U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at El Paso port of entry made a significant discovery on Tuesday. They seized over 11,000 rounds of 7.62 ammunition hidden within a vehicle. This substantial find was made at the Bridge of the Americas international crossing, a magnet for both legitimate transit and covert smuggling attempts, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The seizure, reported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection's official newsroom, reflects an alarming increase in ammunition smuggling across the border. "The volume of this seizure is substantial," stated U.S. Customs and Border Protection El Paso Director of Field Operations Hector Mancha. To emphasize the scale, Mancha highlighted that in all of fiscal year 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at El Paso ports seized 15,678 rounds of ammunition, a number that declined in 2022 but has seen a resurgence in the current year.
The interception occurred late in the afternoon when a 32-year-old Mexican man drove a 2011 Honda Ridgeline from Mexico into the U.S. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer at the primary inspection booth, prompted by anomalies detected by a low-energy portal scan, directed the vehicle for a more thorough secondary examination. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection currency and firearms detection canine signaled the presence of the contraband while a Z-portal x-ray scan corroborated the initial findings.
According to the report, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered numerous bags filled with 7.62 caliber ammunition concealed within the vehicle's quarter panels. The driver, whose identity has not been disclosed, was arrested for smuggling goods into the U.S., a violation under 18 USC 545. He is now facing federal prosecution after being turned over to Homeland Security Investigations. This incident marked the second major ammunition seizure at the Bridge of the Americas in recent months, following the confiscation of more than 93,000 rounds back in August 17.
