Tip leads to house raid; weapons arsenal, drugs found

by Karen Grace & Kens5.com staff
October 9, 2012 at 6:36 AM

SAN ANTONIO -- Police say they found an arsenal of drugs and weapons that were bound for Mexico in an early morning raid at a house in the 300 block of Stonewall Street.

One Mexican national was arrested and at least a dozen more arrests could come as a result of this investigation, San Antonio police said.

Investigators displayed 19 assault rifles outside the home following the Tuesday morning raid. Detectives said they also found about $2,000 worth of black tar heroin and 8,000 rounds of ammunition.

The Mexican cartel is paying around $2,000 to $3,000 for each gun, detectives said.

"Who is really trying to get these guns?" asked Crisanto Perez, Jr., and agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. "It's the drug cartels."

Perez said the raid puts a dent in the growing illegal gun trade in San Antonio. He said the city has earned a reputation for transporting weapons to the drug cartel.

The Mexican national arrested in the raid has been identified as Julio Cesar Campos. He is facing state drug charges and federal weapon charges. Authorities said he was also in the country illegally and was wanted on a federal warrant.

Authorities said they received a tip about Campos's whereabouts, and had been watching him for about a week before they got a search warrant.

"That's 19 guns that will not fall into the hands of the criminal element," Perez said.
Tip leads to house raid; weapons arsenal, drugs found | kens5.com San Antonio