CBP Officers at Progreso Port Arrest Man Wanted by ATF

Progreso, TX – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Progreso Port of Entry apprehended a man on an active arrest warrant from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives for a straw purchase of firearms.

On Thursday a CBP officer working pedestrian enforcement operations at the Progreso International Bridge came in contact with a man identified as 18-year-old Arnulfo Gaytan Jr., a U.S. citizen who resides in Weslaco. The primary CBP officer’s queries revealed an active arrest warrant for Gaytan from the U.S. Marshals Service in Washington, D.C. Gaytan was referred for further examination. A CBP officer’s secondary checks of a national database confirmed the active arrest warrant for Gaytan from the ATF for a straw purchase of firearms. CBP officers arrested Gaytan and turned him over to ATF for transportation to the Hidalgo Country jail.

“Vigilance by our CBP officers on the frontlines and the use of a national database at primary contributed to the identification of Arnulfo Gaytan Jr. as a wanted fugitive. I congratulate our CBP officers for the arrest of this wanted fugitive by the ATF for a straw purchase of firearms charge," said Carlos Rodriguez, CBP Port Director, Progreso/Donna Port of Entry.

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