CBP Officers at Del Rio Port of Entry Seize Four Assault Rifles, Two Tec-9 Handguns, 9mm Pistol, Magazines

Del Rio, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Del Rio Port of Entry, inspecting outbound traffic on Tuesday, seized four assault rifles, two Tec-9 semiautomatic handguns, a 9-mm pistol, and seven assorted gun magazines from a vehicle driven by a San Angelo woman.

CBP officers at the Del Rio Port of Entry discovered four assault rifles, two Tec-9 semi-automatic 9-mm handguns, one Hi-Point 9-mm pistol and seven gun magazines during inspection of a vehicle.

The seizure occurred on during a southbound examination at the Del Rio International Bridge. A CBP officer referred a 2007 Dodge Caliber, driven by a 39-year-old female U.S. citizen from San Angelo, for a secondary examination. At one point during the inspection the driver threw down her purse and attempted to flee but was quickly subdued by CBP officers. During an intensive examination of the vehicle, CBP officers discovered an assortment of weapons, including four assault rifles (three 7.62-mm and one AR-15), two Tec-9 semi-automatic 9-mm handguns, one Hi-Point 9-mm pistol, seven gun magazines of various calibers and a nylon rifle case. CBP officers seized the vehicle, all the weapons and weapons equipment.

CBP officers turned the driver over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations special agents for further investigation.

“This a significant amount of weapons seized by CBP officers in the outbound lanes and it follows a major seizure of 16 firearms last month at the Del Rio Port of Entry,” said Michael Perez, CBP port director, Del Rio. “Interdicting assault weapons at the port helps reduce border violence and reaffirms our commitment to keeping our communities safe and secure on both sides of the border.”

On Feb. 1, CBP officers seized 14 assault rifles, a shotgun, pistol, 22 gun magazines and 25 rounds of ammunition during an outbound exam at Del Rio Port of Entry.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.