EL PASO, TEXAS – On August 17, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the El Paso port of entry seized 92,900 rounds of large caliber ammunition from a commercial bus attempting to enter Mexico at the Bridge of the Americas (BOTA) port of entry. This significant seizure marks a near tripling of the total amount of ammunition intercepted by CBP officers in outbound inspections over the past three fiscal years combined.
The operation was conducted by CBP’s Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team (ATCET) just after 7:00 p.m. The bus, originating from Mexico, was selected for inspection after officers noticed the drivers displaying nervous behavior. During the examination, CBP officers discovered multiple 27-gallon plastic storage totes in the cargo bay, which were found to contain 59,900 rounds of .223 ammunition and 33,000 rounds of 7.62 x 39 ammunition.
The bus drivers, both Mexican citizens, were arrested and handed over to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for prosecution related to the smuggling attempt. The bus was also seized by CBP. Among the 16 passengers on the bus, one was found to be in the U.S. illegally and was processed accordingly, while the remaining 15 passengers were released to continue their journey on another bus.
“CBP’s primary mission is to inspect goods and people entering the U.S., but we also conduct outbound inspections as part of our broader enforcement efforts,” said Hector A. Mancha, CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations. “The magnitude of this seizure is significant. If this ammunition had reached transnational criminal organizations, the consequences could have been devastating.”
CBP frequently conducts southbound operations to identify and prevent the smuggling of unreported currency, weapons, and ammunition across the border, contributing to the safety of communities on both sides of the international boundary.
Albert Barnes, acting CBP El Paso Port Director, emphasized the agency’s commitment to targeting all threats to enforce laws at the border and enhance security for the community.–News Desk