Juárez police got a surprise when a woman turned in a missile during a gun buyback program.

A woman called police on Friday asking for help in transporting the small missile to a module for a disarmament program at Juárez city hall, a police news release stated.

Police went to the woman's home, where they took custody of the missile. It was about two feet long, inert and no longer capable of exploding, officials said.

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The item was handed over to the Mexican military and the woman was grateful for the help of officers, authorities said.

It was unknown how the woman came into possession of the weaponry.

The gun buyback program by the Juárez city government and Mexico military urges residents to turn in firearms in exchange for cash. Juárez residents can get a minimum of 1,500 pesos up to a maximum of 7,000 pesos, or about $80 to $370 in U.S. dollars, depending on the firearm.

Last year, a rocket launcher was surrendered at a Baltimore gun buyback, the Baltimore Sun reported. The effectiveness of gun buyback programs in reducing violence has been questionable.

There have been more than 145 homicides in Juárez in April, making it the deadliest month this year, which has had a total of more than 465 murders, according to a tally by Channel 44-XHIJ.

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