By LA News Center
In a series of stunning seizures, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have dealt a blow to transnational criminal organizations, confiscating over a dozen sophisticated weapons bound for Mexico.
Guns by the Truckload
From February 19th to March 29th, CBP agents stationed at the Port of Nogales in Arizona intercepted a total of 17 firearms in 10 separate events. The haul included 13 AK-style rifles, four pistols, and a staggering ,000 in cold, hard cash.
Extreme Concealment Tactics
The audacity of the smugglers was evident in the creative ways they tried to conceal their deadly cargo. One particularly alarming discovery left agents flabbergasted: an AK-style rifle duct-taped to the bare chest of an undocumented immigrant! The rifle’s barrel was ingeniously tucked into his jeans, giving him a chilling human shield.
Other bizarre concealment methods employed by the smugglers included hiding weapons in the undercarriage of vehicles and within mundane cookware.
Crackdown on Criminal Cartels
CBP Port Director Michael W. Humphries praised his team’s vigilance in disrupting the flow of illegal firearms. These weapons, he noted, could have fallen into the hands of Mexican cartels, fueling violence and instability south of the border.
Nationwide Crisis, Local Threat
The seizures at Nogales highlight a nationwide problem with illegal weapons trafficking. In recent years, there has been a surge in firearms being smuggled across the U.S.-Mexico border, with many of them ending up in the hands of criminal gangs.
The LA News Center commends the brave CBP agents whose unwavering efforts have kept our communities safe from this dangerous threat. Their vigilance serves as a stark reminder of the challenges we face in securing our borders and combating the scourge of transnational crime.
Data sourced from: foxnews.com
