Federal agents arrest 22-year-old man at Hidalgo bridge, seize 1,500 rounds of ammunition



Monday, February 27th 2017

Federal agents arrested a 22-year-old man on Friday, when he attempted to cross the border with more than 1,500 rounds of ammunition.

Agents with Homeland Security Investigations — a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — started following Jacobo Javier Garza-Solis on Friday night.

At 7:15 p.m., agents watched him "buy a large quantity of 7.62x39mm ammunition at a sporting goods store," according to the criminal complaint. After buying the ammunition, Garza drove away in a gold Chevrolet Tahoe.

Agents followed him to the Hidalgo-Reynosa International Bridge.

According to the criminal complaint
:

As GARZA neared the inspection area canopy, SAs observed that GARZA began to maneuver rapidly through heavy traffic. Once GARZA had passed the last turnoff and began to enter the inspection lanes, Customs and Border Protection officers (CBPOs) exited their shed and came into view beneath the inspection canopy where they positioned themselves in the lane occupied by Garza. At that moment GARZA, in the SUBJECT VEHICLE, made an abrupt U-turn across the flow of traffic onto the shoulder of the road adjacent to the pedestrian lane. GARZA then accelerated and drove contraflow of the oncoming traffic until he made a westbound turn onto a side street. At approximately 2255 hours, SAs activated their emergency lights and sirens and pursued GARZA a short distance before conducting a traffic stop of the SUBJECT VEHICLE.

When agents searched the Tahoe, they found a loaded handgun and 1,500 round of ammunition.

"GARZA stated that he attempted to flee when he saw the CBPOs because he feared being found with the weapons and arrested," according to the criminal complaint. "Garza stated that he had smuggled ammunition into Mexico on approximately three previous occasions."

Garza, a United States citizen who lives in Miguel Aleman, is charged with attempted illegal exportation of defense articles.

Court records don't list an attorney for Garza, who remains in federal custody.

http://valleycentral.com/news/local/...-of-ammunition