U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered a small arsenal hidden in a man’s jeep after Mexican border authorities denied him entry into the country because of his paper registration, the agency says.
Federal authorities arrested Noe De Hoyos, who was born in 1987, on Wednesday. He is charged with illegally exporting 13 firearms, including AK-47s, AR-15s, shotguns, handguns and 2,537 rounds of assorted ammunition.
The alleged smuggling attempt happened Jan. 10 when De Hoyos showed up at the Pharr Port of Entry after being denied entry into Mexico.
CBP decided to perform an intensive secondary inspection when officers found a plastic-wrapped package tied with rope to the undercarriage of the jeep he was driving, according to a criminal complaint.
Authorities say they immediately searched De Hoyos and recovered a Taurus PT145 handgun from his front waistband.
In addition to the discovery of the guns and ammo, CBP also reported finding nine rifle and pistol magazines and other firearm accessories.
However, during this encounter, De Hoyos claimed to have medical problems and was transported to the hospital so no arrest or interview took place on Jan. 10, according to the complaint.
Federal authorities don’t say what happened to De Hoyos after he was transported to the hospital, but do say that on Jan. 26 he turned up at the Donna Port of Entry where CBP stopped him.
Agents with HSI and the ATF showed up and interviewed De Hoyos, who admitted to crossing frequently — 100 times since January 2020 — and knowing it is illegal to transport firearms into Mexico, the complaint states.
During the interview, federal agents said he made inconsistent statements about the Jan. 10 incident.
De Hoyos told agents he purchased the jeep at the Alamo Flea Market for $3,000 on either Jan. 8 or 9, but he had no bill of sale or receipt, according to the complaint.
Federal agents say he then modified his story, telling them a friend suggested he buy the jeep, but he could not recall his friend’s full name and took several seconds to come up with a first name.
A search of his phone revealed photos of two pistols, including one of which was the handgun found in his waistband on Jan. 10, according to the complaint.
De Hoyos is being temporarily held without bond pending detention and probable cause hearings scheduled for next week, records show.
