EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized more than 4,000 rounds of ammunition and tased a man who refused to comply with instructions last week during an incident at the Bridge of the Americas in El Paso, CBP said.
The incident happened at 9 p.m. on May 1 at the Bridge of the Americas. More than $1,200 in U.S. currency and $900 in Mexican pesos were also seized during the incident involving a southbound driver, CBP said.
The seizure was made by CBP officers working in the Mobile Enforcement Team while performing southbound inspections at the BOTA international crossing.
A 33-year-old male U.S. citizen was tased and then arrested after he refused to comply with instructions from CBP officers, the agency said.
“CBP officers will conduct intermittent pulse-and-surge southbound operations at area ports to target the smuggling of weapons, ammunition, unreported currency and other violations,” CBP El Paso Port Director Ray Provencio said. “This is a significant seizure and will help keep our shared international community safer.”
CBP MET members directed the driver to shut off the engine so they could safely conduct an inspection. The driver ignored the request and continued driving forward, CBP said.
MET officers successfully deployed tire deflation devices to prevent the vehicle from fleeing, CBP said.
CBP MET officers deployed a taser to gain control of the “noncompliant driver” after he attempted to roll up the windows and reach for an unknown item in the vehicle, CBP said.
The driver was secured, and MET officers located three boxes in the rear seat containing 4,000 rounds of 7.62 x 39 ammunition and 30 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition.
CBP officers seized the vehicle, ammunition, and currency. The driver was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations to face charges associated with the failed smuggling attempt, CBP said.
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