C.B.P. News Release

Agents Seize Semi-Automatic Weapons near Rio Grande River

(Thursday, June 04, 2009)

Edinburg, Texas — Border Patrol agents assigned to the McAllen Station seized four high powered weapons near the Hidalgo port of entry.

On Tuesday evening, just before midnight, agents working near the Hidalgo port of entry observed a suspicious individual carrying a duffle bag through a parking lot adjacent to the port of entry. As agents moved closer to the individual to perform an immigration inspection, the man dropped the duffle bag and ran south towards the river, fleeing into Mexico.

A search of the duffle bag revealed several bulky items wrapped in plastic and duct tape. The items were identified as four disassembled semi-automatic .223 caliber rifles, four magazines, a rifle scope and a bi-pod.

The weapons were seized and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement special agents for further investigation.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Contacts For This News Release
Rio Grande Sector
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (956) 289-4934 or
(956) 289-4845

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 042009.xml