Officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized more than 90,000 rounds of large-caliber ammo on Saturday. CBP officers intercepted the illicit shipment on a commercial tour bus headed toward Mexico via the Bridge of the Americas in El Paso, Texas.
"The seizure almost triples the amount of ammunition CBP officers performing outbound enforcement inspections at the El Paso field office have made during the last three fiscal years (FY) combined," according to a CBP press release.
CBP reports having "seized 15,678 rounds in FY 2021, 7,224 rounds in FY 2022 and 11,205 rounds in FY 2023."
Although CBP's primary focus is intercepting inbound contraband, "the agency will also perform outbound inspections as part of our overall enforcement portfolio."
"The magnitude of this seizure is impactful," CBP said. "Had this ammunition fallen into the hands of transnational criminal organizations the impact could have been devasting."
CBP officers seized the ammo shortly after 7 PM on Saturday "when members of CBP’s Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team (ATCET) initiated an operation at the southbound lanes of the BOTA port of entry."
CBP selected a Mexico-bound commercial tour bus for secondary inspection after "officers noted that the two bus drivers depicted nervous behavior during the routine inspection."
The secondary inspection revealed "multiple 27-gallon plastic storage totes that seemed very heavy."
"Upon inspection of the totes they were found to contain boxes of ammunition A total of 59,900 rounds of .223 ammunition and 33,000 rounds 7.62 x 39 ammunition were seized," CBP said.
Homeland Security Investigations arrested the drivers, who "will face charges related to the failed smuggling attempt."
"CBP seized the bus," which had 16 passengers. A passenger in the U.S. illegally was processed. The remaining passengers "were released and continued their journey on a different bus."
