I actually think they were wise to report it...
Had they dug it up and kept it - the original Cartel members might have returned.
Stealing guns from the Cartel is a chop up your body and dissolve the parts in a barrel kind of offense.
Besides those guns are junk.
I would not have taken them for free if guns like that they were legally transferred to me.
A Glock on the other had would have done just fine those conditions.
Some WD40 could easily loosened up the extractor to pull it off and clean it along with the other internals.
Good as new after a couple hours of work.
Or, replace the internals.