CBP Officers at Del Rio Port Seize Assault Rifles, Ammo

Del Rio, Texas – A Ciudad Acuña man is in custody after attempting to smuggle assault rifles and ammunition out of the United States.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Del Rio port of entry selected a 1992 GMC pickup truck for inspection as the vehicle was leaving the United States, bound for Mexico. After interviewing the driver and five passengers, CBP officers noticed that several areas of the pickup appeared to have been tampered with, prompting officers to have the vehicle scanned with a non-intrusive imaging system.

The scan revealed eight assault rifles and 640 rounds of ammunition hidden throughout the vehicle. The driver, a 23-year-old resident of Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico, was arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations.

“We are committed to keeping weapons and ammunition from both entering and leaving the country illegally,” said Michael Perez, CBP port director, Del Rio. “Officer training and experience are vital tools in intercepting a variety of prohibited items.”

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.