Police, feds seize ammo and tactical gear in San Juan
January 17, 2011 11:30 PM
By JARED TAYLOR, The Monitor

SAN JUAN — Authorities seized hundreds of rounds of ammunition, tactical helmets and boots on Sunday.

San Juan police responded to the 2700 block of Fern Street, where a suspicious pewter-colored vehicle was seen parked at a house, a department news release states.

After briefly leaving the house, the vehicle went back and officers made contact with the driver.

Officers said the driver appeared to be nervous when questioned. Police obtained consent to search the vehicle and found 39 ballistic helmets and 24 pairs of tactical boots inside four duffel bags.

San Juan police investigators along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives obtained a warrant and searched the house, where they found more helmets, as well as ammunition and rifle magazines.

In total, authorities seized 50 ballistic helmets, 659 rounds of ammunition — .22, .223 and .50 caliber — and 26 high capacity rifle magazines.

No suspects in the case had been named as of late Monday afternoon. Possible charges to be filed in the case include intent to export items without the proper license, authorities said.

San Juan investigators and the ICE Border Enforcement Security Task force continue to investigate to possibly identify the origin and destination of the seized ammo and equipment.

The ICE Border Enforcement Security Task force is a collaboration of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies working to identify smuggling operations.


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