"This is the first one that I've seen, " he said Thursday of the one seized by police in Mexicali.

CNN: Mexican police nab drug-launching cannon near border

And in 2001, it bought out 82.5% of Grupo Simec, a steel smelter with factories in Guadalajara and Mexicali.

FORBES: Mexican Steel Entrepreneur Rufino Vigil Gonzalez Joins The Billionaires' Club

Since the 1990s Sempra's predecessors had been feeding gas to Baja and won the contract to outfit the town of Mexicali with gas lines.

FORBES: Gas Guzzler

The taco shells were manufactured by Sabritas Mexicali, a wholly owned subsidiary of PepsiCo (nyse: PEP - news - people ), in Mexicali, Mexico.

FORBES: Kraft Recalls Taco Bell Shells Sold In Grocery Stores

Last week, police in Mexicali found a cannon made from a large tube in the back of an abandoned Dodge Ram pickup truck, said spokesman Edgar Lopez.

CNN: Mexican police nab drug-launching cannon near border

The fourth annual vintage-flavored on and off-road rally is scheduled to begin on Saturday, April 27 with a pre-event technical inspection, vehicle display and driver's meeting all taking place at the historic bullring in Mexicali, Baja, Mexico.

ENGADGET: SRI EV1 brings all-electric racing to the Mexican 1000 rally (video)

Team SRI's goal for the 1, 200-plus mile Mexican 1000 is to successfully complete all three of the Special Stages on Day 1 from the start in Mexicali to the first overnight stop at Bahia De Los Angeles before running on portions of the remaining Special Stages throughout the event that fall within the EV1's range.

ENGADGET: SRI EV1 brings all-electric racing to the Mexican 1000 rally (video)