LaredoBuzz.Com

Courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection,

 DEL RIO, TEXAS – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at the Del Rio Port of Entry conducting outbound examinations on Tuesday seized four assault rifles, two Tec-9 semiautomatic handguns, a 9mm pistol, and seven assorted gun magazines from a vehicle driven by a San Angelo woman.    The seizure occurred on Mar. 22, 2011 during an outbound (southbound) examination at the Del Rio International Bridge . A CBP officer referred a 2007 Dodge Caliber driven by a 39-year-old female U.S. citizen from San Angelo , Texas for a secondary examination. At one point during the inspection the driver threw down her purse and attempted to flee but was quickly subdued by CBP officers. During an intensive examination of the vehicle, CBP officers discovered an assortment of weapons, including four assault rifles (three rifles of the 7.62 x 39 mm-caliber and one AR-15 5.56mm-caliber rifle), two Tec-9 semi-automatic 9mm handguns, one Hi-Point 9mm pistol, seven gun magazines of various calibers and a nylon rifle case. CBP officers seized the vehicle, all the weapons and weapons equipment.

 CBP officers turned the driver over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) special agents for further investigation.

 “This a significant amount of weapons seized by CBP officers in the outbound lanes and it follows a major seizure of 14 assault rifles, a shotgun, pistol, magazines and ammunition last month at the Del Rio Port of Entry,” said Michael Perez, CBP Port Director, Del Rio. “Interdicting assault weapons at the port helps reduce border violence and reaffirms our commitment to keeping our communities safe and secure on both sides of the border.”

 CBP officers on Feb. 1 seized 14 assault rifles, a shotgun, pistol, 22 gun magazines and 25 rounds of ammunition during an outbound exam at Del Rio Port of Entry.