C.B.P. News Release

CBP Officers in Lukeville Seize Hidden Assault Rifles and Ammunition Magazines

(Friday, September 30, 2011)

Lukeville, Ariz. - Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to the Tucson Field Office, a component of the CBP Joint Field Command-Arizona, seized a shipment of assault weapons and ammunition magazines on September 29.

CBP officers were screening traffic during an outbound enforcement operation at the Lukeville port of entry when a Chevrolet truck, driven by a 23-year-old Tucson resident, was selected for further inspection. After a CBP canine alerted to the vehicle, the driver was secured and CBP officers searched for contraband. The truck was taken to the vehicle x-ray area where anomalies were identified within the truck. Subsequently, 25 packages containing unassembled parts of assault type weapons along with four ammunition magazines were removed from the vehicle. The weapons, magazines and the truck were seized and the subject was arrested and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.

Individuals arrested are charged with a criminal complaint, which raises no inference of guilt. An individual is presumed innocent until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

CBP announced the JFC-AZ in February as an organizational realignment that brings together the U.S. Border Patrol, Air and Marine, and Field Operations under a unified command structure. The JFC-AZ integrates CBP border security, commercial enforcement, and trade facilitation missions to more effectively meet the unique challenges faced in Arizona.

The CBP Office of Field Operations is the primary organization within Homeland Security tasked primarily with an anti-terrorism mission at our nation’s ports. CBP officers screen all people, vehicles and goods entering the United States while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. Their mission also includes carrying out border-related duties, including narcotics interdiction, enforcing immigration and trade laws, and protecting the nation's food supply and agriculture industry from pests and diseases.

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
Chris Leon
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (520) 519-7047

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