El Paso CBP Seizes 92,000 Rounds of Ammunition Bound for Mexico
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection confiscated 92,000 rounds of large-caliber ammunition at El Paso port.
- The ammunition was being smuggled out of the United States over the weekend.
- The seizure highlights the ongoing efforts to combat illegal arms trafficking at the border.
El Paso, TX – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced on Wednesday that officers at the El Paso port of entry confiscated a staggering 92,000 rounds of large-caliber ammunition over the weekend. This seizure marks a significant increase, nearly tripling the total amount of ammunition seized during outward inspections at the El Paso field office over the past three fiscal years combined. The ammunition was discovered on a commercial bus attempting to leave the United States for Mexico at the Bridge of America port of entry. CBP officials emphasized the potential dangers of this seizure, stating that if the ammunition had reached criminal organizations, the consequences could have been catastrophic. The bus, which was returning to Mexico, was selected for inspection by CBP's Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team after officers observed nervous behavior from the two Mexican national drivers during a routine check. Upon further examination of the cargo bay, officers found multiple heavy 27-gallon plastic storage totes, which upon inspection revealed boxes of ammunition. Both bus drivers were detained and referred to Homeland Security Investigations for potential smuggling charges. Additionally, one of the 16 passengers on board was found to be in the United States illegally and was processed accordingly, while the remaining 15 passengers were returned to Mexico on another bus.