In what reads like a classic smuggling bust, two Mexican national bus drivers found themselves in handcuffs this weekend, as U.S. authorities in El Paso discovered tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition hidden on their charter bus. The ammo stash, described in an announcement from U.S. Attorney Jaime Esparza, was found during an inspection at the Bridge of the Americas Port of Entry.
The bus, coming from Phoenix and headed to Zacatecas, Mexico, was driven by Lucio Enriquez Garcia with Ramiro Antonio Barbosa Resendiz acting as the assistant driver. Despite their declarations of a firearm-free vehicle, further scrutiny by Customs and Border Protection officers unearthed 26 black totes packed with, 92,900 rounds of 7.62 mm and .223 caliber rifle ammunition according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Texas.
Facing charges of smuggling goods from the United States, Garcia and Resendiz have made their initial appearances in court this Monday. While the charges could saddle them with up to a decade behind bars.
This case has drawn the attention of both Homeland Security Investigations and CBP, who continue to delve into the specifics of the operation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg McDonald is at the helm, prosecuting what may unravel as a larger narrative of illicit arms distribution.
