South Texas HIDTA Task Force members seize a cache of assault weapons and armament

LAREDO, Texas — On Tuesday, special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Laredo’s High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area led an enforcement action that resulted in the seizure of 21 long arm rifles, 962 rounds of ammunition, magazines, belt fed magazines, ballistic plates, armor carriers and ghillie suits. 

“Homeland Security Investigations will continue to leverage its expansive authorities to combat transnational criminal organizations”, said Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Adrian Flores, HSI Laredo.  “HSI’s partnership with Federal, state, and local law enforcement in Laredo, Texas is crucial to ensuring public safety and national security in the U.S. and Mexico.”

According to authorities, in June of 2018, Task Force members were conducting surveillance of a downtown Laredo parking lot. This is where they witnessed an individual transfer boxes from one vehicle to another. Task Force members approached the individual and conducted a preliminary search inside the vehicle. During the search they discovered a large cache of weapons and other related merchandise. Law enforcement suspect that the merchandise was about to be smuggled to Mexico.

No immediate arrests were made in connection to the seizure.

The HIDTA task force is composed of HSI special agents, investigators from the Laredo Police Department, Webb County Sheriff’s Office, Zapata County Sheriff’s Office, and Customs and Border Protection’s U.S. Border Patrol and Office of Field Operations.  The task force identifies, disrupts and dismantles drug trafficking organizations and their illicit activities which destabilize communities in the south Texas area and beyond.

HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and investigates a diverse portfolio of federal laws.  HSI is responsible for investigating violations of U.S. customs and immigration laws pertaining to border security, homeland security and public safety. 

In fiscal year 2017, HSI special agents seized 5855 weapons and 673,327 rounds of ammunition, helping to keep communities safer both in the United States and Mexico.

Homeland Security Investigations has exclusive jurisdiction to investigate the smuggling of weaponry into Mexico.  Additionally, the possession of a firearm with an altered or obliterated serial number is a violation of federal firearms laws.