waste immoderate explosive devices. (It sells a assortment of firearms, switchblades, and limb accessories.) David Hensley, laminitis and CEO of Quantico Tactical, told WIRED successful an email that nan PSC “appears to beryllium an error.”

“Quantico Tactical does not sell, and I fishy that CBP ICE does not purchase, ‘Guided Missile Warheads,’” Hensley said, referencing Customs and Border Protection. He added that nan remainder of nan costs grounds appears to beryllium correct.

PSCs are assigned by a authorities agency’s contracting office, not nan backstage contractor. Hensley declined to estimate connected what nan correct PSC for nan costs whitethorn be. He besides declined to explain which “distraction devices” ICE purchased. However, ICE made 2 different payments to Quantico Tactical for “distraction devices” successful September 2024 and August 2025.

The descriptions for some costs records declare that they are for training programs tally by ICE’s Office of Firearms and Tactical Programs (OFTP). Both payments records usage nan PSC for "chemical weapons and equipment,” which includes items for illustration "flame throwers" and "smoke generators.”

An ICE “Firearms and Use of Force” handbook from 2021 does not mention immoderate approved usage of occurrence throwers, but it does mention nan usage of "chemical munitions" specified arsenic smoke, capsicum spray, and tear gas. (It notes that their usage must beryllium approved by nan agency's subordinate head and nan OFTP.) Quantico Tactical does not database fume bombs, capsicum spray, aliases tear state for waste connected its website, though it does database accessories for illustration smoke-resistant goggles and holders for mace, flash grenades, and fume bombs. It’s unclear what ICE whitethorn person purchased.