5,000 rounds of ammo seized at Brownsville Border Crossing

C.B.P. News Release

CBP at Brownsville Gateway International Bridge Seize Ammunition Headed Into Mexico

(Thursday, August 04, 2011)

Brownsville, Texas – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working an outbound operation at the Brownsville Gateway International Bridge recently seized 5,000 rounds of live ammunition.

On August 3, CBP officers working outbound enforcement operations at the Brownsville Gateway International Bridge came in contact with a southbound 2005 Ford Excursion. The vehicle and driver were headed into Mexico. The male driver was identified as a 21-year-old Mexican citizen from Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

CBP officers conducted an inspection of the vehicle and seized 4,000 rounds of live .223 caliber ammunition and 1,000 rounds of 7.62 x 39 caliber ammunition. The ammunition boxes were found hidden underneath the rear seat of the Ford Excursion.

The vehicle was seized and the southbound traveler was transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.

“I commend our frontline officers for their work in preventing the illegal exportation of this huge amount of ammunition normally associated with high-powered assault type weapons,â€

Customs Officers Seize 5,000 Rounds of Ammunition

Last Update: 1:15 pm

BROWNSVILLE - A Matamoros man is facing charges after he was caught trying to smuggle ammunition across the border for $100.

Customs officers seized 5,000 rounds of ammunition in a car headed to Mexico on Wednesday morning. They found the ammo hidden underneath the rear seat of the Ford Excursion.

Marcos Martinez was driving the vehicle. He faces federal arms smuggling charges.

Officials say the ammunition is used for M-16 rifles. It's believed it was headed to the cartels in Mexico.

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