In a significant contraband seizure, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the El Paso port of entry intercepted a substantial amount of ammunition on August 17. A staggering 92,900 rounds of ammunition were confiscated as they were being smuggled out of the United States and into Mexico via a commercial bus. According to a press release from CBP, this find nearly triples the total ammunition seizures of the last three fiscal years combined.
While outperforming the prior years significantly, CBP officers at the El Paso field office, reporting 15,678 rounds taken in FY 2021, and even less in the subsequent years, the 7,224 rounds in FY 2022 and 11,205 rounds in FY 2023 seem paltry by comparison. "The magnitude of this seizure is impactful," CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations, Hector A. Mancha, stated in the press release. "Had this ammunition fallen into the hands of transnational criminal organizations the impact could have been devasting."
The seizure was made during a southbound inspection at the Bridge of the Americas (BOTA) port of entry. The commercial tour bus involved was flagged by CBP's Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team (ATCET) due to the nervous behavior shown by the two Mexican bus drivers during routine inspection. After securing the bus, officers searched the cargo bay and discovered multiple heavy 27-gallon plastic storage totes containing boxes of ammunition. These totes held 59,900 rounds of .223 ammunition and 33,000 rounds of 7.62 x 39 ammunition.
Following the seizure, both drivers, Mexican nationals, were handed over to Homeland Security Investigations and now face charges related to the failed smuggling attempt; the bus was seized by CBP, leaving the 16 passengers aboard the vehicle bewildered. One passenger, found to be in the U.S. illegally, was processed accordingly by the officers, not expecting their journey to be interrupted. The remaining 15 passengers were cleared and continued their travel on a different bus.
CBP maintains consistent efforts to inspect traffic and identify export violations through pulse and surge operations in the area ports. This proactive approach is designed to thwart the smuggling of unreported currency, weapons, and ammunition. Acting CBP El Paso Port Director Albert Barnes affirmed their commitment, saying, "CBP officers working at the El Paso port of entry target all threats to enforce laws on the international border and make our communities safer on both sides of the border." With over 65,000 men and women, CBP stands as America's frontline in border management and law enforcement, dedicated to ensuring the safety and economic prosperity of the nation, as stated on CBP's official website.
